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| 1938, March–May |
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The first German-Czech crisis. Hitler's speech of Feb. 20 promising protection to German minorities outside the Reich was answered by Premier Hod a (March 4) by a firm declaration that Czechoslovakia would defend itself against outside interference. But the German annexation of Austria (March 13) completely changed the position of the Czechoslovak Republic, now surrounded on three sides by the new German Empire. The German government gave Prague assurances of its desire to improve German-Czech relations (March 14), and both the French and Russian governments categorically declared their intention to honor their treaty obligations. Nevertheless the situation rapidly grew worse. The German Activists (i.e., German parties that had joined the cabinet) all withdrew (March 22–25) and Hoda's announcement of a forthcoming Nationality Statute made but little impression on the German elements. On April 24 the Sudeten leader, Henlein, put forward his demands (the Carlsbad program: full equality of status for Germans and Czechs; delimitation of the German areas; full autonomy; removal of all injustices and reparation for damages suffered by the Germans since 1918; full liberty for the Germans to proclaim their Germanism and their adhesion to “the ideology of Germans”; furthermore, Henlein demanded complete revision of Czech foreign policy). These demands were rejected by the Prague government, despite strong urging by France and Britain that the utmost concessions be made. Henlein then paid visits to London and Berlin, where he posed as the soul of moderation. On his return disorders began to break out in the German districts. This situation and rumors of German troop concentration on the frontier led the Czech government to mobilize 400,000 men. France and Britain took a strong stand, and the crisis blew over. Shortly afterward Henlein began negotiations with the Czech government with regard to the Nationality Statute, but Hitler, with feverish haste, began the fortification of the German-French frontier and ordered a huge increase in the German air forces. | 1 |
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| July–Aug |
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| The summer was filled with negotiations between the government and the Sudeten leaders, but little progress was made. On July 26 the government finally published a draft Nationality Statute, based on the principle of proportionality but falling short of Henlein's Carlsbad program. At the same time it was announced that a British mediator, Lord Walter Runciman, would come to Prague. He arrived on Aug. 3 and held many conferences with Sudeten leaders. By the beginning of September the situation was clearly critical; various Czech proposals for cantonal organizations were flatly rejected by Henlein after visits to Hitler. The Carlsbad program was insisted on as a minimum. | 2 |
| Hitler's demands on Czechoslovakia (Nürnberg speech, Sept. 12) produced an international crisis in Sept. 1938, which eased only after Britain and France yielded to the German chancellor's belligerence in a final gesture of appeasement. For the Munich conference and the subsequent dismemberment of Czechoslovakia, see (See Sept. 29). | 3 |
| CZECH LOSSES THROUGH THE DISMEMBERMENT: In all the republic lost 5 million inhabitants (retaining 10 million), distributed as follows: Germans, 2,850,000; Hungarians, 591,000; Poles, 77,000; Jews, 60,000; Ruthenians, 37,000; Czechs and Slovaks, 1,161,000. In territory Czechoslovakia lost 16,000 square miles (retaining 38,500). | 4 |
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| Oct. 5 |
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Resignation of President Bene , who had been the target of German attack throughout the crisis. He left the country almost at once, going eventually to the U.S. His departure was the signal for a violent campaign directed against him and Masaryk and the policies that had led to Munich. | 5 |
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| Oct. 6 |
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| Slovakia was given the full autonomy that Slovak leaders had demanded for a long time. Mgr. Joseph Tiso became premier of Slovakia. | 6 |
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| Oct. 8 |
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| Ruthenia was given full autonomy and was renamed Carpatho-Ukraine. This remote region of Europe at once assumed crucial importance as the base for Ukrainian agitation, supposedly inspired from Berlin. The Polish government made every effort to arrange for its partition among Poland, Hungary, and Romania, but all such plans were frustrated by German opposition. | 7 |
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| Oct. 20 |
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| The Communist Party was outlawed in Czecho-Slovakia (so spelled after the federal reorganization). This was merely one move in the direction of the new policy planned in conformity with Germany. Persecution of Jews and others soon followed. | 8 |
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| Nov. 30 |
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| EMIL HACHA, judge of the high court, was elected president. Rudolf Beran (Agrarian), an opponent of Bene, became prime minister. | 9 |
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