Munich Conference

From Turtledove

The Munich Conference was an attempt between several great European powers to avert a war over the Sudetenland crisis of September 1938.

Involving prime minister Neville Chamberlain of the United Kingdom, premier Edouard Daladier of the French Republic, Fuehrer Adolf Hitler of the German Reich, and Benito Mussolini of Italy, the conference led to the Munich Agreement, which gave control of the Sudentenland to Germany. While Chamberlain was at first hailed for his efforts to keep peace in Europe, Daladier was far more pessimistic, realizing Hitler's long range plans in Europe. Hitler, likewise, was unhappy, even though he'd gained what he wanted, as he'd actually desired war.

[edit] Munich Conference in The War That Came Early

The Munich Conference ended in failure for for Neville Chamberlain and Edouard Daladier on September 29, 1938, when news of the assassination of Konrad Henlein reached Adolf Hitler, prompting him to vent rage against Czechoslovakia and order war to begin right in front of his horrified audience. Three days later, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union declared war on Germany after Wehrmacht forces initiated Case Green, the invasion of Czechoslovakia.

Chamberlain and Daladier expressed disbelief that Hitler had nothing to do with Henlein's murder (by a Czech citizen who had followed the Sudeten German Party leader into Germany). Hitler, for once, was completely innocent of the charges leveled against him, and insisted so to his guests, but secretly was very pleased that a reason for war was so easily given to him.