The Munich Agreement of 1938 as a prologue to the beginning of World War II

On the historical The photo contains Nazi symbols. They are prohibited in the Russian Federation

The Munich Betrayal, also known as the Munich Agreement, was an international treaty signed on September 30, 1938, by representatives of four countries: Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy. This agreement was one of the key events of the pre-war period and had a significant impact on the development of World War II.

By the late 1930s, the situation in Europe was becoming increasingly tense. After Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, Nazi policy began to move aggressively toward revising the Treaty of Versailles signed after World War I. Germany actively sought to expand its territory, which became especially noticeable in 1938, when Hitler annexed Austria (Anschluss) without encountering significant resistance from the world community.

The next target of the Nazi regime was Czechoslovakia, or more specifically the Sudetenland, a region populated predominantly by ethnic Germans. Hitler began to actively promote the idea that the German population of the Sudetenland was suffering from oppression by the Czechoslovak government, which became a pretext for demands for the region to be annexed by Germany.

Finally, against the backdrop of growing tensions, on September 29, 1938, the leaders of four European powers met in Munich: Adolf Hitler (Germany), Neville Chamberlain (Great Britain), Edouard Daladier (France) and Benito Mussolini (Italy). The goal of the meeting was to resolve the conflict over the Sudetenland and prevent a possible war in Europe.

Czechoslovakia was not invited to participate in the negotiations, which immediately put it in a vulnerable position. Despite the fact that Great Britain and France were its allies, their leaders preferred not to enter into conflict with Nazi Germany and accepted Hitler's demands.

On September 30, 1938, the "Munich Agreement" was signed, handing over the Sudetenland to Germany. Chamberlain, returning to London with the document known as the "Munich Agreement", declared that he had brought "peace for our time". French Prime Minister Edouard Daladier also supported the decision, although he later admitted that it was a mistake.

Ultimately, the Munich Agreement had far-reaching consequences for Europe and the world. First, it became a symbol of the Western democracies' policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany. The policy of concessions, according to its proponents, was supposed to prevent a major war, but in practice it only increased Hitler's appetite and strengthened his confidence that the Western powers would not dare to take military action.

Secondly, the "Munich Agreement" undermined the credibility of Great Britain and France among their allies in Eastern Europe, especially Czechoslovakia, which was effectively betrayed by its guarantors. Already in March 1939, Hitler violated the terms of the agreement by occupying the rest of Czechoslovakia. This event demonstrated the illusory nature of the policy of appeasement.

Finally, the Munich Agreement strengthened Nazi Germany's position in Europe and hastened the approach of World War II. The occupation of Czechoslovakia provided Hitler not only with strategic positions, but also with significant industrial resources, which strengthened Germany's military power.

Comments

[Shurik70]

And why is the beginning of World War II considered to be the attack of Germany on Poland?
World War II began with a joint attack by Germany and Poland on Czechoslovakia.
With the full approval of England, France and Italy.

[Smoked]

Actually, since Japan's attack on China.

[Shurik70]

Quote: Smoked

Actually, since Japan's attack on China.

We are talking about a global mess.
And here there are only two participants. And at first even without England, it only tried to get at least some benefit in deliveries to Japan in the year following the beginning.
But Czechoslovakia - here both England and France have joined in. Without them, there are no world wars.

[Smoked]

That is it, the beginning of the world mess. Although yes, some Chinese, who cares about these yellow-faces.

[svp67]

Quote: Shurik70

And why is the beginning of World War II considered to be the attack of Germany on Poland?

Well, the question is debatable. China considers its beginning to be 1937 - the beginning of the war with Japan.

[Gardamir]

World War II began with a joint attack by Germany and Poland on Czechoslovakia.

Absolutely right. But the enemies of Russia benefit from the date where the Soviet Union allegedly "offended" poor Poland together with Nazi Germany. Note that the Munich Agreement is different. But the USSR, forced to come to an agreement with Germany after that, is the embodiment of evil.

[K-50]

The Munich Agreement of 1938 as a prologue to the beginning of World War II

For some reason, everyone agreed to consider the beginning with the attack on Poland.
Here is the true beginning, as well as the attack on Czechoslovakia by Germany and Poland.
This is where the bloody events of the mid-twentieth century began.
And so one of the instigators of that war, the Poles, remained beyond the jurisdiction of the military tribunal.

[Arnok]

Hitler began to actively promote the idea that the German population of the Sudetenland was suffering from oppression at the hands of the Czechoslovak government, which became a pretext for demands for the region to be annexed by Germany.

You guys should be more careful, otherwise you never know, someone might see some familiar parallels and blah-blah-blah, chase the geese away

[Vol Dimir]

The leaders of leading European countries have approved further sanctions against Russia.

[Illanatol]

Hitler began to actively promote the idea that the German population of the Sudetenland was suffering from oppression at the hands of the Czechoslovak government, which became a pretext for demands for the region to be annexed by Germany.

Which, by the way, really happened. If Hitler had limited himself to returning the German territories that had been taken away as a result of WWI and the Anschluss of Austria, he would have gone down in history as a completely progressive politician and "savior of the Fatherland", of whom the Germans would still be proud. He would have died in honor, like General Franco.
Still, in politics it is very important to stop in time...

[Grancer81]

But he could not stop, because the ideology of his party envisaged the expansion of Germany to the East. That same Drang nach Osten that England and France believed in.
But England and France did not foresee that the Third Reich could slightly change the direction of the attack.

[Grancer81]

The prologue to World War II began when Adolf Hitler refused to comply with the Treaty of Versailles with the tacit consent of England, France and the United States and began the formation of the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine.