Here is a thought. What if Poland also joins in takes Danzig and maybe bits of East Prussia. I kind of wonder whether Hitler might be seen as a reasonable Nationalist by history if he were beaten easily and earlier.
Here is a thought. What if Poland also joins in takes Danzig and maybe bits of East Prussia. I kind of wonder whether Hitler might be seen as a reasonable Nationalist by history if he were beaten easily and earlier.
Border with Austria was indeed not so well protected. However two Czechoslovak armies were concentrated in Moravia which due to timely and quick mobilization were able to prepare their field positions. In southern Moravia dams were ready to be busted to stop German break through from Austria.The Czechs had built their border defense and had their war plans primarily to deal with a German attack. Germany attacking in to the Sudetenland plays to all the Czech strengths. While Poland and Hungary did nip off bits of Czechoslovakia, this was not until after the Czechs had lost at Munich, and subsequently had been occupied. If Germany and Czechoslovakia are going at it, with France at least de jure involved, neither Poland nor Hungary is going to do anything to help the Germans and potentially piss of the French and possibly even the British. The Czech border with Austria was not as well defended, and therefore an attack from the south would cause more potential problems. The problem the Germans have is that their forces would be stretched to attack through the Sudetenland and from Austria, and yet leave enough troops on the French border, and potential the Polish border/East Prussia. As has been suggested, the Poles, who were willing enough to nip off part of Czechoslovakia, might very well be willing to take Danzig or other bits if Germany is tied up or seen to be losing. The point of that is that the German General Staff cannot totally denude eastern forces for use against Czechoslovakia.
1938 you mean. Very likely not. After all Romania put troops on high alert on borfer with Hungary OTL in March 1939. Only after confirmation from Prague that Hungarian actions in Ruthenia are basicilly no Prague concern enymore they stepped down.@KACKO: IMHO if Germany and Czechoslovakia ar fighting in 1939, especially with France honoring its obligations even if not much activity on the western front, neither Poland nor Hungary will be coming in as co-belligerents with Germany to nip off relatively small bits of Czechoslovakia. Getting those bits for free when the French and British have thrown the Czechs to the wolves is one thing, ITTL another...
Also, I have read Chamberlain was a pretty popular premier, despite the American character assassination. Could he indeed with another election for the Tories against Attlee once this war concludes?
Chamberlain's popularity ebbed and flowed rather dramatically after Munich but with a short, victorious war instead there's little doubt he would have been able to win a general election. However, considering his health, he wouldn't have been able to remain on as PM much longer than in OTL.
Who would succeed him?, Hoare, Lord Halifax?
Really?, he was 43 in 1940, a tad bit young?
He was quite publically popular and the men in grey suits had a liking for him. The inner machinations of the Tory party at this time are often hard to decipher but those are certainly positive attributes.
Poland only decided to get Teschen when Munich made it clear that France and UK do not care about Czechoslovakia anymore. Pure opportunism. There is zero chance Poland would actively ally with Germany to get it.Poland theoretically could get at least parts of Tesin as an exchange for their neutrality - Benes at then end few days before Munich kind of made that offer to Poland's president.
I didn't say Poland would ally. I said Benes came with this kind of offer. But it was only in one letter to Polish President. Benes was for long time pressed by Czechoslovak Generals to came to some kind of agreement with Poland. Generals wanted to have border with Poland safe - friendly neutral Poland would be appreciated. Unfortunatelly Benes didn't managed that.Poland only decided to get Teschen when Munich made it clear that France and UK do not care about Czechoslovakia anymore. Pure opportunism. There is zero chance Poland would actively ally with Germany to get it.
OTL Soviet ambassador in Prague was hinting that Czechoslovakia just need to ask Moscow for help even without France. However logistic would be bitch. Poland wouldn’t allow transfers and even Romania is questionable though they could pretend they didn’t notice overflying aircrafts.If the Czechs resist the bullying and Germany invades, regardless of the progress of the fighting, would this butterfly the Ribbentrop-Molotov treaty?
I get impression that Stalin only did the deal to buy himself some time to prepare against Hitler, when the Entente didn't appear to be willing to stand up against Germany.
If there's a Czech war, the Entente can't totally ignore it, however much they might prefer to. So Stalin won't feel quite so threatened. Even if he doesn't - or can't - provide direct help to the Czechs.