POLAND TOWARDS AUTONOMOUS SLOVAKIA (OCTOBER 1938 – MARCH 1939)

Abstract

The author analyzes the policy of Poland towards autonomous Slovakia in the period of six months from the Munich Conference to forming in Spring 1939 formally independent, separate Slovak state. The government in Warsaw made a serious mistake by demanding in Autumn 1938 to join some small pieces of Slovakias territory to Poland. The realization of those demands led to rapid weakening of strong at that time Polish influences in Slovakia and accelerated the process of strengthening German influences. As a result, not only had Slovakia allowed the Germans in September 1939 to use its territory to attack Poland, but also itself took part in fights alongside the Wehrmacht.