Czechoslovakia also provided Germany with strategic benefit. By overtaking one of its border nations, Germany could strengthen its own defences. Furthermore, possession of Czechoslovakia would provide Germany with improved access to eastern lands that Hitler also sought to acquire- Poland for example.
Germany also lacked the natural resources of its rivals so expansion was necessary to fuel Hitler's further ambition, and Czechoslovakia was rich in industrial and mineral resources. It had factories for processing chemicals, steel, coal, iron ore, and had numerous power stations and arms works.
The following were reasons why war broke out
Invasion of Poland
Signing of the Nazi-Soviet pact
Britain’s policy of appeasement
Which of these do you think was the most important?
One of the reasons Britain adapted the policy of appeasement was because of Britain’s economic state, millions were unemployed in Britain and similar economic problems existed across Europe. The depression damaged Britain greatly. This in turn meant that Britain wasn't in a position to wage war in Europe and maintain the security of the Empire. The armed forces were not large enough or well enough equipped to cope, rearmament was very expensive and not the highest priority. Appeasement however, led to Germany becoming a stronger nation, gaining resources and troops from Austria and Czechoslovakia for example, and so more difficult to control later. So, Hitler was able to demand more without fear of war breaking out. This factor links to the signing of the Nazi-Soviet pact because appeasement scared the USSR, it sent a message that Britain would not stand in Hitler’s way and so would not be a reliable ally against Hitler. So, Stalin sought a pact with his enemy- Hitler.
Hitler had reasons to sign this pact also. By the summer of 1939, Hitler’s plans to invade Poland were complete. He realised that invading Poland will cause Britain and France to to attack him from the West, because of the polish guarantee, but he was more concerned to avoid a Russian attack from the east as well. Therefore to avoid a war on two fronts, he arranged the Nazi-Soviet Pact, which said that the two countries were not to support an enemy of another. There was also a secret protocol to the pact, the USSR and Germany divided their sought after land which included Poland. This factor was one step further to the break out of war.
Finally, the trigger of the Second World War was the invasion of Poland. Consequently, this led to Britain declaring war in September 1939.
