Supplement to Czechoslovakian report on the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939, with extracts from evidence on the background and execution of the takeover

Nürnberg, 1 December 1945 SUPPLEMENT NO. 2 TO THE OFFICIAL CZECHOSLOVAK REPORT CALLED "GERMAN CRIMES AGAINST CZECHOSLOVAKIA"
Presented by order of the Czechoslovak Government by Colonel Dr. B. Ecer, Plenipotentiary Minister, Czechoslovak Representative to the United Nations Commission for the Investigation of War Crimes in London, at the time Chairman of the Czechoslovak Delegation to the Nürnberg Proceedings.
By order of my Government I submitted in September of this year an official report to the four prosecutors of the International Military Tribunal in accordance with Article 21 of the Charter of the International Military Tribunal, as established by the Agreement of 8th August, 1945.
On'14 November, 1945, I submitted Supplement No. 1 to this report, concerning Konstantin von Neurath's responsibility for crimes committed against Czechoslovakia.
Herewith I submit Supplement No. 2 to the first official report. This Supplement No. 2, which is also a government document according to the above-mentioned Article 21, contain^ further proof of the guilt of the defendants in regard to the preparation for an attack on Czechoslovakia. The report contains, in other words, as a supplement to the first part of the original official Czechoslovak report, further proof concerning the following action of the defendants:
a. Pre-war infiltration by natives and by imported "Fifth Columns".
b. Subversive activity.
c. Bribery and use of corruption.
The supplement contains also further proof of the collaboration of the German Reich Government and the German Nazi Party with the leaders of the German minority in Czechoslovakia—especially with the leaders of the Henlein Party (SDP) —for the purpose of removing the Czechoslovak Republic and preparing the military action of the German Reich against the Czechoslovak Republic.
A number of persons in Czechoslovakia have been questioned in regard to these matters; partly by the Ministry of the Interior (Department of Political Intelligence Service); partly by Czechoslovak Courts of Justice.
My present report contains relevant excerpts from these statements.
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INTERROGATIONS OF
1. KARL HERMANN FRANK, FORMERLY THE REICHS PROTECTOR'S DEPUTY AND LATER GERMAN MINISTER OF STATE IN PRAGUE.
(Conducted by the Ministry of the Interior) a. Interrogation of 15 August, 1945, in Prague.
Frank stated in this record that during the year 1938 he had been in Germany several times. He participated in . a trip to Breslau, together with the entire Party Administration of the SDP, in order to visit the Athletic Festival which was to take place there. He spoke there, for the first time with Hitler. Hitler told Frank to "hold out and wait". Frank added in the interrogation that he interpreted Hitler's words as meaning that Hitler himself had taken the fate of the Sudeten Germans into his own hands. .
In reply to a question as to who had organized the illegal crossing of the border by members of the SDP into Germany in the autumn of 1938, Frank stated that the illegal crossing of the border took place in accordance with a proclamation by Henlein dated 17 or 18 September, 1938, and published in Asch, as well as in accordance with illegal circulars, and that the people who crossed the border illegally joined the so-called Free Corps in Germany. Frank himself had, as he said, crossed the border on 17 or 18 September, 1938.
In reply to the question as to whether he realized that he thereby committed high treason, Frank answered: "I was completely aware of the fact that by following the proclamation of Henlein, with whose proclamation I was in complete agreement, I as a Czechoslovak citizen had committed high treason in the eyes of the Czechoslovak law." .
In this interrogation Frank stated that Henlein and his staff were at Dondorf Castle near Bayreuth. Frank was, according to his own statement, a mere member of the staff. Henlein himself, who had the title "Freikorps Fuehrer" (Free Corps Leader), was in charge of the staff. According to Frank the Free Corps was formed in German territory at the order of Adolf Hitler, and during the last days of September it was provided with a small number of small-arms belonging to the -German Wehrmacht. Frank stated further that Henlein's proclamation—he meant the proclamation of 17 or 18 September, 1938—was issued by Hitler's order. He admits that this proclamation may possibly have been corhposed in the Ministry of Propaganda. Frank then described the formation of the Free Corps, which according to his statement was composed mainly of Sudeten Germans and which
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had a force of approximately 15,000 men, and told of attacks and actions which the Free Corps had undertaken on Czechoslovak territory. The orders for such an action in the vicinity of Asch came, according to Frank, directly from Hitler or Himmler. Frank, himself, agreed to these actions and crossed the border for the purpose of joining the Free Corps. Frank stated further that he agreed with all of Hitler's plans in reference to Czechoslovakia, whether they were of a political or military nature. b.. Interrogation of 9 October 1945.
