Why Did Hitler Want to Take Over Czechoslovakia?
After signing the Munich Agreement on Sept. 30, 1938, Hitler swore to abide by a peace treaty with three major Western powers. Nevertheless, on March 15, 1939, Germany's Führer violated the terms of the agreement, choosing to invade Czechoslovakia. Compelled by a desire to assert ideals of Nazism, Hitler sought to gain this prized territory.
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Expansionism
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After signing the Munich Agreement with Germany in 1938, the leaders of Britain, France and Italy would probably not have predicted that a few years later, German forces would attempt to invade Russia. However, Hitler's comments to advisers early in his reign as its "Führer" reveal that he wanted to expand the German empire.
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Morale
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German morale was crushed in the wake of World War I, with Germany agreeing both to bear responsibility for the war and to pay costly reparation fees to the war's victors. Hitler masterfully gained the support of German citizens for his foreign policy initiatives, under the pretense that Germany would once again be a strong international power.
Asserting Superiority
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Nazism, an outgrowth of Hitler's exclusionary political ideology, functioned on the assumption that inferior societies needed to be wiped out in order to make way for a superior new order. Hitler's infamous dislike of the Jews was closely followed by his dislike of Poles and Czechs, all of whom he wished to subjugate if not completely eliminate.
Strategic Benefits
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By overtaking one of its border nations, Germany could strengthen its own defenses. Furthermore, possession of Czechoslovakia would provide Germany with improved access to eastern lands that Hitler also sought to acquire.
Economic Strength
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Ian Kershaw, author of "Hitler: A Biography," observes that in 1938, Czechoslovakia harbored major raw mineral deposits, industrial wealth and a vibrant number of manufacturing plants. By invading Czechoslovakia, Hitler could commandeer its production capabilities, which would augment German weaponry in preparation for a global war.
References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Gabriel
