Chamberlain assured Hitler that the German objectives could be achieved without fighting. The French consented to Chamberlain's policy, thus abandoning their former commitments. The Soviet Union was under no treaty obligation to assist Czechoslovakia, since the treaty of 1935 was to be operative only if the French would honour their pledges. Thus, the stage was set for a meeting between Hitler, Mussolini, Chamberlain, and Edouard Daladier, at Munich on September 29–30. They agreed on a document enjoining the Prague government to cede to the Third Reich all districts of Bohemia and Moravia with populations that were 50 percent or more German; October 10 was set as the deadline for the transfer of these territories. Although presented as a measure to make Czechoslovakia more homogeneous and viable, the pact and its ruthless implementation sealed the fate of the country.


From Munich to the disruption of the republic
Beneš resigned the presidency rather than agree to the German annexation. After several weeks he left Prague, first for London and then for Chicago. The leaders who took over had to face mounting difficulties. The annexations completed according to the Munich timetable were not Czechoslovakia's only territorial losses. Poland obtained the Duchy of Teschen as a reward for its menacing attitude during the Munich crisis. By the Vienna Award (November 2), Hungary was granted large portions of Slovak and Ruthenian territories. By all these amputations Czechoslovakia lost about one-third of its population, and the country was rendered defenseless. The chances of recuperation were greatly reduced by the rapid growth of centrifugal tendencies. The Slovak Populists, headed since Hlinka's death by Tiso, presented Prague with urgent demands for autonomy, which the government accepted. A similar request came from Carpathian Ruthenia. A cumbersome system composed of three autonomous units (the Czech Lands, Slovakia, and Ruthenia) united by allegiance to the Prague government was introduced late in the fall. On November 30 Emil Hácha was elected president; an Agrarian leader, Rudolf Beran, formed the federal cabinet. Under German pressure the complicated party system was changed drastically. The right and centre parties in the Czech Lands formed the Party of National Unity, while the Socialists organized the Party of Labour. In Slovakia the Populists absorbed all the other political groups. Despite all efforts of the loyal elements, stabilization of political and economic life made little progress.