Anchluss, 1938
- Versailles forbade a unification of Germany and Austria
- 1934 Dolfuss affair (Nazis assassinate Austrian Chancellor)
- 1938 Hitler called on new Chancellor Schuschnigg to resign
- Leader of Austria Nazi party Seyss-Inquart becomes new Chancellor
- March 1938 German troops roll into Austria
- "Plebiscite" is held -99.75% vote in favour of unification
The Appeasers' reaction
- British do nothing and warn Schuschnigg not to cause trouble
- The French won't do anything without the British
- Italy was the only objection, but Mussolini gave his approval
- Hitler to Mussolini "I will never ever forget this"
The Sudentenland
- Ethnic German area of Czechoslovakia where 3.5 mil. Germans lived
- Br. P.M. Neville Chamberlain wants Czech leader, Benes to give up the Sudentenland
- Hopes to prevent war
- Hitler threatens to occupy
Neville Chamberlain and the Munich Agreement
- Mussolini steps in with a four power conference in Munich
- Benes resigns in favour of Emil Hacha who agrees to the annexation
- Neville Chamberlain proclaims "Peace in our Time"
- Hitler still recognized Slovak state - moved in German troops to "protect" it
- Hacha visits Hitler in March 1939 - gives up Czech independence
Quotes
- "This is the second time that there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe this is peace for our time" - British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain (This is ironic, because 4 months later, the biggest war in history happened!)
- "I have no more territorial claims to make in Europe" - Adolf Hitler
Summary
The final acts of appeasement focused mainly on the beginning of the Second World War, leading up to it. Neville Chamberlain and Emil Hacha had quite big roles to play in the final acts. Chamberlain wants the Czech leader, Benes to give up Sudentenland, hoping to prevent a war. Emil Hacha agrees to go ahead with the annexation of Benes and later visits Hitler to give up Czech Independence.