The Munich Agreement (Munich Agreement) on the accession of the border lands of Czechoslovakia, inhabited by Germans, to Nazi Germany, was signed on September 30, 1938 by representatives of Great Britain (Neville Chamberlain), France (Edouard Daladier), Germany (Adolf Hitler) and Italy (Benito Mussolini). It was the result of the aggressive policy of Hitler, who proclaimed a revision of the Versailles Peace Treaty of 1919 with the aim of restoring the German Reich, on the one hand, and the Anglo-French policy of "appeasement" supported by the United States, on the other.
The British and French leadership was interested in maintaining the status quo that had developed in Europe as a result of the First World War of 1914-1918, and considered the policy of the Soviet Union and the world communist movement as the main danger to their countries. The leaders of Great Britain and France sought to satisfy the expansionist claims of Germany and Italy through political and territorial concessions at the expense of the countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe, to reach a "broad" agreement with them and thereby ensure their own security, pushing the German-Italian aggression in an easterly direction.
(Military Encyclopedia. Military Publishing. Moscow. In 8 volumes, 2004)
The Sudetenland belonged to the most industrialized regions of Czechoslovakia. In the region, 3.3 million people were densely residing ethnic, the so-called Sudeten Germans. From the very beginning of his political activity, Hitler demanded their reunification with Germany, and repeatedly made attempts to fulfill this demand.
In March 1938, without any opposition from the Western powers, Germany carried out the forcible seizure (Anschluss) of Austria. After that, German pressure on Czechoslovakia intensified sharply. On April 24, 1938, the fascist Sudeto German Party (SNP) of Konrad Henlein, at the direction of Hitler, put forward a demand for autonomy for the Sudetenland.
The government of the USSR declared its readiness to fulfill its obligations under the Soviet-Czechoslovak treaty of 1935, which provided for the provision of assistance by the Soviet Union to Czechoslovakia in the event of aggression against it, subject to the simultaneous provision of such assistance by France.
On September 13, the Nazi leadership inspired a revolt of the Sudeten fascists, and after it was suppressed by the Czechoslovak government, they began to openly threaten Czechoslovakia with an armed invasion. On September 15, at a meeting with Hitler in Berchtesgaden, British Prime Minister Chamberlain agreed to Germany's demand to transfer part of Czechoslovak territory to her. Two days later, the British government approved the "principle of self-determination," as the German annexation of the Sudetenland was called.
On September 19, 1938, the Czechoslovak government transmitted to the Soviet government a request to give an answer as soon as possible to the following questions: a) will the USSR, according to the treaty, provide immediate real assistance if France remains loyal and also provides assistance; b) whether the USSR will help Czechoslovakia as a member of the League of Nations.
Having discussed this request on September 20, the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks considered it possible to give positive answers to both of these questions. On September 21, the Soviet ambassador in Prague confirmed the readiness of the Soviet Union to provide such assistance. However, submitting to Anglo-French pressure, the Czechoslovak government capitulated, agreeing to satisfy Hitler's Berchtesgaden demands.
On September 22-23, Chamberlain again met with Hitler, who further tightened the requirements for Czechoslovakia and the deadlines for their implementation.
Taking advantage of the moment, Poland and Hungary expressed their territorial claims. This allowed Hitler to justify the annexation of the Sudetenland by the "international" nature of the demands on Czechoslovakia. In this situation, on the initiative of Mussolini, on September 29-30, 1938, a meeting of representatives of England, France, Germany and Italy was held in Munich, at which the Munich Agreement was signed on September 30 without the participation of representatives of Czechoslovakia (dated September 29).
According to this agreement, Czechoslovakia was supposed to clear the Sudetenland from October 1 to October 10 with all fortifications, structures, communication routes, factories, stocks of weapons, etc. Prague also pledged to satisfy the territorial claims of Hungary and Poland within three months. Additionally, a declaration was adopted in which Great Britain and France gave guarantees to the new borders of Czechoslovakia.
The government of Czechoslovakia obeyed the agreement adopted in Munich, and on October 1, 1938, units of the Wehrmacht occupied the Sudetenland. As a result, Czechoslovakia lost about 1/5 of its territory, about 5 million people (including 1.25 million Czechs and Slovaks), as well as 33% of industrial enterprises. The accession of the Sudetenland was a decisive step towards the final liquidation of the state independence of Czechoslovakia, which followed in March 1939, when Germany seized the entire territory of the country.
The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Czechoslovak state were restored as a result of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. According to the Treaty on Mutual Relations of 1973, Czechoslovakia and the Federal Republic of Germany recognized the Munich Agreement, "meaning their mutual relations in accordance with this Treaty, void".
The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources.
Munich Agreement 1938
background
Before the outbreak of World War II, Nazi Germany, without the use of military force, annexed a number of territories in Europe: Austria (see Anschluss) and the Sudetenland (1938), the central regions of the Czech Republic and the Memel (Klaipeda) region (1939). Here we will talk about the history of the annexation of the Sudetenland.
