In 1938, Hitler began to show activity,expressing their plans for Czechoslovakia. This caused quite a serious protest not only among various social groups, but also among the military. Beck (Chief of the General Staff) dared to warn the Führer against the invasion of Czechoslovakia, suggesting the complication of relations with France, Britain and Russia. This incident provoked the unification of disparate Resistance groups with the aim of developing a coup plot to overthrow the Nazi regime.
The Munich conspiracy of 1938 was duemeet the demands of Hitler. The Führer did not want to put up with the existence of Czechoslovakia, and all three million Germans who lived there had to join the Reich. For negotiations, Chamberlain (the British Prime Minister) was invited.
On September 18, 1938, Hitler issued an order forfive armies about combat readiness. The Fuhrer approves the list of officers for the posts of commanders in ten armies. All these actions were aimed at preparing an attack on Czechoslovakia.
The Munich conspiracy could resolve the issue peacefully. According to the agreement, Hitler received everything that Godesberg demanded. The final Munich agreement was signed on November 20.
The agreement obliged Czechoslovakia to refusethe benefit of Germany from 11 thousand miles of its territory. They were inhabited by eight hundred thousand Czechs and two million and eight hundred thousand Sudeten Germans. In addition, on these lands were located branches of the system of Czech fortifications, in Europe, considered the most impregnable.
The Munich conspiracy shared the country.As a result of the signing of the agreement in Czechoslovakia, the existing system of highways and railways, telephone and telegraph communications were violated. The Munich collusion deprived the country of 66% of coal reserves, 86% of raw materials for the chemical industry, 40% of the forest, 80% of the textile industry, cement, brown coal, and 70% of electricity.
Thus, the Munich conspiracy overnight turned a prosperous industrial power into a ruined and torn apart. The Czechs, by agreement, were to leave the territory.
However, in the opinion of all the generals close toHitler and survivors of the war, if the agreement was not signed, the Führer on October 1 would invade Czechoslovakia. At the same time, some believe that Russia, France and England, in spite of the doubts of the heads of state, would have been drawn into the war.
Assessing the situation, it should be noted that Germanyon October 1 to wage war against France, England, Czechoslovakia and, moreover, against Russia was not ready. In the event of hostilities, Hitler would lose quickly. This would lead to the end of the Third Reich. Generals Vitzleben, Halder and their supporters planned to overthrow the Führer at the time when he would give the order to attack Czechoslovakia. The signing of the agreement frustrated their plans. The generals hoped for the firmness of Britain and the Western allies in the Czechoslovak question.
Despite the fact that the Soviet Union was in military alliance with Czechoslovakia and France, Germany, Britain and France were excluded from the list of negotiators unanimously.
The signing of the agreement turned seriousa catastrophe for France. Chamberlain, selling Czechoslovakia, not only saved Hitler from possible military failures, but also significantly strengthened his military power. This was accompanied by a fanatical desire, present at Chamberlain, to give the Führer everything he wanted.
With the signing of the agreement, the military strength of Francewas reduced to zero. Now the French army was half German. The French arms production was much inferior to the German one. In addition, the eastern allies now distrusted France.
After giving Czechoslovakia, Chamberlain made a historic mistake, which inevitably led to war.
