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The more Hitler grabbed, the more he wanted. He turned to western Czechoslovakia, which had a large number of German speakers.  In September 1938 he demanded that this region, the Sudetenland, submit to Germany and join it.  But the Czech government refused and turned to France for assistance.

The more Hitler grabbed, the more he wanted. He turned to western Czechoslovakia, which had a large number of German speakers.  In September 1938 he demanded that this region, the Sudetenland, submit to Germany and join it.  But the Czech government refused and turned to France for assistance.

Mussolini called for the Munich Conference in September 1938 to address this crisis about Czechoslovakia.  Germany, Italy, Britain and France were invited, while Stalin’s Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia were not.  In a classic example of making a deal with the devil, Britain and France agreed to allow Hitler to take the Sudetenland in exchange for his promise to stop there and not invade Czechoslovakia further.  British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, in one of the worst blunders in the history of the world, insisted that appeasing Hitler was the best approach.  Chamberlain received a hero’s welcome on his return to England, and he declared that he had achieved “peace in our time.”  An English newspaper justified the appeasement by claiming that Germans were simply “going into their own back yard.”  But within six months, Hitler annexed all of Czechoslovakia and then Mussolini grabbed Albania.  Chamberlain was discredited, and his major critic (the conservative Winston Churchill) soon replaced him.

Mussolini called for the Munich Conference in September 1938 to address this crisis about Czechoslovakia.  Germany, Italy, Britain and France were invited, while Stalin’s Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia were not.  In a classic example of making a deal with the devil, Britain and France agreed to allow Hitler to take the Sudetenland in exchange for his promise to stop there and not invade Czechoslovakia further.  British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, in one of the worst blunders in the history of the world, insisted that appeasing Hitler was the best approach.  Chamberlain received a hero’s welcome on his return to England, and he declared that he had achieved “peace in our time.”  An English newspaper justified the appeasement by claiming that Germans were simply “going into their own back yard.”  But within six months, Hitler annexed all of Czechoslovakia and then Mussolini grabbed Albania.  Chamberlain was discredited, and his major critic (the more conservative Winston Churchill) replaced him in 1940.

Hitler was now ready to make his big move.  He demanded that Poland give back a former German seaport known as Danzig.  Poland refused and prepared to defend against a German invasion.  Courageous Polish soldiers on horses defended against German tanks.  Poland obtained the support of Britain and France, who promised to help Poland defend if Germany attacked.  Britain and France then turned to Stalin in the Soviet Union, but he double-crossed them.  Stalin secretly agreed with Hitler in August 1939 to divide Poland among themselves and not to attack each other.  Stalin also received a promise from Hitler that Stalin could annex Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Finland.

Hitler was now ready to make his big move.  He demanded that Poland give back a former German seaport known as Danzig.  Poland refused and prepared to defend against a German invasion.  Courageous Polish soldiers on horses defended against German tanks.  Poland obtained the support of Britain and France, who promised to help Poland defend if Germany attacked.  Britain and France then turned to Stalin in the Soviet Union, but he double-crossed them.  Stalin secretly agreed with Hitler in August 1939 to divide Poland among themselves and not to attack each other.  Stalin also received a promise from Hitler that Stalin could annex Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Finland.