In 1938, 14 million people lived in Czechoslovakia, of which 3.5 million were ethnic Germans living compactly in the Sudetenland, as well as in Slovakia and Transcarpathian Ukraine (Carpathian Germans). The industry of Czechoslovakia, including the military, was one of the most developed in Europe. From the moment of occupation by Germany until the start of the war with Poland, the Skoda factories produced almost as much military products as the entire military industry of Great Britain produced during the same time. Czechoslovakia was one of the world's leading arms exporters, its army was superbly armed and backed by strong fortifications in the Sudetenland.
The Sudeten Germans, through the national-separatist Sudeten-German Party of K. Henlein, constantly announced the infringement of their rights by the Czechoslovak government. The government took a number of measures to ensure the representation of the Sudeten Germans in the National Assembly, local self-government, education in their native language, but the tension could not be removed. Based on these statements, Hitler in February 1938 appealed to the Reichstag with an appeal "to pay attention to the appalling living conditions of German brethren in Czechoslovakia."
First Sudeten Crisis
After the Anschluss of Austria in March 1938, Henlein arrives in Berlin, where he receives instructions on how to proceed. In April, his party adopted the so-called Carlsbad Program, which contained demands for autonomy. In May, the Henleinites intensify pro-German propaganda, put forward a demand for a referendum on the annexation of the Sudetenland to Germany, and on May 22, the day of municipal elections, prepare a putsch in order to turn these elections into a plebiscite. At the same time, the Wehrmacht was advancing to the Czechoslovak border. This provoked the first Sudeten Crisis. Partial mobilization took place in Czechoslovakia, troops were brought into the Sudetes and occupied border fortifications. At the same time, the USSR and France declared support for Czechoslovakia (in pursuance of the Soviet-French agreement of May 2, 1935 and the Soviet-Czechoslovak agreement of May 16, 1935). Even Italy, Germany's ally, protested against the forceful resolution of the crisis. An attempt to tear away the Sudetenland based on the separatist movement of the Sudeten Germans this time failed. Hitler moved on to negotiations. Negotiations were conducted between Henlein and the Czechoslovak government with the mediation of England (see the mission of Renisman).
Sudeten Crisis
On September 12, 1938, after the failure of negotiations, the second Sudeten crisis was provoked. The Henleinites organized mass demonstrations in the Sudetenland, which forced the government of Czechoslovakia to send troops into the German-populated areas and declare them under martial law. Henlein, avoiding arrest, fled to Germany. The next day, Chamberlain sent a telegram to Hitler of his readiness to visit him "for the sake of saving the world." September 15, 1938 Chamberlain arrives for a meeting with Hitler in the city of Berchtesgaden, in the Bavarian Alps. During this meeting, the Fuhrer announced that he wanted peace, but was ready for war because of the Czechoslovak problem. However, war can be avoided if Great Britain agrees to the transfer of the Sudetenland to Germany on the basis of the right of nations to self-determination. Chamberlain agreed with this.
On September 18, Anglo-French consultations were held in London. The parties agreed that territories inhabited by more than 50% of Germans should go to Germany, and that Great Britain and France would guarantee the new borders of Czechoslovakia. On September 20-21, the British and French envoys in Czechoslovakia told the Czechoslovak government that if it did not accept the Anglo-French proposals, the French government would "not fulfill the treaty" with Czechoslovakia. They also reported the following: “If the Czechs unite with the Russians, the war may take on the character of a crusade against the Bolsheviks. Then it will be very difficult for the governments of England and France to stand aside.” The Czech government refused to comply with these conditions.
September 22 Hitler issues an ultimatum: do not interfere with Germany in the occupation of the Sudetenland. In response, Czechoslovakia and France announce mobilization. On September 27, Hitler, before the threat of the outbreak of war, backs down and sends Chamberlain a letter in which he says that he does not want war, is ready to guarantee the security of the rest of Czechoslovakia and discuss the details of the agreement with Prague. September 29 in Munich, at the initiative of Hitler, he meets with the heads of government of Great Britain, France and Italy. However, contrary to their promise in a letter to Chamberlain, the Czechoslovak representatives were not allowed to discuss the agreement. The USSR was denied participation in the meeting.
Munich Agreement
The meeting in Munich took place on September 29-30. The basis of the agreement was the proposals of Italy, which practically did not differ in any way from the requirements put forward earlier by Hitler at a meeting with Chamberlain. Chamberlain and Daladier accepted these proposals. At one in the morning on September 30, 1938, Chamberlain, Daladier, Mussolini and Hitler signed the Munich Agreement. After that, the Czechoslovak delegation was admitted to the hall where this agreement was signed. The governments of Great Britain and France put pressure on the government of Czechoslovakia, so that, despite the confirmed determination of the USSR to provide military assistance and in the absence of French support, the Czech government accepted this agreement without the consent of the National Assembly.
Effects
Parade ribbon on the banner. Third Reich, 1938 (region annexed to Germany)
The rejection of the Sudetenland was only the beginning of the process of dismemberment of Czechoslovakia.