In reply to the question as to who financed the Henlein Party, Frank answered that he thought the party had been receiving money from Germany since 1936. However, he did not know the source. In the year 1938 money arrived from the so-called "Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle" in Berlin (Central Office for Racial Germans) through the mediation of the German Ambassador in Prague. He stated that he had been with Henlein several times at the German Ambassador's in Prague, and that he together., with Henlein had received money for the Party from the German Ambassador. He admitted that the receipt of the money was not consistent with the duties of a Czechoslovak citizen.
He admitted also that he had gone alone to the German Embassy in Prague several times and that he informed the German Ambassador about the inner political situation in Czechoslovakia. He added: "The delivery of information to Germany from the SDP by means of the Embassy began in May, 1938, and that brought about a direct, political cooperation with the delivery of confidential material also". Frank admitted that he thereby had committed high treason. After Henlein's conversation with Hitler at Obersalzberg (Frank does not give the date of this conversation, but from the content of his statement it is evident that this conversation took place at the end of August, 1938) the party received direct orders from Berlin through Konrad Henlein. He admitted further that the activities described above were directed against the Czechoslovak State, that they were high treason and that the German Embassy in Prague was willing to assist toward this end.
c. Further Interrogation on 9 October, 1945.
In a further statement on 9 October, 1945, Frank explained the role played by the so-called "Aufebruchskreis". The Auf-bfuchskreis was a group of former National-Socialist delegates with Kasper, Krebs and Jung at the Head. The National Socialist Party was voluntarily dissolved in Czechoslovakia in 1933, in order to prevent its being dissolved officially. Several of its
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leaders fled to Germany (see page 10 of the original Czechoslovak report—998-PS). In 1937 several of the former National Socialists, who had remained in Czechoslovakia, succeeded in getting into the Henlein Party while several of its exponents, among them Kasper, were taken into the chief administration of the SDP. Other German National Socialists of Czechoslovakia remained permanently in Germany and carried on from there propaganda against the Czechoslovak Republic. To these belonged in particular the former member of the Czechoslovak Parliament, Krebs. Frank said that Krebs was a friend of Frick, and that he had therefore been taken into the Reich Ministry of the Interior. Frank himself was in touch with the Chairman of the "Volksbund fuer das Deutschtum im Auslande" (National Society for Germanism Abroad), Steinacher, whom he met personally in Germany. Frank confirmed the fact that the "Volksbund fuer das Deutschtum im Auslande" financed the Sudeten German Party. The money was always received by "Henlein. Frank stated that the purpose of this connection with the German Reich Authorities [Reichsstellen] was the establishment of national unity on both sides of the border and that it signified the preparation for a uniting of the two sides. Later, on the same day, he added to his statement the fact that this connection had existed since 1933 and that in 1936 a further connection between the SDP and Kreis was established in connection with the so-called working class [Reichsnaehrstand]. Similar connections were established within the field of party education and within the field of sports and physical education.
d. Interrogation of 10 October 1945.
In his statement on this day Frank admitted on the basis of the documents placed before him that Konrad Henlein received direct orders for espionage from the German Reich authorities [Reichsstellen] and that he had them carried out by Sudeten German persons. He believes, as he said, that there was a special German espionage system in Czechoslovakia, and that it was conducted directly by Germany. In the summer of 1938, as Frank remembers, Henlein was twice with Rudolf Hess; Frank continued his account with the words: "All conversations during the summer of 1938 between Henlein and me on the one side and the Reich Authorities [Reichsstellen], especially Adolf Hitler, Hess, and Kibbentrop, on the other side, were for the purpose of informing the Reich Authorities of the development of the political situation in Czechoslovakia. They took place at the request of the Reich authorities."
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Frank said further that he had a conversation with Ribbentrop in August, 1939, through the mediation of Lorenz (Lorenz, an SS-Obergruppenfuehrer, was the Leader of the so-called National German Central Office [Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle] in Berlin, which took over the role of the "Volksbund fuer das Deutschtum im Aus-Jande") and informed Ribbentrop about the political situation in Czechoslovakia and especially about the negotiation of the Czechoslovak Government in regard to the status of the nationalities. At noon he had a conversation with Hitler, in which Ribbentrop took part. The result of this conversation was the assurance (Frank did not say by whom) that the policy of the SDP in Czechoslovakia would be approved and that the Reich would be able to carry out the solution of the Sudeten German question. Frank stated expressly that this trip to Ribbentrop and Hitler was a secret one and that Henlein was the only one who knew about it. Frank stated further that through these negotiations he committed an offense against the laws of the Republic. He added: "In reply to the question I state that I am aware of the treason which the Party and its entire chief administration committed by receiving money from a foreign country for hostile actions against the State."
e. Interrogation of. 12 October 1945.
