Munich Pact

The four countries of Germany, Italy, France, and Great Britain composed and signed the Munich Pact in Munich, Germany on September 29, 1938. The forming of the pact between these four countries served as appeasement purposes, securing Great Britain’s and France’s agreement to Adolf Hitler’s Demands. Hitler demanded for the secession of the German - speaking Sudetanland of Czechoslovakia to Germany. German leaders argued and insisted that the government of Czechoslovakia were discriminatory toward the Sudetan people, and the secession of Sudetanland to Germany would justify to their request for self-determination. Long before the composition of the Munich Pact, negotiations between the participating countries had already taken place concerning the secession of Sudetanland to Germany. Looking for any attempt to prevent further confrontations with Hitler, Great Britain and France accepted Hitler’s demands. France and Great Britain were devastated by World War I and would be willing to do anything to avoid more confrontation. With Great Britain’s and France’s acceptance, Hitler promised not to claim any other European territory. The Munich pact served to determine simply the conditions under which the previously planned secession should be made.

The Pact, signed by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain for Great Britain, Premier Edouard Paladier for France, Adolf Hitler for Germany, and Benito Mussolini for Italy, set October 1, 1938 as the date of Czechoslovakian evacuation of the territory. The Germans would occupy the four specified districts between October 1 - 7. Afterwards, additional territories consisting of mostly German population were to be specified by an international commission, composed of delegates from France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and Czechoslovakia . Other territories were to be disputed there also; if claims of Hungarian and Polish minorities in Czechoslovakia were not settled in three months, a new conference was to be convened.

It was March of 1939 when the Germans Marched into Czechoslovakia making most of the country a German protectorate. This immediately nullified the Munich Pact. The U.S.S.R. signed a non - aggression pact with Germany to avoid any war. September 1, Hitler attacked Poland , assuming that Great Britain and France would not intervene. Hitler was mistaken, as both countries immediately declared war on Germany. WWII had been launched.

Site for further Information:

    "The Avalon Project: Munich Pact 9/29/38"
    http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/imt/munich1.htm

   "All You Really Need to Know About Munich"
    http://www.backgroundbriefing.com/munich.html

Back to the Timeline page!