- Tasks
- Background
- Teachers' notes
- External links
- Connections to curriculum
After the First World War, the map of Europe was re-drawn and several new countries were formed. As a result of this, three million Germans found themselves now living in part of Czechoslovakia. When Adolf Hitler came to power, he wanted to unite all Germans into one nation.
In September 1938 he turned his attention to the three million Germans living in part of Czechoslovakia called the Sudetenland. Sudeten Germans began protests and provoked violence from the Czech police. Hitler claimed that 300 Sudeten Germans had been killed. This was not actually the case, but Hitler used it as an excuse to place German troops along the Czech border.
During this situation, the British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, flew to meet Hitler at his private mountain retreat in Berchtesgaden in an attempt to resolve the crisis. Use this lesson to explore documents concerning Chamberlain’s original meeting with Hitler and advice given to him at home in Britain.
Tasks
History Hook – Starter Activity
1. These sources are extracts from a letter written by Nevile Henderson, British Ambassador in Germany, 6th September 1938.
- Why were people in Germany anxious about the outcome of talks on the Sudetenland area of Czechoslovakia?
- What do you think that Nevile Henderson means when he says that ‘Benes will never go far enough till he is made to do so’?
- What did Nevile Henderson want the British press to do about Hitler?
- What do you think Henderson’s opinion was of Hitler?
- How might Henderson’s view affect what Chamberlain did when he met Hitler?
2. These three sources are extracts from the minutes of the conversation between Chamberlain and Hitler at Berchtesgaden.
Look at Source 2a. Write a summary of this part of the meeting by adding one sentence to each of these three starters:
- Hitler said: “…”
- Chamberlain queried: “…”
- Hitler replied: “…”
Look at Source 2b
- What threat does Hitler make here?
- How does Chamberlain respond?
Look at Source 2c
- What does Chamberlain suggest to Hitler?
- Sudetenland was part of Czechoslovakia. No Czech representative was present at this meeting. Did Chamberlain have the right to make this offer?
Hitler was capable of being charming, of lying and of bullying. Find examples of all three of these aspects of his personality in all three sources.
3. This is the conclusion of a note from General Ismay to the British Cabinet sent on 20th September 1938, marked ‘Secret’. Ismay was Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence.
- What does General Ismay, writing in September 1938, assume will happen to Czechoslovakia? (Remember that at this time Czechoslovakia was still an independent country which included the Sudetenland)
- What effect does he think the German conquest of Czechoslovakia will have on German military strength?
- Does he recommend that Britain should fight Germany now, or later?
- What are his reasons?
- How might General Ismay’s views affect what Chamberlain did when he met Hitler later, at Munich on 29 September?
4. Use the sources above as well as any other knowledge you may have about the situation in the Sudetenland to answer the following:
- What are the arguments for and against each of these statements about appeasem*nt?
- Which one do you think is the most accurate and give reasons for your choice
‘Chamberlain’s appeasem*nt policy made war more likely because Hitler thought he could get away with anything.’
‘Chamberlain’s appeasem*nt policy bought a valuable year for Britain to get ready for the war which was bound to come.’
‘Chamberlain believed that Hitler was a man of his word.’
‘The decision to give the Sudetenland to Germany let down the Czech people.’
Background
The Treaty of Versailles, made in 1919 at the end of the First World War, was intended to make a lasting peace. Many people felt that the Treaty had caused terrible resentment in Germany on which Hitler had been able to play in order to achieve power. The government believed that Hitler and Germany had genuine grievances, but that if these could be met (‘appeased’) Hitler would be satisfied and become less demanding.
Hitler was open about his refusal to accept many of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Soon after he became Chancellor of Germany in 1933 he began to re-arm the country, breaking the restrictions placed on the German armed forces. In 1936, he sent German troops into the Rhineland and in March 1938 he joined Germany and Austria. Czechoslovakia was the logical next step for his aggression and German Nazis in the Sudetenland were told to stir up the trouble that led to the crisis examined here. Edvard Benes, the leader of Czechoslovakia, was concerned that if Germany was given the Sudetenland, most of the Czech defences would be handed over to the Germans and they would be left defenceless.
