In 1938, Germany annexed the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia that was predominantly inhabited by ethnic Germans. The Sudetenland had been a part of Czechoslovakia since the end of World War I, but many Sudeten Germans felt that they were not treated fairly by the Czech government. Adolf Hitler used this sentiment to justify the annexation of the Sudetenland, claiming that it was necessary to protect the rights of ethnic Germans.
The Munich Agreement
The annexation of the Sudetenland was agreed to by the British and French governments in the Munich Agreement. The Munich Agreement was a major diplomatic failure for the Western powers, as it showed that they were willing to appease Hitler in order to avoid war.
The invasion of Czechoslovakia
In March 1939, Germany invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia. The invasion was met with little resistance, and Czechoslovakia was quickly occupied. The annexation of Czechoslovakia was a major turning point in the lead-up to World War II, as it showed that Hitler was willing to use military force to achieve his goals.
The reasons for the invasion
There are a number of reasons why Germany invaded Czechoslovakia. These include:
* The desire to acquire territory: Czechoslovakia was a strategic piece of territory that would allow Germany to control the center of Europe.
* The desire to protect ethnic Germans: Hitler claimed that the annexation of the Sudetenland was necessary to protect the rights of ethnic Germans.
* The desire to weaken Czechoslovakia: Czechoslovakia was a democracy that was seen as a threat to Nazi Germany. By invading Czechoslovakia, Hitler was able to weaken the country and remove it as a potential enemy.
* The desire to test the Western powers: Hitler wanted to see how far he could push the Western powers without them taking military action. The invasion of Czechoslovakia showed that the Western powers were unwilling to go to war to stop Hitler.