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Setting the Scene
📖 Setting the Scene
September 1938. Europe stands on the brink of war. Hitler demands the Sudetenland — the German-speaking border region of Czechoslovakia. Chamberlain flies to meet Hitler three times. At Munich, he agrees to give Hitler everything he wants. Czechoslovakia isn't even invited. Chamberlain returns waving a piece of paper: "Peace for our time." Six months later, Hitler takes the rest of Czechoslovakia anyway.
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🧠 Memory Aid
Why Chamberlain agreed to Munich — "BPUMS":
- Britain was not ready militarily (RAF weak, rearmament just started)
- Public opinion was anti-war (gas masks, trenches in parks, fear of bombing)
- Unjust treaty logic — Sudeten Germans had a right to self-determination
- Military isolation — France would not act alone; no reliable allies
- Satiation theory — Hitler promised it was his "last territorial demand"
Why Munich failed — "LCSG":
- Lied — Hitler broke his "last demand" promise in March 1939
- Czechoslovakia indefensible without Sudetenland fortifications
- Stalin alienated — Nazi-Soviet Pact followed in August 1939
- Germany strengthened — Skoda works, Czech industry, strategic position gained
The three flights: Chamberlain flew to Germany THREE times — Berchtesgaden (15 Sept), Bad Godesberg (22 Sept), Munich (29 Sept). Examiners sometimes ask specifically about the escalating demands at each meeting.
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Quiz · Question 1 of 8
Which two leaders, alongside Chamberlain and Hitler, attended the Munich Conference in September 1938?
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This topic in real past papers
Every real exam question we've found on munich agreement, with a full worked answer.