On October 1, 1938, Poland in an ultimatum demanded that the Czech Republic transfer to it the Teszyn region, the subject of territorial disputes between it and Czechoslovakia in 1918-1920. Left in international isolation, the Czechoslovak government was forced to accept the terms of the ultimatum.
Under pressure from Germany, the Czechoslovak government decides on October 7 to grant autonomy to Slovakia, and on October 8 to Transcarpathian Ukraine.
On November 2, 1938, Hungary, by decision of the First Vienna Arbitration, received the southern (flat) regions of Slovakia and Transcarpathian Ukraine with the cities of Uzhgorod, Mukachevo and Beregovo.
In March 1939, Germany occupied the stub left from Czechoslovakia, incorporating it into the Reich under the name "Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia." Significant stocks of weapons of the former Czechoslovak army, which made it possible to arm 9 infantry divisions, and Czech military factories fell into the hands of Germany. Before the attack on the USSR, out of 21 Wehrmacht tank divisions, 5 were equipped with Czechoslovak-made tanks.
March 19 - The government of the USSR presents a note to Germany, where it declares its non-recognition of the German occupation of part of the territory of Czechoslovakia.
The agreement signed in Munich was the culminating point of the English "policy of appeasement". One part of historians considers this policy an attempt to rebuild the crisis-ridden Versailles system of international relations through diplomacy, through agreements between the four great European powers. Chamberlain, returning from Munich to London at the gangway of the plane, declared: "I brought peace to our generation."
However, another part of historians believes that the true reason for this policy is an attempt by Western countries to crush an alien system at their side - the USSR. For example, British Deputy Foreign Secretary Cadogan wrote in his diary: "The Prime Minister [Chamberlain] said he would rather resign than sign an alliance with the Soviets." In this case, it seems that the “appeasement policy” is a clever multi-way combination to set Nazi Germany against the USSR, carried out since 1937, but in March 1939 failed. As a result, Hitler first captured almost all of continental Europe, and only then attacked the USSR.
Quotes About Collusion
Chamberlain - English politician
"I would rather resign than give a hand to the Soviets."
How terrible, fantastic and implausible is the very idea that we should dig trenches and try on gas masks here, at home, only because in one distant country people quarreled among themselves about whom we know nothing.
The Munich Treaty was an agreement on the Sudetenland. It was concluded by the major powers of Europe on September 30, 1938 in Germany in the city of Munich. At this conference, Adolf Hitler demanded that the Sudetenland be annexed to Germany. The treaty, which was signed by France, Great Britain, Italy and Nazi Germany, allowed the Sudetenland to become part of Germany. Thus, Czechoslovakia lost part of its territory.
Munich agreement
This caused very serious harm to Czechoslovakia, since the Sudetenland was of great strategic importance for it, this territory was the largest part of the country's border defense.
Representatives of Czechoslovakia were not present at this conference. The fate of this state was decided without his participation. This treaty is also called the Munich Treason.
Sudeten Germans
The Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia was mostly inhabited by ethnic Germans. They made up the majority of the population. Once they belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They became part of Czechoslovakia in 1918. Therefore, the Sudeten Germans protested against the Czechoslovaks. They declared the German-Austrian province of Sudetanland in 1918 in the month of October. But this was forbidden after according to the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which was concluded between the Allied Powers and the government of Czechoslovakia. Most of the Sudeten Germans did not want to be citizens of Czechoslovakia, as they were denied self-determination, which was promised to them by Woodrow Wilson, the President of the United States. This was enshrined in fourteen clauses of the treaty in January 1918.
The Sudetenland has always been part of the Kingdom of Bohemia. Therefore, they became part of Czechoslovakia. Part of the Germans have always considered themselves German-speaking Czechoslovaks and did not consider themselves Austrians or Germans who live on the territory of Czechoslovakia.
The situation is heating up
In March 1938, Austria was annexed by Germany to the Anschluss. Many then believed that the Sudetenland, with its entire German population, which was then led by the Nazi politician Konrad Henlein, would be the next demand, as he increasingly made loud speeches demanding that the German minority in Czechoslovakia be reunited with their historical homeland. Most people then believed that soon there would be war, and a peace treaty that would suit everyone would be impossible to achieve.
The Czechoslovak government counted on military and political assistance from France, because an alliance was concluded between France and Czechoslovakia. But France, then led by Edouard Daladier, was not ready either politically or by the army for war. The government of the French Republic struggled with the crisis in the country. And Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union had a peace treaty. Stalin was ready to cooperate with Great Britain and France.
Not a single state in Western Europe wanted war. Many at that time overestimated the military abilities of Adolf Hitler. France and Great Britain had military forces superior to those of Germany. These countries rapidly began to rearm. Hitler really hoped for a war with the West and believed that he could easily defeat him. With the fascist leader of Italy, Benito Mussolini, Hitler held a conference. But Mussolini was also not ready for a military conflict with Europe. He was also concerned about the ever-increasing German power.
