Sudeten

Sudeten refers to two related things in Central Europe: the Sudetes mountain range and the people and territories historically connected with that region, especially the Sudeten Germans. The word is used in reference to the geographic feature as well as to ethnic and political entities associated with the area. The name derives from the Slavic toponymy for the region and has been adopted in various languages to designate the mountains, the surrounding lands, and their inhabitants. Today the term is chiefly encountered in historical contexts.

Geography and extent: The Sudetes form a long chain of hills and mountains along the border areas of the Czech Republic, Poland and, to a lesser extent, Germany. The range is typically divided into Western, Central, and Eastern Sudetes and reaches elevations around 1,500 to 1,600 meters, with peaks such as Sněžka (1,603 meters) cited among the higher points in the broader Sudetic system. The mountains influence regional climate, hydrology, and settlement patterns and are known for their forested terrain and tourist appeal.

History and ethnicity: The region has been ethnically diverse for centuries, with German-speaking communities living alongside Czechs and Poles. After World War I, the area became part of newly formed Czechoslovakia. In 1938–39, Nazi Germany annexed the Sudetenland following the Munich Agreement. After World War II, most ethnic Germans were expelled, and the area was largely repopulated by Czechs and Poles. The Sudetenlands' political status remains a historical episode, while the Sudetes remain a geographic feature spanning modern-day Czech Republic and Poland.

Etymology and usage: The term Sudetes/Sudeten is derived from the mountain range’s name, with Sudetenland emerging in German usage to describe the border regions inhabited by Sudeten Germans. The phrase is predominantly historical in contemporary discourse.