Run-Up to War & the Invasion of Poland

The initial shoots of the invasion of Poland date back to the decisions made during the Munich conference of September 1938 allowing for the annexation of the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia . This following the anschluss of Austria the year before. By the time of the conference , the Czechs had already mobilized and the French were partially mobilised. Neville Chamberlain , the Prime Minister of Gt. Britain was determined at all costs to avoid war proposed a four power conference to settle the dispute.

At this time the Czechs had one of the best equipped armies in the world , being able to mobilise 47 divisions, of which 37 were located at the German / Czech border . A border that was strongly fortified in a mostly mountainous line and they were ready to protect there territory . But they could not fight alone. However, during the conference a number of proposals had been proposed to the Czech government, but rejected until the French decided to force the situation by informing the Czechs to accept the latest proposal otherwise the French would not support them going forward. Based on this the Czechs capitulated and surrendered there fortified positions.

As Winston Churchill said on the return of Neville Chamberlain with his peace deal, “You were given the choice between war and dishonour. You chose dishonour and you will have war.” In early 1939 the rest of the Czech lands were absorbed into the German Reich without a shot being fired or any protests from France or Gt Britain. This foreign policy appeasement proved to be a total failure.