The Nizkor Project: Remembering the Holocaust (Shoah)

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    4. THE EXECUTION OF THE PLAN TO INVADE CZECHOSLOVAKIA
                              
A. Development of the Nazi Program of Aggression.

In the period 1933-1936 the conspirators had initiated a
program of rearmament designed to give the Third Reich
military strength and political bargaining power to be used
against other nations.
Furthermore, beginning in the year 1936 they had embarked on
a preliminary program of expansion which, as it turned out,
was to last until March 1939. This program was intended to
shorten Germany's frontiers, to increase its industrial and
food reserves, and to place it in a position, both
industrially and strategically, from which the Nazis could
launch a more ambitious and more devastating campaign of
aggression. At the moment, in the early spring of 1938, when
the Nazi conspirators first began to lay concrete plans for
the conquest of Czechoslovakia they had reached
approximately the halfway point in this preliminary program.

The preceding autumn, at the conference in the Reichs
Chancellery on 5 November 1937, Hitler had set forth the
program which Germany was to follow. The events of this
conference are contained in the so-called Hossbach minutes.
The question for Germany, as the Fuehrer had informed his
military commanders at this meeting, is where the greatest
possible conquest can be

                                                  [Page 516]
                                                            
made at the lowest cost (386-PS). At the top of his agenda
stood two countries: Austria and Czechoslovakia. On 12 March
1938 Austria was occupied by the German Army, and on the
following day it was annexed to the Reich. The time had come
for a redefinition of German intentions toward
Czechoslovakia.

A little more than a month later Hitler and Keitel met to
discuss plans for the envelopment and conquest of the
Czechoslovak State. On 22 April 1938, Hitler and Keitel
discussed the pretexts which Germany might develop to serve
as an excuse for a sudden and overwhelming attack. They
considered the provocation of a period of diplomatic
squabbling which, growing more serious, would lead to the
excuse for war. In the alternative, and this alternative
they found to be preferable, they planned to unleash a
lightning attack as the result of an "incident" of their own
creation. Consideration was given to the assassination of
the German Ambassador at Prague to create the requisite
incident. The necessity of propaganda to guide the conduct
of Germans in Czechoslovakia and to intimidate the Czechs
was recognized. Problems of transport and tactics were
discussed with a view to overcoming all Czechoslovak
resistance within four days, thus presenting the world with
a fait accompli and forestalling outside intervention. (388-
PS, Item 2)

Thus in mid-April 1938 the designs of the Nazi conspirators
to conquer Czechoslovakia had already reached the stage of
practical planning.

B. The Background of Friendly Diplomatic Relations.

This conspiracy must be viewed against a background of
amicable German-Czech diplomatic relations. Although they
had in the fall of 1937 determined to destroy the
Czechoslovak State, the leaders of the German government
were bound by a treaty of arbitration and by assurances
freely given to observe the sovereignty of Czechoslovakia.
By a formal treaty signed at Locarno on 16 October 1925,
Germany and Czechoslovakia agreed, with certain exceptions,
to refer to an arbitral tribunal or to the Permanent Court
of International Justice,

     " *** all disputes of every kind between Germany and
     Czechoslovakia with regard to which the parties are in
     conflict as to their respective rights, and which it
     may not be possible to settle amicably by the normal
     methods of diplomacy. *** (TC-14)

The preamble of this treaty stated:

     "The President of the German Empire and the President
     of the Czechoslovak Republic; equally resolved to
     maintain
     
                                                  [Page 517]
                                                            
     peace between Germany and Czechoslovakia by assuring
     the peaceful settlement of differences which might
     arise between the two countries; declaring that respect
     for the rights established by treaty or resulting from
     the law of nations is obligatory for international
     tribunals; agreeing to recognize that the rights of a
     State cannot be modified save with its consent; and
     considering that sincere observance of the methods of
     peaceful settlement of international disputes permits
     of resolving, without recourse to force, questions
     which may become the cause of division between States;
     have decided to embody in a treaty their common
     intentions in this respect. ***" (TC-14)

Formal and categoric assurances of their good will toward
Czechoslovakia were forthcoming from the Nazi conspirators
as late as March 1938. On 11 March 1938 and 12 March 1938,
at the time of the annexation of Austria, Germany had a
considerable interest in inducing Czechoslovakia not to
mobilize. At this time Goering assured M. Mastny, the
Czechoslovak Minister in Berlin, on behalf of the German
Government that German-Czech relations were not adversely
affected by the developments in Austria and that Germany had
no hostile intentions toward Czechoslovakia. As a token of
his sincerity Goering accompanied his assurance with-the
statement: "Ich gebe Ihnen mein Ehrenwort" ("I give you my
word of honor") (TC-27). At the same time on Neurath, who
was handling German foreign affairs during Ribbentrop's stay
in London, assured M. Mastny on behalf of Hitler and the
German government that Germany still considered herself
bound by the Arbitration Convention of 1925 (TC-27).

