Final Acts of Appeasement
Anschluss, 1938
![Picture](/uploads/2/4/3/8/24380869/9697282.jpg)
- Versailles forbade a unification of Germany and Austria
- 1934 Dolfuss affair (Nazis assassinate Austrian Chancellor)
- 1938 Hitler called on new Chancellor Schuschnigg to resign
- Leader of Austria Nazi party Seyss-Inquart becomes new Chancellor
- March 1938 German troops roll into Austria
- "Plebiscite" is held -99.75% vote in favour of unification
The Appeasers' reaction
![Picture](/uploads/2/4/3/8/24380869/8403542.jpeg)
- British do nothing and warn Schuschnigg not to cause trouble
- The French won't do anything without the British
- Italy was the only objection, but Mussolini gave his approval
- Hitler to Mussolini, "Never, never, forget this, no matter what happened."
The Sudetenland
![Picture](/uploads/2/4/3/8/24380869/4721046.jpg)
- Ethnic German area of Czechoslovakia where 3.5 mil. Germans lived
- Br.P.M. Neville Chamberlain wants Czech leader, Benes to give up the Sudetenland
- Hopes to prevent war
- Hitler threatens to occupy
Neville Chamberlain and the Munich Agreement
"This is the second time that there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe this is peace for our time."
-British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain
![Picture](/uploads/2/4/3/8/24380869/6005738.jpeg)
- Mussolini steps in with a four power conference in Munich
- Benes resigns in favour of Emil Hacha who agrees to annexation
- Neville chamberlain proclaims "Peace in our time"
- Hitler still recognized Slovak state- moved in German troops to "protect" it
- Hacha visits Hitler in March 1939 - gives up Czech independence
"I have no more territorial claims to make in Europe."
-Adolf Hitler
Summary
Hitler essentially establishes his authority by assassinating the Austrian Chancellor due to defiance. This continues and Mussolini blatantly sides with Hitler despite Italy objecting to his wish for unification. Czech independence is lost.