"Hitler had for some time been convinced that neither France nor Britain would fight for Czechoslovakia. On May 28 he called a meeting of his principal advisers and gave instructions for the preparations to attack Czechoslovakia.
"His service advisers, however did not share unanimously his overwhelming confidence. The German generals could not be persuaded, considering the still enormous preponderance of Allied strength except in the air, that France and Britain would submit to the Fuehrer's challenge.
"To break the Czech Army and pierce or turn the Bohemian fortress line would require practically the whole of thirty-five divisions. The German Chiefs of Staff informed Hitler that the Czech Army must be considered efficient and up to date in arms and equipment.
"The fortifications of the West Wall or Siegfried Line, though already in existence as field works, were far from completed: and at the moment of attacking the Czechs only five effective and eight Reserve divisions would be available to protect the whole of Germany's western frontier against the French Army, which could mobilize a hundred divisions.
"The generals were aghast at running such risks, when by waiting a few years the German Army would again be master."
On September 10, the French foreign minister, M. Bonnet, asks the British ambassador in Paris: what if Hitler invades Czechoslovakia? The formal British government response of September 12 is noncommittal:
"...So far therefore as I am in a position to give any answer at this stage to M. Bonnet's question, it would have to be that while His majesty's Government would never allow the security of France to be threatened, they are unable to make precise statements..." etc., etc.
Writes Churchill:
"Upon the statement that "His Majesty's Government would never allow the security of France to be threatened" the French asked what aid they could expect if it were. The reply from London was, according to Bonnet, two divisions, not motorized, and one hundred and fifty aeroplanes during the first six months of the war.
"If M. Bonnet was seeking for an excuse for leaving the Czechs to their fate, it must be admitted that his search had met with some success."
Thanks, Bro. I need to tackle Churchill's history. I have heard it is a bit self-serving, but man, what an eyewitness! And from your post I see he cites specific dates. That is useful for my sinister purposes