Meeting between Hitler and Chamberlain
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain met with Hitler on September 15-16 in Berchtesgaden. They reached a preliminary agreement with Hitler that Germany would not take any military action without agreement. And Chamberlain, in turn, promised to convince the French and his cabinet to agree to the results of a referendum to be held in the Sudetenland.
After that, French Prime Minister Edouard Daladier and Foreign Minister Georges Bonnet met in London with British diplomats, after which they issued a joint statement that Germany should be betrayed by lands where the Germans made up more than 50% of the population. Czechoslovakia initially rejected this proposal.
But on September 21, the Czechoslovaks were forced to accept it. But for Hitler this was not enough. And already on September 22, Chamberlain and Hitler met in Godesberg, where Hitler said that now he wants the Sudetenland to be occupied by the German army, and that the Czechoslovaks leave these territories before September 28, 1938. Hitler sought hegemony in Europe.
Chamberlain was forced to agree with him. He presented the new agreement to the government of Czechoslovakia. But the Czechoslovaks rejected him. The French, as well as the British Cabinet, did not agree with this proposal.
On September 23, Czechoslovakia announced a general mobilization, and on September 24, the French also announced a partial mobilization. After the First World War, this was the first mobilization of the French. To avoid war, Chamberlain suggested that a conference be called to settle the dispute.
Four parties were to participate in it. Hitler, although very much desiring war, agreed with this. The meeting took place in Munich on 29 September. It was attended by Hitler, Chamberlain, Mussolini and Daladier.
Signing an agreement
The agreement was reached on 29 September. And on September 30, Neville Chamberlain, Adolf Hitler, Edouard Daladier and Benito Mussolini signed the Munich Treaty. This treaty was officially proposed by Mussolini, but in fact it was prepared by the German Foreign Office. This almost completely coincided with Godesberg's proposal, according to which the German army was to occupy the Sudetenland until October 10, and an international commission would decide the future of other disputed territories.
Great Britain and France informed Czechoslovakia that she would either oppose Germany or submit to annexation. The government of Czechoslovakia was forced to accept this agreement, as it realized the hopelessness of the fight against Germany. On October 10, the lands passed to Germany, which now controlled the main part of Czechoslovakia. Hitler promised to go further.
On September 30, after some respite, Chamberlain visited Hitler with a request to sign a peace treaty between Britain and Germany. Hitler agreed. After that, Chamberlain said that the solution of the Czechoslovak question would be a prelude to achieving peace in Europe.
A new treaty was signed at Führerbau. Chamberlain believed that he brought peace to Great Britain. Hitler was furious. He believed that he was humiliated and now forced to act as a bourgeois politician.
British reaction
At first, the British accepted the treaty positively, as they expected war. But then their opinion changed. Chamberlain was under the patronage of the royal family. He was invited to Buckingham Palace as a hero. But when he presented the treaty in Parliament, the opposition opposed it.
Winston Churchill also condemned this agreement in the House of Commons.
In the Soviet Union, this treaty was ridiculed by cartoonists Kukryniksy. They depicted Western states offering Czechoslovakia to Hitler on a platter. Soviet politicians said that Czechoslovakia would be completely absorbed into the Nazi regime, and warned that this would lead to war and catastrophe on a world scale, and the consequences would be horrendous. All this was said against Western democracies. The Soviet Union warned that this was only the first step, and that the Soviet state was just getting on its feet, and the world was already on the brink of war again, and our people would stand up for freedom, as in the old days.
Hitler, Daladier and Stalin
Hitler now began to despise Chamberlain. He said that the British diplomat was insolent, and his speech was the absurd jargon of an outdated democracy. Hitler called him a stupid old man.
Daladier, unlike Chamberlain, had no illusions about Hitler's ultimate goals. He told the British in 1938 that Hitler's ultimate goal was dominance in Europe and Asia, and that Napoleon's goals were much smaller. He warned that after Czechoslovakia it would be the turn of Poland and Romania, and when the Germans provided themselves with oil and wheat, which they did not have, they would encroach on the West. He urged to increase efforts to avoid war. This requires that France and Britain come together to negotiate concessions, but at the same time they will defend the independence of Czechoslovakia. If this does not happen, then war cannot be avoided. But, nevertheless, Daladier allowed Chamberlain to go his own way, he was very discouraged by his decadent moods.
Stalin was also dissatisfied and upset with the results of the Munich Conference. There was no one from the Soviet Union at this conference, although the USSR was considered a major power. Britain and France used the Soviet Union as a threat to Hitler. Stalin believed that Western countries colluded with Hitler in order for the USSR to be absorbed into Nazi Germany. He feared that the USSR would be destroyed and divided by the Western powers among themselves. Therefore, he signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Nazi Germany in 1939.
Czechoslovakia
Citizens of Czechoslovakia were also unhappy with this agreement. Many of them left the Sudetenland, moving to the south of Slovakia, which was then occupied by Hungary. The President of Czechoslovakia, Edvard Benes, could then declare war at any time. As a result of the rejection of the Sudeten territories, Czechoslovakia lost 70% of iron, 70% of electricity and 3.5 million citizens.