C. Planning for Aggression.

Behind the screen of these assurances the Nazi conspirators
proceeded with their military and political plans for
aggression. Ever since the preceding fall it had been
established that the immediate aim of German policy was the
elimination of Austria and Czechoslovakia. In both countries
the Nazi conspirators planned to undermine the will to
resist by propaganda and by fifth column activities, while
the actual military preparations were being developed. The
Austrian operation, which received priority for political
and strategic reasons, was carried out in February and March
1938. Thenceforth Wehrmacht planning was devoted to Case
Green Fall Gruen), the designation given to the operation
against Czechoslovakia.

The military plans for Case Green had been drafted in
outline form as early as June 1937. The OKW top secret
"Directive

                                                   Page 518]
                                                            
for the Unified Preparation of the Armed Forces for War",
signed by von Blomberg on 24 June 1937 and promulgated to
the Army, Navy, and Luftwaffe for the year beginning 1 July
1937, included as a probable warlike eventuality, for which
a concentration plan was to be drafted, Case Green ("War on
two fronts with the main struggle in the southeast") (C-
175). The original section of this directive dealing with
the "probable war" against Czechoslovakia -- it was later
revised -- opens with this supposition:

     "The war in the east can begin with a surprise German
     operation against Czechoslovakia in order to parry the
     imminent attack of a superior enemy coalition. The
     necessary conditions to justify such an action
     politically and in the eyes of international law must
     be created beforehand." (C-175)

After detailing possible enemies and neutrals in the event
of such action, the directive continues as follows:

     "2. The task of the German Armed Forces is to make
     their preparations in such a way that the bulk of all
     forces can break into Czechoslovakia quickly, by
     surprise, and with the greatest force, while in the
     West the minimum strength is provided as rear cover for
     this attack.
     
     "The aim and object of this surprise attack by the
     German Armed Forces should be to eliminate from the
     very beginning, and for the duration of the war, the
     threat by Czechoslovakia to the rear of the operations
     in the West, and to take from the Russian Air Force the
     most substantial portion of its operational base in
     Czechoslovakia. This must be done by the defeat of the
     enemy armed forces and the occupation of Bohemia and
     Moravia." (C-175)

The introduction to this directive sets forth as one of its
guiding principles the following statement:

     "The politically fluid world situation, which does not
     preclude surprising incidents, demands constant
     preparedness for war on the part of the German Armed
     Forces *** to make possible the military exploitation
     of politically favorable opportunities should they
     occur." (C-175)

It ordered further work on the plan for mobilization without
public announcement "in order to put the Armed Forces in a
position to be able to begin a war suddenly which will take
the enemy by surprise both as regards strength and time of
attack." (C-175). This directive is, of course, a directive
for staff planning. But the nature of the planning, and the
very tangible and ominous developments which resulted from
it, give it a significance that it would not have in another
setting.

                                                  [Page 519]

Planning along the lines of this directive was carried
forward during the fall of 1937 and the winter of 1937-1938.
On the political level this planning for the conquest of
Czechoslovakia received the approval and support of Hitler
in the conference with his military commanders-in-chief on
November 1937 (386-PS). In early March 1938, before the
march into Austria, Ribbentrop and Keitel were concerned
over the extent of the information about war aims against
Czechoslovakia to be furnished to Hungary. On 4 March 1938
Ribbentrop wrote to Keitel, enclosing for Keitel's
confidential cognizance the minutes of a conference with
Sztojay, the Hungarian ambassador to Germany, who had
suggested an interchange of views (2786-PS). An
acknowledgment of the receipt of this letter was signed by
Keitel on 5 March. In his letter to Keitel, Ribbentrop said:

     "I have many doubts about such negotiations. In case we
     should discuss with Hungary possible war aims against
     Czechoslovakia, the danger exists that other parties as
     well would be informed about this. I would greatly
     appreciate it if you would notify me briefly whether
     any commitments were made here in any respect." (2786-
     PS)

D. Development of Specific Plans.

At the 21 April meeting between Hitler and Keitel, specific
plans for the attack on Czechoslovakia were discussed for
the first time (388-PS, Item 2). This meeting was followed
in the late spring and summer of 1938 by a series of
memoranda and telegrams advancing Case Green. These notes
and communications were carefully filed at Hitler's
headquarters by Major Schmundt, the Fuehrer's military
adjutant, and were captured by American troops in a cellar
at Obersalzberg, Hitler's headquarters, near Berchtesgaden.
This file, preserved intact, is document (388-PS).

