Zvon zrady: Mnichovská dohoda a Československo 1938

by P.E. Caquet

Československo a Mnichovská dohoda 1938. Osudová předehra druhé světové války očima britského historika. Když se Neville Chamberlain vracel 30. září 1938 z Německa poté, co se dohodli s Hitlerem na postoupení pohraničních území Československa, pronesl k britskému lidu řeč: „Drazí přátelé, věřím, že to je mír pro naši dobu.“ Winston Churchill na to však reagoval slovy: „Zvolili jste hanbu a budete mít válku.“

V roce 2018 uplynulo 80 let od chvíle, kdy se Československo podvolilo tlaku Velké Británie a Francie, aby postoupilo pohraniční území nacistickému Německu. Události, které vešly do dějin jako „mnichovská dohoda“, se staly předzvěstí budoucího celosvětového konfliktu. To si ostatně uvědomovali jak českoslovenští, tak i někteří britští a francouzští politikové tehdejší doby. Přesto však v roce 1938 získali navrch představitelé politiky appeasementu, jejichž politický rozhled nejlépe vystihuje známá Chamberlainova věta: „Jak hrozné, fantastické, neuvěřitelné je, že bychom měli kopat zákopy a zkoušet si plynové masky kvůli sporům ve vzdálené zemi mezi lidmi, o kterých nic nevíme.“

Zvon zrady přináší pohled na tehdejší události očima současného britského historika. Autor čerpá z mnoha dosud nevyužitých zdrojů, včetně dobového československého tisku, vzpomínek pamětníků, soukromých deníků, vojenských plánů, vládních záznamů i reportáží médií. A dochází k možná překvapivým závěrům, například o tom, že německá vojenská síla v roce 1938 nebyla větší než síla československé a francouzské armády.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, War, World War II, Politics, Germany

280 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2020

Reviews

[Ilze Paegle-Mkrtčjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lieliska grāmata, lai palūkotos uz Minheni no čehu perspektīvas. Tomēr jāpiekrīt kritikai, ka lielvalstu motīvu analīze varēja būt labāka un Minhenes konferences apraksts - plašāks un precīzāks

[Des · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a keen academic and personal interest in the events leading up to September 1938 and the Munich Agreement.
Much of the historical detail was already known to me.
I hoped for further interpretation and analysis from this well regarded author.
The Bell of Treason was a serious disappointment.
I do not comment on the quality of the historiography nor the research.
My criticism stems from a desire to be further engaged and informed around events immediately leading to the destruction of the Czechoslovak First Republic.
There was weak analysis of the key players, save some of the Czechoslovak leaders and diplomats.
While there was speculation to the motives of the British and French leadership, little detail was provided about the significance of the policy of appeasement nor its background.
Much was made of Czechoslovak armaments and military strength gained through alliances. However the analysis of why this military advantage was insufficient in 1938 was poorly argued.
There were also serious omissions regarding Hitler and Mussolini, Chamberlain’s personal dealings with Hitler and Hitler’s war plans.
Perhaps the most astonishing lack of detail was that of the Munich Conference itself. I had expected details of the conference and the interactions, yet little was provided. This fact was confirmation that I had not found the book I was looking for.
There were some parts such as, the mature Czechoslovakian government and civic life, the Lord Runciman Mission to Czechoslovakia which was portrayed as inadequate and a metaphor for the betrayal that followed, the dilemma faced by Beneš and subsequent acquiescence.
The author presents a range of information leading to the conclusion that Czechoslovakia was betrayed by Britain, France and even USA based upon a poor understanding of Nazi German’s true intentions and short sighted and expedient foreign policy.
This was not the text for me.

[Patricia Roberts-Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very useful explanation of the background to the Munich Agreement. Be forewarned: it will make you angry with the UK political figures.

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a depressing book because it was a bad book promising more than it ever delivered. It will come as no surprise to anyone who reads it, but might surprise those who haven't yet, that it provides possibly the most negligible account of the actual Munich 'crisis' and/or 'conference' of any book dealing with the run up to WWII.

This book is my second least favorite type of history book, diplomatic history, were every note, letter and piece of diplomatic flummery is exhaustively resurrected and retold when even those at the time knew it was all a load of bollocks and sham gobbledygook to disguise with careful mendacious words the truth of what was going on.

