What was the main purpose of the Munich Agreement in 1938?

The Munich Agreement, signed in September 1938, primarily aimed to appease Adolf Hitler by permitting Germany to annex the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia inhabited largely by ethnic Germans. The leaders of Britain, France, Italy, and Germany, including British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, believed that by conceding to Hitler's demands, they could prevent a larger conflict in Europe. This policy of appeasement was rooted in the desire to maintain peace after the devastation of World War I and to avoid another war at all costs.

The Sudetenland was strategically significant because of its fortifications and industrial resources, and letting Hitler take control was seen as a way to satisfy his expansionist appetite. The expectation was that this concession would ensure stability in the region. Instead, it only emboldened Hitler to pursue further aggression, ultimately leading to World War II. The Munich Agreement is often cited as a classic example of failed appeasement in international relations.