286 Chapter 3
Outcome (and Settlement): Yield by side A (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Both Poland and Hungary had visions of a common border in 1938. The
Poles specifically wanted Teschen (Silesia), which they lost to Czechoslovakia in
- When it became apparent that the Czechs were going to be crippled by the loss
of the Sudetenland, Poland decided to capitalize.
Poland waited until the Czechs finally relented to the partition plan forced on
them by the British and the French and demanded a similar settlement regarding
Teschen.
Poland made a demand on September 21. The Soviets intervened on September 23
at the request of the Czechs, warning that a Polish invasion of Czechoslovakia would
result in the abrogation of their nonaggression pact.
The threat did not impress the Polish government. If the Soviets abandoned
Czechoslovakia over the Sudetenland crisis, they would not risk war over Silesia.
The Soviets mobilized nevertheless, aiming toward Poland, but no official directives
were given regarding a possible action. Poland called the Soviet Union’s bluff. The
Czechs were in an unenviable bind. President Benes responded to the first Polish note
proposing a “frank and friendly discussion” regarding Silesia. Poland felt confident
that Teschen would be theirs by the end of the week but also believed that the Czech
diplomatic route to that end was unsatisfactory.
Poland followed the Czech reply with another note that, while firm in tone, adopted
a waiting attitude toward the issue. The Polish attitude ultimately became one of
insistence. By September 30, Poland demanded the evacuation of the area by the next
day. The Czechs ultimately caved, and Poland marched on Silesia on October 1. The
Czechs agreed to a Polish occupation by 2 p.m. on the 1st. Poland and Czechoslovakia
agreed to negotiate the technicalities of the territorial transfer at a later date, including
a plebiscite to determine sovereignty.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from April 24, 1938. Outcome changed from
Yield by side A.
MID#346
Started in May 1968. See the narrative in the 315 Czechoslovakia/365 Russia dyad
dispute list.
290 Poland/345 Yugoslavia
MID#4137
Started in February 1998. See the narrative in the 2 United States of America/345
Yugoslavia dyad dispute list.