On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland, triggering the Second World War that is considered as the deadliest military conflict in the history of mankind! The war involved an estimated 100 million people from 30 countries. As Britain and France had assured help to Poland, they declared a war against Germany and its allies on September 3 (1939), a couple of days after the German invasion.
Experts are of the opinion that the 1938 Munich Agreement led to the Second World War as the agreement by Nazi Germany, Britain, France and Fascist Italy (reached in Munich on September 30, 1938) actually appeased the Nazi Regime of Adolf Hitler by allowing Berlin to annex Sudetenland, a part of erstwhile Czechoslovakia with a population of three million, mainly ethnic Germans. The move encouraged the Führer to establish his expansionist totalitarianism in the continent.
Soon after signing the Munich Agreement, Hitler hinted that he would bring war to Europe unless the German-majority areas in the north, south and west of Czechoslovakia were surrendered to his forces. He received the support of the German-speaking people living in those areas who had become citizens of a new country created after the collapse of the German-dominated Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of the First World War in 1918. In fact, the annexation of Sudetenland was a part of Hitler's plan to create a Greater Germany. Hence, the German troops occupied those areas between October 1 and October 10, 1938.
Neville Chamberlain, the then Prime Minister of Britain, wanted to maintain peace in Europe. However, he made a mistake by signing the Munich Agreement as the move backfired within a year. After returning from Munich, Chamberlain reportedly waved the piece of paper signed by Hitler, calling it a declaration of Peace with Honour! However, Europe failed to ensure peace by allowing Germany to annex Sudetenland.
Before signing the Munich Agreement, Hitler held a meeting with Prime Minister Chamberlain, French Prime Minister Édouard Daladier and Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini. During the meeting, the three Prime Ministers backed the German annexation of Sudetenland. The German occupation was done in four stages from October 1 to October 10, 1938.
Surprisingly, Czechoslovakia was not a party to the Agreement! Instead, Britain and France, which had a military alliance with Czechoslovakia, forced Prague to sign the Accord! At that time, Czechoslovak leader Jan Masaryk said: "We are not ready to accept peace at all costs!" Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia Jan Syrový, too, stressed: "We have been abandoned."
Concern expressed by Masaryk and Syrový became a reality as the cessation was subject to a plebiscite in some places. The Czechoslovak Government had no other option, but to release personnel from their military and Police forces within a month of signing of the Agreement. Prague also released Sudeten Germans (who wished to be released) and all Sudeten German prisoners. Six months after signing the Munich Agreement, Hitler invaded entire Czechoslovakia, triggering a bloodbath in Europe.
What happened on September 1…
The Great Fire at London, 1666
Decisive defeat of the French Army at the Battle of Sedan in the Franco-German War, 1870
Great earthquake struck the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan area, 1923
German invasion of Poland, 1939
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