In this interrogation on 12 October, 1945 Frank described the trip of a large majority of the Party Administration to the Parteitag of the NSDAP in Nürnberg. During this period Konrad Henlein had a conversation with Hitler (according to Frank's statement) and told Frank afterward tfyat Hitler and Goering would take a firm stand in regard to the Sudeten German question—which actually happened. Frank continued: "I remember only that they both spoke sharply and threateningly against Czechoslovakia and announced the solution of the Sudeten German problem." Frank said further that after the return from Nürnberg the further activities of the SDP were directed toward armed revolt. He quoted an order for the battle against the Republic issued by Henlein on 17 September, 1938. On the same day Frank fled with Henlein to Germany and from there they both directed all actions against the Republic. He described the activities and actions of the Sudeten German Free Corps to which, as Frank stated officers of the SS, SA and 'NSKK were assigned. Hitler appointed Henlein commander of the Free Corps; Frank was his deputy. Propaganda for the purpose of disintegrating Czechoslovakia was handled at this time by the Ministry of
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Propaganda. Arms were smuggled from Germany into Czechoslovakia. Frank added to his testimony that at that time a colonel or lieutenant colonel of the German armed forces had for the time being been assigned to the staff of the Free Corps as a liaison officer. He then described the events after the Munich agreement. He was present at a large public demonstration in Karlsbad, at which Hitler declared: "For you Sudeten-Germans the nation is ready to draw the sword".
/. Interrogation of 15 October 1945.
Frank described the course of the occupation of the so-called Sudeten territory how the Henlein party had become a part of the NSDAP through Hess, how the new organization of the party . was carried out exactly according to the German. pattern, and how, finally, the various Nazi organizations such as the SS, SA, NSKK, NSFK, HJ and BDM were established in the Sudeten territory. Frank mentioned the names of the Sudeten Germans who had been placed at the head of the various party" organizations. He then described the election for the Reichstag which was proclaimed in the Sudeten territory on 4 December 1938. Finally he described the organization of the Reich German State Administration in the Sudeten Territory, of which Henlein, as Reich Commissioner, was the head. He confirmed the fact that the majority of the leading positions were taken over by Reich German officials. He mentioned also how the population of the Czech territories, which had been occupied by the Germans in violation of the Munich agreement, were treated. He said: "German officials were appointed also in the Czech-speaking territory. The majority of the Czech schools were closed and the Czech children were sent to [German] schools. All signs in Czech were removed; protection for the Czech minority did not exist." When the interrogator reminded Frank that Hitler had repeatedly stated that he wanted no Czechs, Frank said: "I admit that in the annexation of purely Czech territories such as the vicinity of Domazlice, Pilzen and Turnov he (he means Hitler) has in no way Complied with his declaration."
He then described the terror system which was employed against the Czechs and the Jews in the occupied Sudeten Territories. Finally he described the preparations for the final occupation of the rest of Bohemia and Moravia in March, 1939, and the cooperation with the Czech Fascists for this purpose. He characterized this latter act of Hitler's in the following manner: "Even though Hitler declared that he did not want any Czechs in the Reich, he had broken and violated this declaration by occupying the Czechoslovak Republic." And Frank added: "As every-
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thing else that Hitler undertook, this action was enthusiastically approved by the population (Frank means the German population) and the population backed it." He then described the march of the German troops into Bohemia and Moravia on 15 March, 1939, and the arrival of Hitler, who, according to Frank, was accompanied by Lammers, Frick, Stuckart, Himmler, Daluege, Heydrich, Keitel, Brauchitsch and other generals. Frank, together with Henlein and Hoeppner, was summoned to Hitler in his private parlor car.
According- to his statement, he happened to be present on March 16 in the room where Ribbentrop broadcast the proclamation and the establishment of the Protektorat over the radio, and added: "Subsequently I found out that the proclamation was composed by Hitler together with Frick, Stuckart and Ribbentrop during the night of the 15 to the 16 of March, 1939". He described then, how he had been ordered to go to Vienna to see Hitler in the Hotel Imperial between the 17 and 19 March, 1939. He, together with Neurath, was received by Hitler during the forenoon. Frank continued: "Hitler told us that he was appointing von Neurath as Reich Protector and rtie as State Secretary". Frank stated further, that Neurath had been placed directly under Hitler. Frank accepted the position as State Secretary, although, as he said, this was in conflict with the principle of self-government which he had defended up to October 1,
1938. He did it because it was Hitler's order. He learned later on that Hitler had mentioned to Iiacha that either a protective agreement in the form of a Protectorate must be made, or else the German troops would march into Czechoslovakia, and that they were ready to do so.
