The Sudetenland Crisis

1. Hitler And The
Sudetenland
(1938)
Sudetenland

2. The Sudetenland
•Czechoslovakia was a country
created by the Treaty of
Versailles, after WWI.
•A part of it used to belong to
Germany.
•The Sudetenland was an
important industrial area.

3. Introduction
•The leader of
Czechoslovakia (Edward
Benes) was concerned
about Hitler.
•He asked Britain and
France to support
Czechoslovakia in case it
was invaded. Both
accepted.
•Chamberlain (British
Chancellor) asked Hitler if
he was planning
something on
Czechoslovakia. Hitler
promised he did not.

4. •Despite his promise, Hitler did have
designs on Czechoslovakia
•Many Germans lived in the Sudetenland; a
Nazi leader in the Sudetenland convinced
the Germans to demand to be part of
Germany.

5. What Hitler Did and When
•1) April, 1938: Hitler said he would not
attack Czechoslovakia.
•2) May, 1938: Hitler said he would fight
against Czechoslovakia if necessary.
•3) September 15th, 1938: Hitler said he
was interested in only some parts of the
Sudetenland.
•4) September 22nd, 1938: Hitler declared
that he wanted to take control of all the
Sudetenland.
•5) October, 1938: Hitler sent his troops to
the Sudetenland.
•6) March, 1939: Hitler took over the rest
of Czechoslovakia.

6. Reasons for Hitler’s Actions
•Excuse: Hitler claimed that
the Czech government was
mistreating the Germans
in the Sudetenland and
that he intended to
“rescue” them (by October
1st). Chaimberlain told
Hitler that his demands
were unreasonable.
Real reason: Hitler wanted to expand his territories
and wanted the industrial area.

7. Response from Britain and France
•Britain and France’s plan
was to give Hitler the
parts of the Sudetenland
that he wanted.
•At the second meeting,
Hitler increased his
demands. He asked for all
the Sudeteland as he
regretted that the
previous terms arranged
were not enough.

8. The meeting in Munich on September 29th
•With Mussolini’s help, a final meeting
in Munich of the leaders of Britain,
Germany, France and Italy decided to
give Hitler what he wanted.
•They announced that Czechoslovakia
was to lose the Sudetenland. They did
not consult Czechoslovakia or USSR.
•This is known as the Munich
agreement.
•Britain & France feared Hitler so, in
order to avoid war, they gave him
what he wanted

9. Why Was This A Cause for WWII ?
•Because France and Britain
betrayed Czechoslovakia.
•Germany lost Britain and
France’s trust.
•Hitler invaded the whole
country, there was no peaceful
objective and it created more
tension in Europe.

10. Group members:
•Francisco Moreno
•Alejo Zubizarreta
•Olivia Arcuri
•Micaela Cardalda
•Victoria Nielsen