Difference between revisions of "Sudetenland"
Leatherman (talk | contribs) (New page: The Sudetenland was the area of mountains and hills forming a 'rim' around the western part of Czechoslovakia (corrsponding to the modern Czech Republic). Although the area was inh...) |
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The Sudetenland was the area of mountains and hills forming a 'rim' around the western part of [[Czechoslovakia]] (corrsponding to the modern [[Czech Republic]]). Although the area was inhabited mainly by ethnic Germans, it became part of the new state of Czechoslovakia when the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]] disintegrated in 1918. Elements within the Sudeten German population, led by Henlein, agitated for union with Germany claiming discrimination by the majority Czech population of the new state; and they were supported in this by [[Adolf Hitler]] following his rise to power in 1933. In 1938, by a mixture of threats and bluff, Hitler persuaded Britain and France to agree to the transfer of the Sudetenland to Germany (already enlarged by the annexation of [[Austria]], or [[Anschluss]], earlier the same year). This not only gained him kudos within Germany and with the Sudeten Germans, but it robbed Czechoslovakia of a defendable border and made the nation easy prey for the German subversion and agression which led to its dismemberment in 1939. Following Germany's defeat in the [[Second World War]], the Czech population and armed forces in 1945 turned on the now defenceless Sudeten German population, killing thousands and expelling the remainder. | The Sudetenland was the area of mountains and hills forming a 'rim' around the western part of [[Czechoslovakia]] (corrsponding to the modern [[Czech Republic]]). Although the area was inhabited mainly by ethnic Germans, it became part of the new state of Czechoslovakia when the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]] disintegrated in 1918. Elements within the Sudeten German population, led by Henlein, agitated for union with Germany claiming discrimination by the majority Czech population of the new state; and they were supported in this by [[Adolf Hitler]] following his rise to power in 1933. In 1938, by a mixture of threats and bluff, Hitler persuaded Britain and France to agree to the transfer of the Sudetenland to Germany (already enlarged by the annexation of [[Austria]], or [[Anschluss]], earlier the same year). This not only gained him kudos within Germany and with the Sudeten Germans, but it robbed Czechoslovakia of a defendable border and made the nation easy prey for the German subversion and agression which led to its dismemberment in 1939. Following Germany's defeat in the [[Second World War]], the Czech population and armed forces in 1945 turned on the now defenceless Sudeten German population, killing thousands and expelling the remainder. | ||
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Revision as of 09:24, July 30, 2007
The Sudetenland was the area of mountains and hills forming a 'rim' around the western part of Czechoslovakia (corrsponding to the modern Czech Republic). Although the area was inhabited mainly by ethnic Germans, it became part of the new state of Czechoslovakia when the Austro-Hungarian Empire disintegrated in 1918. Elements within the Sudeten German population, led by Henlein, agitated for union with Germany claiming discrimination by the majority Czech population of the new state; and they were supported in this by Adolf Hitler following his rise to power in 1933. In 1938, by a mixture of threats and bluff, Hitler persuaded Britain and France to agree to the transfer of the Sudetenland to Germany (already enlarged by the annexation of Austria, or Anschluss, earlier the same year). This not only gained him kudos within Germany and with the Sudeten Germans, but it robbed Czechoslovakia of a defendable border and made the nation easy prey for the German subversion and agression which led to its dismemberment in 1939. Following Germany's defeat in the Second World War, the Czech population and armed forces in 1945 turned on the now defenceless Sudeten German population, killing thousands and expelling the remainder.