The pity is that I thought we were going to get a proper look at the complexities of building the Czechoslovak state with a reasonable glance backwards to the problems of these same areas while still under Habsburg rule (please look up Tara Zahara's 'Kidnapped Souls: National Indifference and the Battle for Children in the Bohemian lands 1900-1948) or of the equally diverse 'Sudeten German' identity (see Eagle Glassheim's 'Noble Nationalists: The Transformation of the Bohemian Aristocracy'). But we get nothing, indeed it is almost as if the Sudeten German movement sprang from nowhere, of course the tensions between Czechs and Slovaks don't even get a look in, so we get no context and no history. Nor are the irresponsible antics of President Wilson and his ill thought out promises and commitments to create national homelands (none of which he bothered discussing with his UK or French allies) mentioned never mind explained.

What is needed is not an exhaustive account of various letters and memorandums laboriously concocted and then abandoned without reading but an understanding of why Chamberlain, Halifax and others were so willing to give way continually to Hitler because it didn't stop at Munich, France and the Uk may have found themselves at war with Germany over Poland but the complete absence of help, indeed complete indifference to Poland's destruction, is simply a continuation of a moral bankruptcy that affected all layers of UK and France.

There is an important story to tell in the betrayal of Czechoslovakia and it is a story we should always remember, just as we should remember the fate of Poland. What did the UK or France do for Poland?

[Ebookwormy1]

I don't know if my heart can handle this crushing read, especially after reading this review today. But I guess that is the point. If we don't face the evil, it will grow in strength until it breaks out in full attack. Here is the sobering review that added it to my to-reads....
https://stream.org/letting-the-democr...

[Tbfrank · Rating 5 out of 5]

A blow by blow account of the failure of the Western democracies to honor their treaty commitments and support the small nation they'd been responsible for re-establishing 20 years earlier. Victims of propaganda and believing in the false promise of self-determination, British and French politicians followed a short-term policy of self-interest without understanding the true nature of the conflict or the consequences of their actions. The author puts forth the contrary view that rather than buying time for the democracies to rearm, the additional year benefited Germany. In 1938, even without British intervention and uncertain support by France let alone Russia, Czechoslovakia had sufficient military forces and strategic advantages to exact a steep price for German aggression. By forcing the country into a choice between annihilation or dismemberment, Britain and France made a present of the nation's armory and armament manufacturing plants. At this distance in time and following the details of each diplomatic meeting, it is extraordinarily difficult to comprehend Chamberlain's declaration of "peace in our time."

Superbly researched and documented, this is a powerful narrative of a key event in the 20th century.

[Carol Sklenicka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, fascinating history of the betrayal of Czechoslovakia by the western Allies in 1938, with a lot of information from Czech sources.

[Okimura1170 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Bell of Treason
September 1938 and Prime Minister Chamberlain returns from Munich proclaiming “Peace in our time”.
Churchill commented that
“………the government had to choose between war and shame. They chose shame. They will get war too.”
This book charts in detail the events and characters that led to this point.
The events & details are important historically, however, the minutiae in the book can drag somewhat. I actually gave up twice before finally finishing by skimming the boring pieces.
Important factoids
1. The Czechoslovak and German armies were evenly matched with Czechoslovakia having the benefit of being the defense.
2. The first German Chief of Staff Gen Beck actually resigned because his assessment of a successful invasion was so negative in the face of Hitler’s wishes that his position was untenable in Gen Beck’s own eyes.
3. His successor Gen Halder organised a back up plan of overthrowing Hitler if he decided to invade Czechoslovakia.
4. It was only the fact that if Czechoslovakia had opposed the annexation of Sudetenland after being abandoned by Britain and France – then Czechoslovakia would have faced 3 fronts – Germany, Poland and Hungary as each neighbour had territory that each wanted to claim from Czechoslovakia.
Thus Czechoslovakia grudgingly agreed to cede territory to the Germans including its fortification lines. This meant that when Germany finally invaded in March 1939 that effectively Czechoslovakia was then defenceless.

It is said that history does not repeat itself but history does echo.
So today 83 yrs later
Was Hong Kong the new Austria ?
Is Taiwan the new Czechoslovakia
is China the new Germany ?
Is USA the new Britain ?
Who will be “…..the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old….”?

