Munich Crisis of 1938: Political Turmoil on the Brink of the Second World War

Bringing together a range of perspectives from across Europe, this book examines the Munich crisis of 1938. It reveals how the actions of the West, Nazi Germany, Italy, Czechoslovakia and others influenced each other at this time, driving the world to the brink of a new war.

The Munich Crisis of 1938 explores the critical political dimension to events as they unfolded, but it also offers insights into military aspects, pivotal private meetings, street riots, demonstrations, and reports in the international media to offer a rounded study of the subject. Piotr M. Majewski shines a light on the internal turmoil in Prague and the Czechoslovak preparations for war, the dramatic Anglo-German summits, Hitler's anti-Czech fury, the Polish sabre-rattling, the Hungarian hesitation, the duplicitous manoeuvres of the Soviets, the underhand political intrigues, and the intricate intelligence battle which ensued throughout. Majewski convincingly contends that 1938, and the appeasement that came with it in the name of saving peace, saw Europe take a decisive leap towards a disastrous war.