The Munich Agreement, signed on September 30, 1938, between Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy, allowed Nazi Germany to annex the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia. This agreement was reached after substantial pressure from Adolf Hitler, who leveraged claims that ethnic Germans in the region were being oppressed. The occupation commenced promptly on October 1, 1938, with German troops entering the Sudetenland to enforce the terms of the agreement. The Czech government, lacking military support from its allies and facing the immediate threat of German military strength, acquiesced to the occupation, which progressed with little to no resistance primarily due to the Czech military's lack of preparation for such an invasion.

The significance of this occupation cannot be overstated; it was a clear indicator of Nazi Germany's aggressive expansionist agenda. The territories annexed included industrial areas that were crucial for Czechoslovakia's economy and infrastructure. The fall of the Sudetenland was not merely a loss of territory but represented a severe blow to Czech sovereignty. This occupation instilled fear throughout Europe and illustrated the potential consequences of appeasement policies, emboldening Hitler to pursue further territorial expansion, leading ultimately to World War II.

Additionally, the Munich Agreement and the subsequent occupation are often criticized for their failure to protect smaller nations from aggressive powers. The events surrounding the Sudetenland contributed to the shaping of post-war policies regarding collective security and international relations, particularly in how nations would engage with totalitarian regimes in the future. As communities in the Sudetenland faced immediate changes under Nazi rule, tensions rose that would resurface in various forms during the war and its aftermath.