Transcript The Remilitarisation of the Rhineland

The story so far...
7th March 1936:
Rhineland Crisis
17th July 1936:
Germany and Italy back Franco during the
Spanish Civil War.
26th April 1937:
Bombing of Guernica by German Condor
legion
May 1937:
Chamberlain becomes Prime Minister of
Britain. This marks a return to old-style
diplomacy.
5th November 1937:
Hossbach Memo stated Germany must
overthrow Austria and Czechoslovakia.
[only discovered at the ended of the war]
The Czech Crisis
20th February 1938:
Anthony Eden resigns as Foreign
Secretary. Wanted action to be taken
against dictators.
11th March 1938:
The Czech Government was promised that:
“Czechoslovakia has nothing to fear from
the Reich.”
13th March 1938:
Anschluss announced.
10th April 1938:
Plebiscite in Austria returns 99% in favour
of Anschluss.
The Czech Crisis
The Versailles Context
Article 82 of Versailles Treaty states:
“…the old frontier as it existed on 3rd August 1914, between AustriaHungary and the German Empire will constitute the frontier between
Germany and the Czechoslovak state.”
The Czech Crisis
The Sudeten Crisis
May to September 1938
The Czech Crisis
Key Dates
20th May 1938:
‘May Crisis’ Czechs mobilise their troops in response
to rumoured German troop movements.
4th Sept 1938:
Benes offered Sudeten Germans autonomy but Henlein
refused to negotiate.
12th Sept 1938:
Hitler launches a verbal attack on Benes during a rally
in Germany.
Hitler and Henlein
Benes
The Czech Crisis
15th Sept 1938:
Hitler proposes taking over the Sudetenland
to Chamberlain at Berchesgaden.
22nd Sept 1938:
Godesberg meeting where Hitler demands a
date of take over.
27th Sept 1938:
Chamberlain broadcasts on BBC radio
about the horrors of war.
28th Sept 1938:
‘Black Wednesday’ Preparations for war
throughout Europe.
29th Sept 1938:
Munich Conference.
1st Oct 1938:
German troops march into the Sudetenland.
The Czech Crisis
Meeting Hitler
•
•
Chamberlain was determined to avoid war and flew to meet Hitler
three times in September 1938.
Air travel was risky, uncomfortable and unusual at that time
especially for a man of Chamberlain’s age.
Heston airport
The Czech Crisis
Berchtesgaden: 15th September 1938
Hitler proposes taking over the Sudetenland to Chamberlain.
Chamberlain agrees that areas with over 50% German population are to
be given to Germany. He leaves the meeting with the task of getting the
Czech, French an British government to agree.
Chamberlain told Hitler:
“In principle I have nothing
to say against the
separation of Sudetenland
from the rest of
Czechoslovakia, provided
that the practical difficulties
could be overcome.”
The Czech Crisis
Godesberg: 22nd September 1938
Chamberlain was confident that the problem had been solved. He
said at Heston airport prior to visit:
“European peace is what I am aiming at, and I hope this journey may
open the way to get it.”
Hitler rejected Chamberlain’s plan, “I am sorry. That its not enough”.
1.
2.
Lied when he said that Czech forces were massacring Germans but
threatened to send an occupying force to stop it.
Wanted to occupy Sudetenland, including fortifications, with no
compensation for lost Czech property or belongings.
Hitler also said: “The Czech problem is the last territorial demand I
have to make in Europe.”
The Czech Crisis
BBC speech: 27th September 1938
“How horrible and unbelievable that we
should be getting ready for war, trying
on gas masks and digging air raid
shelters in Britain because of a faraway
quarrel between people that we know
nothing about.”
Neville Chamberlain
The Czech Crisis
Munich: 29th September 1938
•
•
At the Munich Conference Britain, France, Germany and Italy met
to discuss the future of the Sudetenland.
Without consulting Czechoslovakia, it was agreed that Germany
would occupy the Sudetenland on 1st October 1938.
The Czech Crisis
Peace For Our Time: 30th September 1938
During a private meeting, Chamberlain
asks Hitler to sign an additional
agreement.
Chamberlain waved it to the crowds at
Heston airport believing it to mean
“peace for our time.”
The Czech Crisis
German occupation of the
Sudetenland:1st October 1938
Germans troops entering the Sudetenland.
The Czech Crisis
Hitler crossed into the
Sudetenland on 3 October 1938
and addresses German troops.
The Czech Crisis
What happened next?
The Czech Crisis
Entering Czechoslovakia, 15th March 1939
The Czech Crisis
Summary
The Czech Crisis