The Sudetenland Crisis - Czechoslovakia

Uniting German Speaking People in the East

Over three million German-speaking people lived near the border of Czechoslovakia and Germany in a region called Sudetenland. They were to become the next targets of integration into the German state. Utilizing the successful formula used in Austria, a Nazi styled party called the Sudeten German Party began causing trouble. Konrad Henlein, who was an ex-physical education teacher, led the party. He was paid and received orders from Hitler.

The plan was to cause riots and disorder throughout the Sudetenland, while claiming that the Czechoslovakian government was discriminating against German-speaking people. Hitler would once again step in to stop the riots and protect German-speaking interests. This time, as the German Army moved to the border, the Czechoslovakian government ordered its army to get ready to fight. War between the two nations seemed imminent.

The Czechoslovakian Army was small, but one of the best trained and equipped in all of Europe. Furthermore, Czechoslovakia had a strong alliance with France, and France was finally ready to fight. Hitler panicked. He knew the Czech army was an excellent fighting force, and furthermore, he did not want to fight a two-front war. Hitler quickly called off the invasion and retreated to watch events unfold. As luck would have it, England would end up giving Hitler Czechoslovakia.