Concerning the occupation of Czechoslovakia in March 1939, and the establishing of the Protectorate, Frank expressed himself as follows: "The conclusion of the protective agreement between Hitler and Hacha and the establishing of a protectorate such as the establishing of an independent Slovakia with an independent protective agreement between the Reich and Slovakia signified an action of pure political force. This violated all laws, since Hacha, according to the Czechoslovakian laws, was not authorized to negotiate such an agreement with Hitler without prior consultation pf the parliament still in session."
"I am aware of the fact that my appointment as Secretary of State was a one-sided political act on the part of Hitler and that the establishing of the Protectorate was carried out without regard for Munich, Voelkerbund, the agreement concerning the protection of minorities, etc." - -
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2. INTERROGATION ON 19 NOVEMBER 1945 OF MRS. MILADA RAD-LOVA, NEE HACHOVA, DAUGHTER OF THE DECEASED FORMER SO-CALLED state president DR. Emil hacha. (Conducted by the Ministry of the Interior)
Mrs. Radlova was questioned concerning Hacha's trip to Berlin on 14 March 1939 and his conversation with Hitler. She described the departure of her father, whom she accompanied, his arrival in Berlin, and where they stopped at a hotel. She said among other things: "My father has never given me a complete report of the conversation with Hitler. From his verbal remarks I found out only that Goering said to my father during his visit with Hitler on the night between 13 and 14 March 1939 that he would be very sorry if he were to be forced to destroy so beautiful a city as Prague, in case my father did not give his approval of the occupation of Czechoslovakia by the German Army, and if the Czechoslovak Army were to use armed force in opposition to the occupying forces.. What Hitler said to my father—Dr. Hacha—I have not found out. Not until later did my father tell me that it was a great blow to him to find out that Bohemia and Moravia were to be occupied by the Germans. As a matter of fact, my father thought at first that his trip concerned Slovakia since it was known that many Slovaks, as for instance Tuka, Sano, Mach, etc., wanted to make Slovakia an independent state. Not until his arrival in Berlin on 14 March 1939 did my father find out that on this day Moravska-Ostrava had been occupied by the Germans. He had also told me that Hitler was very much enraged because my father arrived so late in Berlin.
3. INTERROGATION ON 19 NOVEMBER 1945 OF DR. AUGUST PO-PELKA, THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE CHANCERY OF THE SO-CALLED PRESIDENT OF STATE, HACHA. %
Dr. Popelka stated that he had learned about the conversation between Hitler and Hacha during the night of the 14 and 15 March 1939 through a document which Dr. Hacha had personally composed and signed. This document was retained as a secret document in a special cabinet. Dr. Popelka, as director of the Chancery, had access to this cabinet and read the document. He recalls having read that Hacha had to wait until 0200 hours in the morning during his visit with Hitler. The room in which he waited was brilliantly lit. Hitler was surrounded by a large number of military aides. Hacha reproduced in the document a statement made by the defendant Goering to the effect that if Hacha would not accept the conditions which had been placed
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before him with regard to the occupation of Bohemia and Moravia, he, Goering, would attack Prague from the air and destroy it completely in order to give England and France a warning example, so that these countries could see what would happen to their cities if they engaged in war. Hacha Began the conversation with Hitler with the Slovakian question. Hitler did not react to it and told Hacha that he had just given orders for the German troops to occupy Bohemia and Moravia at 0600 hours on the 15th of March. Hitler then presented the conditions which Hacha was to accept. Hacha objected. However, that did not help. From Dr. Hacha's document it was evident that he had been forced to sign the document for the German protection, that he had not voluntarily sought protection and that he signed the document under psychological pressure. Dr. Popelka continued: "The document read, as I remember, that Dr. Hacha was under such a mental strain during his visit with Hitler that he had an attack and had to have an injection by Hitler's personal physician, who was present. From the document and from remarks which Hacha made later in my presence, I am under the impression that Hacha acted under the pressure of Hitler's and Goering's threats against the Czechoslovak people, and that he was given no time in which to think over the matter or consult with the proper governmental agencies."
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4. INTERROGATION ON 19 NOVEMBER 1945 OF DR. JOSEPH KLIMENT, FORMER POLITICAL REPORTER (REFERENTEN) FOR DR. HACHA, AT THE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR IN PRAGUE.
