Slovak Republic in the shadow of Munich Agreement, and difficult recovery of Czechoslovak statehood

Abstract

The adoption of the Munich Agreement without the participation of the Czechoslovak Republic was a flagrant violation of international law and practice. This agreement was forced to Czechoslovakia by four powers (Germany, Italy, France and Great Britain), nevertheless, it allowed to release a solid volume of the Czech Lands and Slovakia. Post-Munich situation enabled to Slovakia a wide political autonomy and eventually it culminated in the secession of Slovakia from the remaining Czech lands and the proclamation of the independent Slovak Republic on 14th March 1939. Very important for the restoration of an independent Czechoslovak state in its original pre-Munich borders was when Germany violated the Munich Agreement by occupying the remaining Czech Lands in the 15th March 1939. For that matter, Great Britain withdrew its signature. Hence it did not admit (at least initially) to their mistake and it derived the invalidation of the Munich Agreement from its violation by Germany itself.