*** Czechoslovakia: Preparing to Fight (1938)








Czechoslovakia: Preparing to Fight (1938)

Czecholovakia Munich crisis
Figure 1.--This photograph appeared in American newspapers as Hitler was preparing to invade Czechoslovakia. It was taken in Prague and dated September 16, 1938. The caption read, "Arms and the Boy: In the troubled situation confronting the Czech Republic today, the responsibility for safegurding the republic much be shred by all. So these Czech hifg school boys are receiving military training, like older broyhers aslready under arms. The photo shows them in a rifle exercise."

The NAZI rearmament program, the remilitarization of the Rhineland and the Anchluss with Austria came as a shock to Czechoslovakia. They had thought that there new nation was safe in a peaceful Europe. And Hitler when he first too power pursued a moderate foreign policy. This all changed with remilitarization. And the Anschluss further increased the Czech frontier with Germany that had to be defended. Even more destressing was the lack of response from Britain and France. The Czechs had a defensive alliance with France were prepared to fight if the Germans invaded. Even with the Anchluss, many Europeans chose to see the NAZI actions as domestic German matters. This changed when Hitler's next target became Czechoslovakia. The Czechs had formidable defenses--located in the mountanous Sudetenland. Although the Sudetenland was heavily inhabited by ethnic Germans hostile to Czechoslovakia, the teraine provided a frontier that was rugged and mountainous, good defensive ground. The Czech army by itself was no match for the Germans, but not a force to be triffekled with, especially if the French attacked from the west. While small in size in comparidson to the massive army Hitler was building in Germany, it was primary composed of ethnic Czechs fiercely loyal to the the Czech Government. It was well entrenched in defensive fortificatuions taking advantsage of the mountensaous teraine of the Sudetenland. In addition it was well armed with effective anti-tank guns as well as equipped with tanks of their own. With Allied assistance, Czechoslovakia would have been a costly undertaking for the Wehrmcht. The Check defense was, however, based on the teraine of the Sudetenland. Without the mountanous terraine, the Czechs would have been unable to resist the powerful German military. And the Czech airforce was especially weak comared to the bnew German Luftwaffe.

Shock to Czechoslovaklia

The NAZI rearmament program, the remilitarization of the Rhineland and the Anchluss with Austria came as a shock to Czechoslovakia. They had thought that there new nation was safe in a peaceful Europe. And Hitler when he first too power pursued a moderate foreign policy. This all changed with remilitarization. And the Anschluss further increased the Czech frontier with Germany that had to be defended. Even more destressing was the lack of response from Britain and France. The Czechs had a defensive alliance with France were prepared to fight if the Germans invaded.

European Opinion

Even with the Anchluss, many Europeans chose to see the NAZI actions as domestic German matters. The overwealming opinion in Europe was that the tragedy of another war much be overted. Even in Germany there was a strong oversion to war. But public opinion no longer meant anythong in Germany. European opinion that the NAZIs weere a German matter only began to change with the Czech crisis. This only began to change when Hitler's next target became Czechoslovakia. Ever the crafty politican, Hitler cast the issue as another German mater because the Sudetenland was largely populated with ethnic Germans.

Czech Defenses

Czechoslovakia was a small country compared to Germany, but was not defensless. The Czechs had formidable defenses--located in the mountanous Sudetenland. Although the Sudetenland was heavily inhabited by ethnic Germans hostile to Czechoslovakia, the teraine provided a frontier that was rugged and mountainous, good defensive ground. The Czech army by itself was no match for the Germans, but not a force to be triffekled with, especially if the French attacked from the west.

Czech Army

The country also had a modern, well trained army consisting of 25 divisions and substantial defensive emplacements located primarily in the rugged Sudetenland which were the border lands. While small in size in comparidson to the massive army Hitler was building in Germany, it was primary composed of ethnic Czechs fiercely loyal to the the Czech Government. It was well entrenched in defensive fortificatuions taking advantsage of the mountensaous teraine of the Sudetenland. In addition it was well armed with effective anti-tank guns as well as equipped with tanks of their own. With Allied assistance, Czechoslovakia would have been a costly undertaking for the Wehrmcht. The Check defense was, however, based on the teraine of the Sudetenland. Without the mountanous terraine, the Czechs would have been unable to resist the powerful German military.

Industry

Czechoslovakia was heavily industrialized and had an important arms industry. In particular the Skoda Arms Factory was located in Czechoslovakia. It had been an important source of arttillery for the Central Powers during World War I. As a result the Czech Army was well armed as it prepared to confront the the German Wehrmacht.

Czech Aviation Industry and Air Force

And the Czech airforce was especially weak comared to the bnew German Luftwaffe. Czechoslovakia was a land-locked country. So leaders coined the motto, "Our sea is the air," meaning that Czechs could remain in contact with other countries through air connections. The Czechs had a very small aviation industry. Several relatively small aviation industry companies were formed during the inter-War era. The Czechs, however, were no match for the much larger German aviation indusry financed by the NAZIs after they seized power. The Czechs seem ready to fight after the British and French abandoned at Munich (September 1938). The Czechs had a substantial industrial base and the Army was well equipped with artilery and armored vehicles. It was the threat of aerial bombardment, however, that ultimately forced the Cechs to submit. The Czechs had a small air force, but the plane types were largely obsolete biplanes. The airforce could not protect Prague and other cities from Luftwaffe bombardment.

Strategic Position

The Czechs could have and were prepared to resist the Germans. Of course they could not prevail in the long run alone against the Wehrmacht, but they thought that the British and French would honor their treaty obligations and come to their assistance. They also had guarantees from the Soviets. What the Czechs did not have was a modern air force. This meant that the Luftwaffe could have devestated Prague and other Czech cities. The other problem was that the German minority in the Sudetenland would have supported the invaders. The Slovaks were also of questionable loyalty.

Sources








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Created: 2:12 AM 5/23/2011
Last updated: 2:12 AM 5/23/2011