sudetenland: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Historical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “sudetenland” mean?
The historical German name for the border regions of Bohemia, Moravia, and parts of Silesia, inhabited primarily by Sudeten Germans.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The historical German name for the border regions of Bohemia, Moravia, and parts of Silesia, inhabited primarily by Sudeten Germans.
Primarily refers to the territory that became a central point of crisis in 1938, leading to the Munich Agreement and its subsequent annexation by Nazi Germany, which is seen as a prelude to World War II. In contemporary discourse, it is a historical and geopolitical term.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in spelling, meaning, or usage. The term is used identically in both varieties within historical and political discourse.
Connotations
Identical historical connotations related to the Munich Agreement and the lead-up to WWII.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, limited to academic, historical, or political discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “sudetenland” in a Sentence
The annexation of [the Sudetenland]The crisis over [the Sudetenland][The Sudetenland] was ceded to Germany.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sudetenland” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Sudetenland Germans
- the Sudetenland question
American English
- Sudetenland Germans
- the Sudetenland question
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, and international relations contexts to discuss interwar diplomacy, the Munich Agreement, and the causes of WWII.
Everyday
Extremely rare. May be encountered in documentaries, history books, or discussions about 20th-century European history.
Technical
Used as a specific historical and geopolitical term in historiography and political geography.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sudetenland”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sudetenland”
- Misspelling: 'Sudetenland' (common), 'Sudeten Land' (less common).
- Using it as a general term for any border region, which is incorrect due to its specific historical referent.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a historical region, formerly part of Czechoslovakia, that was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938 and later returned to Czechoslovakia after WWII. Today, it is part of the Czech Republic.
It is crucial because its annexation by Germany via the Munich Agreement is seen as the classic example of the failed policy of appeasement, which emboldened Hitler and contributed directly to the outbreak of World War II.
After WWII, the vast majority of the ethnic German population was expelled. Today, the region is predominantly populated by Czechs, with only a very small German minority.
In British English, it is typically /suːˈdeɪtənlænd/ (soo-DAY-tuhn-land). In American English, it is often /suˈdeɪtənlænd/ (soo-DAY-tuhn-land), with a slightly shorter first vowel.
The historical German name for the border regions of Bohemia, Moravia, and parts of Silesia, inhabited primarily by Sudeten Germans.
Sudetenland is usually formal, historical, academic in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SUddenly, DEciding TEN Lands' (SU-DE-TEN-LAND) were given away at Munich in 1938.
Conceptual Metaphor
The Sudetenland is often conceptualized as a 'PRECEDENT' or a 'TEST CASE' for aggressive expansion and the failure of appeasement.
Practice
Quiz
What is the Sudetenland most historically significant for?