What occurred shortly after the Munich Agreement that surprised Britain and France?

The Munich Agreement, signed in September 1938, was intended to satisfy German territorial demands in Czechoslovakia, specifically concerning the Sudetenland, in hopes of preventing a wider conflict in Europe. Shortly after this agreement, which Britain and France believed would secure peace, Germany moved beyond the terms of the agreement by invading the remainder of Czechoslovakia in March 1939.

This action demonstrated Hitler's aggressive expansionist ambitions and the ineffectiveness of the appeasement policies adopted by Britain and France. The invasion took both nations by surprise, as they had underestimated Hitler's intentions and believed that ceding territory would suffice to maintain peace. This event highlighted the failure of the Munich Agreement and marked a turning point in the lead-up to World War II, shifting the balance of power in Europe and escalating tensions significantly.