Invasion of Czechoslovakia
In 1937, Germany developed a plan called "Operation Green" to invade Czechoslovakia. The Germans, who included Austria in the Reich, believed that they were surrounded by hostile states. They carried out their plan on March 15, 1939. German troops occupied Prague, the rest of Bohemia and Moravia, as Churchill had predicted. These lands were transformed into a protectorate of the Reich. Slovakia became a separate state.
Beginning of World War II
Chamberlain finally realized that he had made a mistake by believing Hitler. His policy failed. After that, he took a tougher stance against the Nazis. Britain began to mobilize the armed forces. France did the same.
At the same time, Italy invaded Albania in April 1939.
The attack of Hitler's Germany on Poland in September 1939 was the beginning of the Second World War.
Munich Agreement 1938(in Soviet historiography usually Munich agreement; Czech Mnichovska dohoda; Slovak Mnichovska dohoda; German Munchner Abkommen; fr. Accords de Munich; ital. Accordi di Monaco)) - an agreement drawn up in Munich on September 29, 1938 and signed on September 30 of the same year by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, French Prime Minister Edouard Daladier, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler and Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini. The agreement concerned the transfer of the Sudetenland by Czechoslovakia to Germany.
background
In 1938, 14 million people lived in Czechoslovakia, of which 3.5 million were ethnic Germans living compactly in the Sudetenland, as well as in Slovakia and Transcarpathian Ukraine (Carpathian Germans). The industry of Czechoslovakia, including the military, was one of the most developed in Europe. From the moment of occupation by Germany until the start of the war with Poland, the Skoda factories produced almost as much military products as the entire military industry of Great Britain produced during the same time. Czechoslovakia was one of the world's leading exporters of weapons, its army was superbly armed and relied on powerful fortifications in the Sudetenland.
The Sudeten Germans, through the mouth of the head of the national-separatist Sudeten-German Party, K. Henlein, constantly announced the infringement of their rights by the Czechoslovak government. The government took a number of measures to ensure the representation of the Sudeten Germans in the National Assembly, local self-government, education in their native language, but the tension could not be removed. Based on these statements, Hitler in February 1938 appealed to the Reichstag with an appeal "to pay attention to the appalling living conditions of German brethren in Czechoslovakia."
First Sudeten Crisis
After the Anschluss of Austria in March 1938, Henlein arrives in Berlin, where he receives instructions on how to proceed. In April, his party adopted the so-called Carlsbad Program, which contained demands for autonomy. In May, the Henleinists activate pro-German propaganda, put forward a demand for a referendum on the annexation of the Sudetenland to Germany, and on May 22, the day of municipal elections, prepare a putsch in order to turn these elections into a plebiscite. At the same time, the Wehrmacht was advancing to the Czechoslovak border. This provoked the first Sudeten Crisis. Partial mobilization took place in Czechoslovakia, troops were brought into the Sudetes and occupied border fortifications. At the same time, the USSR and France declared support for Czechoslovakia (in pursuance of the Soviet-French treaty of May 2, 1935 and the Soviet-Czechoslovak treaty of May 16, 1935). Even Italy, Germany's ally, protested against the forceful resolution of the crisis. An attempt to tear away the Sudetenland based on the separatist movement of the Sudeten Germans this time failed. Hitler moved on to negotiations. Negotiations were conducted between Henlein and the Czechoslovak government through the mediation of England.
Second Sudeten Crisis
On September 12, 1938, after the failure of negotiations, a second Sudeten crisis was provoked. The Henleinites organized mass demonstrations in the Sudetenland, which forced the government of Czechoslovakia to send troops into the German-populated areas and declare martial law there. Henlein, avoiding arrest, fled to Germany. The next day, Chamberlain sent a telegram to Hitler of his readiness to visit him "for the sake of saving the world." September 15, 1938 Chamberlain arrives for a meeting with Hitler in the city of Berchtesgaden, in the Bavarian Alps. During this meeting, the Fuhrer announced that he wanted peace, but was ready for war because of the Czechoslovak problem. However, war can be avoided if Great Britain agrees to the transfer of the Sudetenland to Germany on the basis of the right of nations to self-determination. Chamberlain agreed with this.
On September 18, Anglo-French consultations were held in London. The parties agreed that territories inhabited by more than 50% of Germans should go to Germany, and that Great Britain and France would guarantee the new borders of Czechoslovakia. On September 20-21, the British and French envoys in Czechoslovakia told the Czechoslovak government that if it did not accept the Anglo-French proposals, the French government would "not fulfill the treaty" with Czechoslovakia. They also reported the following: “If the Czechs unite with the Russians, the war may take on the character of a crusade against the Bolsheviks. Then it will be very difficult for the governments of England and France to stand aside.” The Czech government refused to comply with these conditions.
