In the wake of the Anschluss, the European powers felt that war was imminent, especially after Hitler's speech of February 20, 1938. German demands for the independence of the Sudetenland Germans were met with Czech refusals throughout March and April 1938. But by May, the Czechs became convinced of the serious nature of the German intent, and the Czechoslovak military was mobilized. France and Great Britain, the former an ally of Czechoslovakia, began to meet with Germany on behalf of Czechoslovakia. French and British efforts were aimed at gaining promises from Germany through Czech concessions. The Czechs had to comply, or the withdrawal of French and British military support would be the result. Without that support, Czechoslovakia had no hope of resisting the Germans alone. On September 21, 1938, the Germans attacked a Czechoslovak border post, and the efforts of the French and the British increased. On the same day, France and Great Britain demanded that Czechoslovakia cede the Sudetenland to Germany and the Czechs agreed to do so. On September 30th, the Czechs accepted the final agreement reached by France, Great Britain, and Germany, and allowed the Germans to occupy the Sudetenland beginning October 1, 1938.