Chamberlain’s flight to Berchtesgaden was followed by another to Godesberg a week later and then another to Munich on 29 September. At Munich, Chamberlain got an international agreement that Hitler should have the Sudetenland in exchange for Germany making no further demands for land in Europe. Chamberlain said it was ‘Peace for our time’. Hitler said he had ‘No more territorial demands to make in Europe.’ On 1 October German troops occupied the Sudetenland: Hitler had got what he wanted without firing a shot.
Although people in Britain were relieved that war had been averted, many now wondered if appeasem*nt was the best decision. They did not think it would stop Hitler, and simply delayed the war, rather than prevented it. Even while Chamberlain was signing the Munich Agreement, he was agreeing a huge increase in spending to increase Britain’s armament in preparation for war. He must have known from the situation outlined to him by General Ismay, that Czechoslovakia was lost, that war was bound to come.
Six months later, in March 1939, German troops took over the rest of Czechoslovakia. Poland seemed to be the next most likely victim of Nazi aggression and Chamberlain made an agreement with the Poles to defend them in Germany invaded. Hitler did not think Britain would go to war over Poland, having failed to do so over Czechoslovakia. He sent his soldiers into Poland in September 1939. Two days later, Britain declared war on Germany.
Chamberlain struggled on as Prime Minister until May 1940 when he resigned and Winston Churchill, a bitter critic of appeasem*nt, took over. Chamberlain died in November 1940; however he continued to be vilified for appeasem*nt in general and for his actions in September 1938 in particular long after his death and the conclusion of the war.
Teachers' notes
This lesson has a video starter to hook students into the lesson.
Students examine extracts from a document written by letter written by Sir Nevile Meyrick Henderson, British Ambassador in Germany, 6th September 1938.
Then, they analyse three extracts from the minutes of the conversation between Chamberlain and Hitler at Berchtesgaden. These provide insight in the arguments presented by both leaders on question of Sudetenland. What criticisms can be made of Chamberlain? His assessment of Hitler? His national self-centredness in his failure to consult with his allies and his readiness to sacrifice the Czechs?
The final source in the lesson is the conclusion of a secret note from General Ismay to the British Cabinet sent on 20th September 1938. Ismay was Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Students examine its contents to see what it reveals about the Government’s views concerning the German absorption of Czechoslovakia.
In the conclusion of the lesson, students are tasked to make their own assessment of Chamberlain’s appeasem*nt policy over Sudetenland. Perhaps, it is important to make the point that the release documents that were previously deemed secret can add different perspectives to this issue.
Chamberlain was of the generation which survived but was deeply revolted by the First World War. Is it fair to criticise him for under-estimating Hitler? Students could try to construct the case for Chamberlain. Is this the same as a case for appeasem*nt?
All sources are provided with transcripts. Students could work on the sources individually or pairs and report back to the group with their findings.
Sources
Image: INF 3/46: Caricature of Neville Chamberlain by artist ‘Wooding’ for Ministry of Information, 1939-1946
Source 1 : FO 371/21737 – Letter from Nevile Henderson, the German Ambassador
Source 2a, b & c : FO 371/21738 – Chamberlain’s notes from his meeting with Hitler.
Source 3 : CAB 21/544 – Report by General Ismay on the potential outcomes if Czechosolvakia is given to the Germans.
External links
The Munich Agreement
Churchill’s speech on the Munich Agreement.
What’s the context? 30 September 1938: The Munich Agreement
Find more on the context of the Munich agreement.
The Munich Agreement
Find more documents relating to the Munich agreement in this blog from The National Archives.
Quiz yourself on Adolf Hitler
How much do you know about Adolf Hitler and the rise of Nazism in Germany?
Connections to curriculum
Key stage 3
Challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world 1901 to the present day: the inter-war years: the Great Depression and the rise of dictators
Key stage 4
AQA GCSE History: Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship
Edexcel GCSE History: c1900–present: Warfare and British society in modern era
OCR GCSE History: War and British Society c.790 to c.2010; attitudes and responses to war
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