Dr. Kliment stated that he accompanied Dr. Hacha to Berlin as an official of his chancery. He was not present during the conversation between Dr. Hacha and Hitler. He can remember the information which Dr. Hacha gave to him and other outstanding Czechoslovak persons in the Hotel Adlon, when he returned at 0430 on 15 March 1939. During his visit to Hitler, Dr. Hacha had wanted first of all to solve the Slovakian problem. Hitler had listened to Hacha, and he had then only said that the question of Slovakia was not the object of his interest. He had decided to occupy the Czechoslovak countries with the German Armed Forces, starting at 0600 in order to secure peace in Central Europe. He added to this that his decision was final. Then Goering stepped over to Dr. Hacha and said to him: "My official task (Amt) is difficult. I have nothing at all against your beautiful city. However, if you want to do anything at all against the decision of the Fuehrer, especially if you should attempt to get help from the West, then I shall be forced to show the world the 100 percent
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effectiveness of my Air Force". Dr: Hacha then told those who had accompanied him that it was not until these far-reaching threats had been directed against the entire nation that he decided to sign the declaration already placed before him concerning the protection of the Czechoslovak countries and the Czechoslovak people through the Chancellor of the German Reich.
Dr. Kliment continued: "It is clear to me, as an immediate participant of those days, that during the fateful night Hitler, Goer-ing and the others who were present, especially Ribbentrop, employed the highest pressure that could be used against the spokesman of a people: that is, the threat to destroy completely their capital, Prague, from the air. Only the fear of reprisals against the Czechoslovak, people influenced Dr. Hacha, in my opinion, to bow to the dictates of Hitler." Dr. Hacha confirmed to Dr, Kliment that during the conversation with Hitler he had received a strength-giving injection, although he had protested against it.
Concerning Ribbentrop's participation in the events on 15th. of March 1939 Dr. Kliment said: "Concerning Ribbentrop: Aside from the treacherous role he had played in submitting the despotic order concerning the establishing of the Protectorate, I can still remember today the overbearing and imperious manner in which he conducted himself when he took over the town." I can report another breach of confidence which he committed against the Czechoslovak people. He had assured Dr. Hacha that it would be impossible in the Czechoslovak countries for a SudetenGerman to carry out reprisals against the Czechoslovak population. Instead of that it is common knowledge that K. H. Frank, the former Sudeten official and the arch enemy of the Czechoslovak people, was appointed to the most important Reich Office in the Czechoslovak countries. Arid Ribbentrop, in spite of his promises and his decisive and open participation in all the events mentioned, did nothing to keep his promises.
5. INTERROGATION OF FORMER SLOVAKIAN POLITICAL LEADERS. The following persons, who were leaders in the so-called "Independent Slovakian State," were interrogated:
a. Dr. Josef Tiso, former State President, interrogated by the district court Bratislava on 19 November 1945.
b. Dr. Vojteeh Tuka, former Minister, interrogated by officials of the Ministry of Interior (Department of Political Intelligence Service). -c. Alexander Mach, former Minister, interrogated by the „ district Court Bratislava on 19 November 194§.
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d. Dr. Mikulas Pruzinsky, interrogated by the district court Bratislava on 19 November 1945.
e. Adalar Kocis, interrogated by the district court Bratislava on 19 November 1945.
The object of the interrogation was to determine the participation of the Nazi conspirators in the tearing away of Slovakia from the Czechoslovak Republic, carried out on 14 March 1939.
All witnesses confirmed, partly from a personal experience, partly on the basis of information that they had received, the following facts:
a. That Hitler, Ribbentrop, Goering and other Nazi leaders demanded the proclamation of the "Independent Slovakian State" from Slovakian political leaders on 13 March 1939.
b. That Hitler, Ribbentrop, Goering and others at the same time threatened in various ways the occupation of Slovakia by German troops up to the river Vah and the distribution of the remainder of Slovakia among her northern and southern neighbors if the Slovaks did not declare their "independence" ; whereupon, during the night between the 13 and 14th of March,,'Ribbentrop gave Dr. Tiso until 14 March at 1300 to make up his mind.
c. That incidents such as shooting, bombing attacks, etc., were organized in Bratislava by Germans with the assistance of SS-officers and in cooperation with the local German Consul in order to justify the invasion of German troops.
I hereby submit the present document in the name of the Czechoslovak Government. I have the honor to state that my Government reserves the right to submit additional documentary materials to the prosecutors. ,
Colonel Dr. B. ECER
/s/ Dr. B. Ecer
Extraordinary Envoy and Minister ' Plenipotentiary.
Representative of the Czechoslovak Republic at the United Nations Commission for the Investigation of War Crimes
Chairman of the Czechoslovak Delegation To the Nürnberg Proceedings
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