Or is this the echo of Vietnam with the domino theory ?
Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea….Japan/Vietnam/India
Recall that most of global microchip production is in Taiwan and S. Korea

[Everett · Rating 4 out of 5]

"With friends like these, who needs enemies?" What the French and British did to Czechoslovakia was inexcusable. There have been many books written about this and many have tried to paint a rosy picture concerning the treacherous way that the two powers reneged on their treaty obligations in the name of "peace". Caquet makes a very compelling argument that Hitler may have been stopped both externally (the German war machine was not sustainable in 1938) and internally (military staff plotting to get rid of Hitler if war was started) had the major powers just honored their obligations as written. Instead, Hitler was able to enlarge its military with the Czech stockpile and keep its military supplied with the Czech manufacturing infrastructure. The Great War was started because no one was willing to seek out a peaceful solution. World War 2 was started because that was the only thing that they wanted to do.

[Evan Þ. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a painful book, because I knew what was coming. (And I've been to Prague - I've personally seen enough of the places mentioned here to feel it.) The Czechs, on whom the book almost exclusively focuses, feared what was coming but had no idea that all their allies would abandon them until it had happened. It's all the more painful because the possibilities were so clear: the Czech fortification line (before being extorted away with the rest of the Sudetenland) could've at least paused the Nazis; the Czech army was eager to fight; the Nazis - with an army much smaller and less equipped than they invaded Poland with next year - had planned to leave the French border almost unguarded.

But still, the British and French - seeking to avoid war at all costs, and still trusting Hitler - surrendered their ally without war. As President Benes said in the end (before resigning in shame), "History will judge all that, and it will judge fairly."

[Roger Abadias Arencibia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro magnífico, especialmente prolijo en detalles y nutrido de fuentes.
Una obra que desgrana el infame asunto de los Sudetes. Poblados en un 75 por alemanes, que llevaban mil años en tierras checas (Bohemia) fueron entregados al Reich tras la perfidia de la traición anglofrancesa.
Gran parte de esos alemanes no deseaban su incorporación al Reich, tanto por motivaciones políticas como de lealtad a Checoslovaquia.
La cesión dejó una Checoslovaquia sin fronteras defendibles y sin industria, que sería finalmente desmantelada en marzo del 39.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well-structured, and true story about a betrayal that had enabled Hitler to successfully begin the WW II. Although not as well-known as the event of the following Blitzkrieg, the Munich agreement opened the door of Europe to this Nazi leader. And the great variety of previously unexamined material, tells exactly why and how was this done.
It also is the story of Britain, France and the USA making a very wrong decision. And the whole world got on fire.

[malik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice read overall. I think it suffers in length - there's only so much you can put in 300 pages after all, but the book itself is very solid and exceptionally proves the thesis that is denied in British textbooks to this day - that it betrayed Czechoslovakia. While France can also suffer blame, it was Chamberlain alone that pushed Daladier into abandoning the Czechs. A world historic tragedy that could have prevented millions of deaths.

[Alex Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read that showcases a different perspective of a much-discussed event of 20th century history. Unfortunately, the vast majority of writing in regards to the Munich Agreement is dominated by research into the main powers of Europe. However, in this book, the Czechoslovakian point of view is given the attention it deserves, which is what makes this a unique and refreshing story.

[Seth J. Vogelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Czechia was so easily abandoned by the British and French. A modern lesson that is replayed often. Surrender to facism is the norm. Only rarely does one see resilience in the face of looming oppression.

[Damian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly recommended work of outstanding scholarship.

This is an excellent retelling of the familiar story of the betrayal of the interwar Czechoslovak republic to Nazi Germany in 1938. Fresh information is brought to bear, along with some well-established but perhaps less well known information about Czechoslovak readiness to resist the Germans in 1938, along with a sober and convincing analysis of the lack of support for the Henleinists in the so-called Sudetenland.

The parallels with modern Ukraine and Russia and the possibility of any negotiations with the fascist regime of Putin over his annexed territories in Crimea and the Donbas are there to be seen.

1. The claims of the Henleinists and the laughably-titled Lukhansk and Donetsk 'Peoples' (read gangster) republics and Russian Crimea of discrimination and linguistic chauvinism, despite the evidence of the exact opposite before the independence of Czechoslovakia/Ukraine and the subsequent violation of all democratic norms after the occupation,

2. The obvious idea that if you accept the rights of a militaristic regime to occupy one seized territory, Sudetenland and Crimea/Donbas, they will grab more; the rest of the Czech lands/Ukraine,

3. The clear and unambiguous ranting of dictators such as Hitler and Putin threatening apocalyptic war if they do not get their way and the scheming of their respective propaganda outfits, alongside their clearly stated intentions not to be satisfied with compromises.