September 22 Hitler issues an ultimatum: do not interfere with Germany in the occupation of the Sudetenland. In response, Czechoslovakia and France announce mobilization. On September 27, Hitler, before the threat of the outbreak of war, backs down and sends Chamberlain a letter in which he says that he does not want war, is ready to guarantee the security of the rest of Czechoslovakia and discuss the details of the agreement with Prague. September 29 in Munich, at the initiative of Hitler, he meets with the heads of government of Great Britain, France and Italy. However, contrary to the promise in the letter to Chamberlain, the Czechoslovak representatives were not allowed to discuss the agreement. The USSR was denied participation in the meeting.
Munich Agreement
The meeting in Munich at the Führerbau took place on September 29-30. The basis of the agreement was the proposals of Italy, which practically did not differ in any way from the requirements put forward earlier by Hitler at a meeting with Chamberlain. Chamberlain and Daladier accepted these proposals. At one in the morning on September 30, 1938, Chamberlain, Daladier, Mussolini and Hitler signed the Munich Agreement. After that, the Czechoslovak delegation was admitted to the hall where this agreement was signed. The leadership of Great Britain and France put pressure on the government of Czechoslovakia, and President Benes, without the consent of the National Assembly, accepted this agreement for execution.
Effects
The rejection of the Sudetenland was only the beginning of the process of dismemberment of Czechoslovakia.
Poland took part in the division of Czechoslovakia: on September 21, 1938, in the midst of the Sudeten crisis, Polish leaders presented an ultimatum to the Czechs about the "return" of the Teszyn region, where 80 thousand Poles and 120 thousand Czechs lived. On September 27, another demand was made. Anti-Czech hysteria was being whipped up in the country. On behalf of the so-called "Union of Silesian Insurgents" in Warsaw, recruitment into the Cieszyn Volunteer Corps was quite open. Detachments of "volunteers" then went to the Czechoslovak border, where they staged armed provocations and sabotage, attacked weapons depots. Polish planes violated the border of Czechoslovakia daily. Polish diplomats in London and Paris advocated an equal approach to solving the Sudetenland and Cieszyn problems, while the Polish and German military, meanwhile, were already agreeing on the line of demarcation of troops in the event of an invasion of Czechoslovakia. On the same day with the conclusion of the Munich agreement, on September 30, Poland sent another ultimatum to Prague and, simultaneously with the German troops, brought its army into the Teszyn region, the subject of territorial disputes between it and Czechoslovakia in 1918-1920. Left in international isolation, the Czechoslovak government was forced to accept the terms of the ultimatum.
Under pressure from Germany, the Czechoslovak government decides on October 7 to grant autonomy to Slovakia, and on October 8 to Subcarpathian Rus.
On November 2, 1938, Hungary, by decision of the First Vienna Arbitration, received the southern (flat) regions of Slovakia and Transcarpathian Ukraine (Podcarpathian Rus) with the cities of Uzhgorod, Mukachevo and Beregovo.
In March 1939, Germany occupied the rest of the territory of Czechoslovakia, incorporating it into the Reich under the name "Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia". The Czechoslovak army did not put up any noticeable resistance to the invaders. Germany received significant stocks of weapons from the former Czechoslovak army, which made it possible to equip 9 infantry divisions, and Czech military factories. Before the attack on the USSR, out of 21 Wehrmacht tank divisions, 5 were equipped with Czechoslovak-made tanks.
March 19 - The government of the USSR presents a note to Germany, where it declares its non-recognition of the German occupation of part of the territory of Czechoslovakia.
The agreement signed in Munich was the culminating point of the English "policy of appeasement". One part of historians considers this policy an attempt to rebuild the crisis-ridden Versailles system of international relations through diplomacy, through agreements between the four great European powers. Chamberlain, returning from Munich to London, at the gangway of the plane said: "I brought peace to our generation." Another part of historians believes that the real reason for this policy is an attempt by capitalist countries to crush an alien system at their side - the USSR. For example, British Deputy Foreign Secretary Cadogan wrote in his diary: “Prime Minister ( Chamberlain) declared that he would rather resign than sign an alliance with the Soviets. The slogan of the conservatives at the time was:
On the eve of Chamberlain's meeting with Hitler, on September 10, 1938, Sir Horace Wilson, the prime minister's closest adviser on all political matters, invited Chamberlain to declare to the German leader that he highly appreciated the opinion that "Germany and England are the two pillars that maintain peace of order against destructive pressure of Bolshevism", and that therefore he "desires not to do anything that could weaken the rebuff that we can together give to those who threaten our civilization."
Thus, the “appeasement policy” pursued since 1937 did not justify itself: Hitler used England to strengthen Germany, then captured almost the entire continental Europe, after which he attacked the USSR.
Quotes
“Future historians, after a thousand years, will try in vain to comprehend the secrets of our politics. They will never be able to understand how it happened that a people that won a victory, having something for its soul, stooped to such a fall, blew everything that it won as a result of immeasurable sacrifices and decisive triumph over the enemy. They will not understand why the victors were defeated, and those who lay down on the battlefield and prayed for a truce are now going to dominate the world.
from Churchill's speech in the English Parliament on March 24, 1937.
