czechoslovakia was an independent country since it had been formed in 1918, after the first world war by an international agreement. adolf hitler wanted "lebensraum" (meaning "living space") to have all germans in czechoslovakia united with germany. as most germana in czechoslovakia were in the sudetenland, hitler set his sights there first. he knew that most of the industrial strength of czechoslovakia would be lost if germany took the sudetenland. britain, france and the soviet union had all agreed to support czechoslovakia if it was invaded.