Munich Agreement

Germany, Italy, Britain and France agree to transfer the Sudetenland to Germany without Czechoslovakia taking part in the decisive negotiations.

After the Anschluss of Austria, Germany intensified its demands on Czechoslovakia over the Sudetenland. The region contained important fortifications and industrial facilities.

At the end of September, the leaders of Germany, Italy, Britain and France reached an agreement in Munich. Czechoslovakia was not a full participant in the decisive talks and was effectively confronted with an ultimatum. The negotiations ran from 29 to 30 September, and the agreement was signed during the night of 30 September 1938.

The withdrawal of Czechoslovak forces and the transfer of the Sudetenland weakened the country's ability to defend itself and triggered a profound political crisis.

In March 1939, Germany occupied the Czech lands. The Munich Agreement therefore became a classic example of the failure of hopes that unilateral concessions to an aggressor would preserve peace.

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