Learning Objectives: 1. To learn how Hitler acquired the Sudetenland.

2. To compare the Sudetenland Crisis with the Austrian takeover.

3. To decide if Britain and France used the right tactics when they dealt with

Hitler.

Title: The Sudetenland Crisis.

Starter: What were the key features of the Austro-German Anschluss?

Cause Event Consequence

Why the Sudetenland?

• 1. Why was Czechoslovakia Hitler’s next target?

2. Was Hitler’s takeover of the Sudetenland similar to the takeover of Austria?

Austria The Sudetenland•Nazis were given positions in the Austrian government. It was discovered that they were planning a takeover.

•Chancellor Schushnigg asked Hitler to intervene and in return agreed to appoint a leading Nazi Seys-Inquart as Minister of the Interior and hold a referendum.

•Hitler was afraid that the referendum wouldn’t go his way, so he demanded that Schushnigg resign and Seys-Inquart replace him as Chancellor. If he didn’t resign, Hitler would invade.

•Schushnigg resigned and Hitler took over despite the agreement.

2. Was Hitler’s takeover of the Sudetenland similar to the takeover of Austria?

Austria The Sudetenland•Nazis were given positions in the Austrian government. It was discovered that they were planning a takeover.

•Chancellor Schushnigg asked Hitler to intervene and in return agreed to appoint a leading Nazi Seys-Inquart as Minister of the Interior and hold a referendum.

•Hitler was afraid that the referendum wouldn’t go his way, so he demanded that Schushnigg resign and Seys-Inquart replace him as Chancellor. If he didn’t resign, Hitler would invade.

•Schushnigg resigned and Hitler took over despite the agreement.

Nazis were encouraged by Hitler to stir up trouble in the Sudetenland.

Benes gave Hitler what he wanted: the parts of the Sudetenland where the majority of the population were German.

Hitler still was not satisfied and vowed to invade the Sudetenland to rescue the Sudeten Germans.

3. Britain’s reaction to the Sudetenland Crisis.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO725Hbzfls

• 1. Why was Chamberlain keen to avoid another war?

• 2. Do you think it was the correct decision?

• 3. What should he have done differently?

• 4. How did Britain propose to help the Czechs?

4. The Munich Conference.

• 1. What happened at the Munich conference?

• 2. How would the following people feel about the Munich agreement:

• Hitler, Benes, Chamberlain, Stalin?

• 3. What were the consequences of Munich?

• 4. Do you think the cartoon accurately reflects what happened?

5. What was the cause, event and consequence of the Sudetenland crisis?

Czechoslovakia was a symbol of Germany’s humiliation in 1919.

Contained 3 mil German speakers

Czechoslovakia was strong militarily and economically and located on Hitler’s doorstep. It would make a difficult enemy.

Munich agreement September 1938, Britain, France, Italy and Germany agreed that the Sudetenland should be part of Germany, but the new borders of Czechoslovakia were guaranteed.

Germany took the Sudetenland in October of 1938.

Within weeks Hungary and Poland also took parts of Czechoslovakia. No action was taken against them.

Hitler encouraged German Nazis to stir up trouble.

Britain and France would not support President Benes and instead favoured appeasement.

Homework: GCSE Question: Briefly explain the key features of the Sudetenland Crisis (6)

• Level 1: Basic answer- simple statement- no detail (1-2 marks)

• Level 2: Good answer- an accurate statement with detail (3-4 marks)

• Level 3: Excellent answer – 3 statements with detail (5-6 marks)

Homework:

• GCSE Question: Briefly explain the key features of the Sudetenland Crisis (6)

Cause Event Consequence

Plenary:

Why Czechoslovakia?

Hitler’s tactics?

Similar to the Austrian takeover?

What did Britain and France do?

Consequences?

Plenary: A cartoon from a British newspaper, 30 September 1938. In it Stalin is asking why he was not invited to the Munich Conference.

Czechoslovakia was on his border and Hitler was his enemy, so he was seriously offended at being left out.

• 1. Which countries attended the Munich Conference?

• 2. Which countries were left out? Can you think of a reason for this?

• 3. How would this affect future relations between Stalin and the countries involved in Munich?