During the signing of the Munich Agreement. From left to right: Chamberlain, Daladier, Hitler, Mussolini and Ciano
From the very beginning of his political activity, Hitler conducted active propaganda among the German population about the suffering and terrible living conditions of several million Germans living in Czechoslovakia in the Sudetes (about 90% of the population of the region), Slovakia and Transcarpathian Ukraine (Carpathian Germans) and under the yoke of the Slavic population countries. The reasons for the appearance of the Germans in this area go back to the 13th century, when the Czech kings invited settlers to deserted areas on the borders of the Czech kingdom. The situation began to worsen when Germany openly began to support fascist-type parties in the Sudetenland. One of them, the National Separatist Party of Konrad Henlein, won the elections in 1935. The provocations and riots organized by this gang of Hitler's henchmen heated the atmosphere in the Sudetenland, and the government of Czechoslovakia had to take a number of retaliatory measures (representation of the Germans in the National Assembly, local self-government, education in the native language) designed to reduce tension in the region. But in April, Henlein's completely insolent party threateningly put forward demands for the autonomy of the region. At the same time, German military units began to move, located near the Czechoslovak border. In response, with the support of the USSR and France, the Czechoslovak troops occupy the Sudetenland. Frightened, Hitler sends Henlein to negotiations with the Czechoslovak government, which, however, lead to nothing and end on September 7 after a series of provoked riots and clashes between the Sudeten Germans and regular troops. Hitler publicly declares that he sincerely wants peace, but if the government of Czechoslovakia does not withdraw troops from the Sudetenland, he will be forced to start a war. On a mission to "save the whole world," Chamberlain meets him on September 15 in the Bavarian Alps. On it, the Führer convincingly proves that territories inhabited by more than 50 percent of Germans are obliged to pass to Germany, allegedly on the basis of the right of nations to self-determination. Chamberlain agrees, and Great Britain, and later France, act as guarantors of the new borders of Czechoslovakia. On September 21, the envoys of these great powers announce an ultimatum to the Czechoslovak government, which was limply accepted by President Edvard Beneš. After that, a general strike was declared in the country, protest demonstrations and a change of government took place, and a general mobilization was announced. The flight of Jews, Czechs and German anti-fascists begins from the Sudetenland. Even without the support of France, the USSR declares its readiness to fulfill its obligations to defend Czechoslovakia. There are official documents that Moscow has offered Prague very specific plans for assistance in the use of ground forces and the transfer of fighters in order to strengthen the capabilities of the Czechoslovak military aviation. On the southwestern and western borders, rifle divisions, tank units, aviation and air defense forces of our country were put on alert. But then Poland announced that it would not let the Red Army through its territory, warning of a blow to the flank in the event of the advancement of Soviet troops and the destruction of any aircraft flying over its airspace. The decisive factor was the refusal to help Czechoslovakia itself, which, obviously, Stalin inspired no less fear than Hitler.
It is also known that England and France put pressure on Czechoslovakia: “If the Czechs unite with the Russians, the war may take on the character of a crusade against the Bolsheviks. Then it will be very difficult for the governments of England and France to stand aside.”
Seeing the mobilization of the Czechoslovak military, Hitler informs the ambassadors of England and France that he is being forced to start a war. Continuous columns of soldiers, armed from head to toe, grimly march through the streets of Berlin.
Chamberlain (left) and Hitler meeting in Bad Godesberg, September 23, 1938. In the middle is the chief translator Dr. Paul Schmidt
On September 26, at the Berlin Sports Palace, the Fuhrer declared: "If by October 1, the Sudetenland is not transferred to Germany, I, Hitler, myself will go, as the first soldier, against Czechoslovakia."
Here he declared: "After the Sudeten-German question is settled, we will not have any further territorial claims in Europe ... We do not need the Czechs."
Chamberlain immediately assures Hitler that everything will work out "without war and without delay." To resolve this issue, on September 29, 1938, the heads of governments of Germany, Italy, Great Britain and France (Hitler, Mussolini, Chamberlain and Daladier, respectively) gathered in Hitler's Munich residence "Fuhrerbau".
On September 28, an emergency meeting of the English House of Commons was held. Chamberlain addressed the House: “I must make an additional message to the House. Herr Hitler announces that he invites me to meet him tomorrow morning in Munich. Members of Parliament, dreaming of an agreement with Hitler, greeted this statement with thunderous applause.
At 12:45 p.m., a conference of plenipotentiaries opened in the Brown House. Contrary to Chamberlain's promise, Czechoslovak envoys were not admitted, and the USSR was denied participation altogether. During the two-day negotiations, the fate of Czechoslovakia was finally decided. Its representatives were invited and announced in a "recommendatory" form a verdict - to transfer to Germany the Sudetenland and areas bordering the former Austria, with all property, including weapons and fortifications. Czechoslovakia was supposed to clear the transferred territories from 1 to 10 October. The agreement also prescribed to settle the issue of the Polish and Hungarian national minorities in the country, which meant the rejection of other parts of its territory from Czechoslovakia in favor of Poland and Hungary. The Munich Agreement was signed at one in the morning on September 30, 1938 by Hitler, Chamberlain, Daladier and Mussolini. Vojtech Mastny and Hubert Masaryk also signed the treaty on behalf of the Czechoslovak people. In case of non-fulfilment, France disclaimed any responsibility for the defense of Czechoslovakia from German aggression.
Returning from Munich to London, Chamberlain at the gangway said: "I brought peace to our generation."
Daladier was already met at the airport by a huge crowd shouting: “Long live Daladier! Long live the world!
Churchill assessed the results of Munich in a completely different way: “England had to choose between war and disgrace. Its ministers have chosen disgrace in order to get war.”
Welcoming Chamberlain in the House of Commons, Churchill sullenly said: “Do not think that this is the end. This is just the beginning of the payoff. This is the first sip. The first foretaste of that bitter cup that will be offered to us year after year.
Édouard Daladier (center) with Joachim von Ribbentrop at a meeting in Munich in 1938
The Munich Agreement became an exemplary example of a betrayal committed on a national scale, and the culminating point of the English "policy of appeasement". The French could easily mobilize an army in order to throw the German units out of the Rhine zone within a few hours, but they did not. Everyone wanted Germany to move east, finally attacking our country.
The French ambassador in Moscow, Robert Coulondre, noted: “The Munich agreement is a particularly strong threat to the Soviet Union. After the neutralization of Czechoslovakia, Germany opened the way to the southeast. This is also stated in the diplomatic documents of France, Germany, Italy, the USA, Poland and a number of other countries.
The slogan of the British Conservatives at the time was: "For Britain to live, Bolshevism must die."
On the territory of the Sudetes, after October 1, 1938, Czech parties, the Czech language, books, newspapers and much more were banned. Under pressure from Germany, the Czechoslovak government on October 7 recognized the autonomy of Slovakia, and on October 8 a conclusion was made on granting autonomy to Transcarpathian Ukraine. Even earlier, on October 1, Poland presented Czechoslovakia with ultimatum demands, supported by the Nazis, for the transfer of the Teszyn region to it. Thus, the divided, devoid of border fortifications and economically bled country turned out to be defenseless against the Nazi invaders. In March 1939, the Nazis began the final liquidation of Czechoslovakia as a state. On the night of March 14-15, the President of the Czech Republic Hacha, summoned to Berlin, signed Hitler's statement on the inadmissibility of any resistance to the invasion of German troops.
On the same day, Hitler declared: "I am not boasting, but I must say that I did it really elegantly."
On March 15, German troops occupied Bohemia and Moravia, which remained from the once united Czechoslovakia, declaring a protectorate over them. The Germans took no steps to keep their actions secret, but there was no protest from the Western powers.
To all questions, Chamberlain only answered: "Czechoslovakia ceased to exist as a result of internal disintegration."
Daladier demanded to suppress the protest of the Communist Party. The Plenipotentiary of the USSR in France wrote: “The majority of the chamber answered this demand with a thunderous ovation. A more shameful spectacle could hardly be imagined ... ".
The Soviet Union was the only country willing to help the Czechoslovak Republic. But the ruling circles of that country did not accept our support this time either.
The Soviet government stated: "We cannot recognize the inclusion of the Czech Republic in the German Empire, and in one form or another also Slovakia, lawful and in accordance with the generally recognized norms of international law and justice or the principle of self-determination of peoples."
As a result of the occupation of Czechoslovakia, one of the forces that could potentially serve the cause of defeating the Nazis disappeared in the center of Europe. When Hitler visited this "new territory of the Reich", he expressed his joy that the Wehrmacht did not have to storm the lines of the Czechoslovak defenses, for which the Germans would have to pay dearly. From a military point of view, Germany's gain was enormous. The Wehrmacht acquired excellent army weapons and factories that produced these weapons, and in fact the industry of Czechoslovakia was at that time one of the most developed in Europe. Before the attack on the USSR, out of 21 Wehrmacht tank divisions, 5 were equipped with Czechoslovak-made tanks. Germany also received all the trump cards for an attack on Poland from several directions, which until the very end fancied itself an ally of Germany and, together with it, merrily dismembered Czechoslovakia. But after a few months, Poland was gone, and Slovak soldiers were photographed against the backdrop of burnt houses and Polish prisoners of war.
The Munich model did not work. The war began in the West, culminating in the shameful capitulation of France, a change of cabinet in England, and the formation of an anti-Hitler coalition according to the scheme proposed by the Soviet Union back in 1935. England came to its senses, a little later the United States, and then France under the leadership of de Gaulle jumped on the bandwagon of the departing train. In 1942, Great Britain and France, in 1944 Italy, in 1950 the GDR and in 1973 the FRG declared the Munich Agreement initially invalid.