The individual items in this file tell more graphically than
any narrative the progress of the Nazi conspirators'
planning to launch an unprovoked war against Czechoslovakia.
From the start the Nazi leaders displayed a lively interest
in intelligence data concerning Czechoslovak armament and
defense. This interest is reflected in Item 4 of the
Schmundt file, a telegram from Colonel Zeitzler in General
Jodl's office of the OKW to Schmundt at Hitler's
headquarters; Item A 12, Short survey of Armament of the
Czech Army, dated Berlin 9 June 1938 and initialed "Z" for
Zeitzler; and item 1, Questions of the Fuehrer, dated
Berlin, 9 June 1938 and classified "Most Secret". The
following are four of the questions on which Hitler wanted
authoritative information:

                                                  [Page 520]
     "Question 1: Armament of the Czech Army?
     
     "Question 2: How many battalions, etc., are employed in
     the West for the construction of emplacements ?
     
     "Question 3: Are the fortifications of Czechoslovakia
     still occupied in unreduced strength?
     
     "Question 4: Frontier protection in the West?" (388-PS,
     Item 13)

These questions were answered in detail by the OKW and
initialed by Colonel Zeitzler of Jodl's staff.

As a precaution against French and British action during the
attack on Czechoslovakia, it was necessary for the Nazi
conspirators to rush the preparation of fortification
measures along the western frontier of Germany. A telegram,
presumably sent from Schmundt in Berchtesgaden to Berlin,
read in part as follows:

     "Inform Colonel General von Brauchitsch and General
     Keitel: *** The Fuehrer repeatedly emphasized the
     necessity of pressing forward greatly the fortification
     work in the west." (388-PS, Item 8)

In May, June, July, and August of 1938 conferences between
Hitler and his political and military advisers resulted in
the issuance of a series of constantly revised directives
for the attack. It was decided that preparations for X-day,
the day of the attack, should be completed no later than 1
October.

On the afternoon of 28 May 1938 Hitler called a conference
of his principal military and political advisers in the
winter garden of the Reichs Chancellery in Berlin. This
conference was the occasion on which Hitler made known to
the inner circle of the Nazi conspirators the outlines of
his plan to attack Czechoslovakia a.nd issued the necessary
instructions. The meeting is described in an affidavit of
Fritz Wiedemann, who at that time was Hitler's adjutant:

     "FRITZ WIEDEMANN, being first duly sworn, deposes and
     says as follows:
     
     "From the month of January 1935 to January 1939 I
     served as adjutant to Hitler. In this time my duties
     were to handle correspondence and complaints addressed
     to the Fuehrer's office. Occasionally I attended
     conferences held by the Fuehrer.
     
     "I recall that on the afternoon of 28 May 1938 Hitler
     called a conference in the winter garden of the Reichs
     Chancellery of all the people who were important, from
     the Foreign Office, the Army, and the Command Staffs.
     Those present at this conference, as I recall, included
     Goering, Ribbentrop, von Neurath, General Beck, Admiral
     Raeder, General Keitel,
     
                                                  [Page 521]
                                                            
     and General von Brauchitsch. On this occasion Hitler
     made the following statement: 'It is my unshakable will
     that Czechoslovakia shall be wiped off the map.' Hitler
     then revealed the outlines of the plan to attack
     Czechoslovakia. Hitler addressed himself to the
     Generals, saying: 'So, we will first tackle the
     situation in the East. Then I will give you three to
     four years' time, and then we will settle the situation
     in the West.' The situation in the West was meant to be
     the war against England and France.

     "I was considerably shaken by these statements, and on
     leaving the Reichs Chancellery I said to Herr von
     Neurath: 'Well, what do you say to these revelations ?'
     Neurath thought that the situation was not so serious
     as it appeared and that nothing would happen before the
     spring of 1939.
     
     "/s/ Fr. Wiedemann." (3037-PS)

In the months after the occupation of the Sudetenland Hitler
made no secret of this meeting. In a speech before the
Reichstag on 80 January 1939, Hitler spoke as follows:

     "On account of this intolerable provocation which had
     been aggravated by a truly infamous persecution and
     terrorization of our Germans there, I had resolved to
     solve once and for all, and this time radically, the
     Sudeten German question. On May 28 I ordered (1) that
     preparations should be made for military action against
     this state by October 2. I ordered (2) the immense and
     accelerated expansion of our defensive front in the
     West." (2360-PS)

Hitler also referred to this conference in his meeting with
President Hacha on 15 March 1939. (2798-PS)

Two days after this conference, on 30 May 1938, Hitler
issued the revised military directive for Case Green. This
directive is Item 11 in the Schmundt file (388-PS). Entitled
"Two front war with main effort in the Southeast," this
directive replaced the corresponding section, Part 2,
Section II, of the "Directive for Unified Preparation for
War" promulgated by von Blomberg on 24 June 1937 (C-175).
This directive represented a further development of the
ideas for political and military action discussed by Hitler
and Keitel in their conference on 21 April. It is an
expansion of a rough draft submitted by Keitel to Hitler on
20 May, which may be found as Item 5 in the Sclnnundt file
(388-PS). It was signed by Hitler. Only five copies were
made. Three copies were forwarded with a covering letter
from Keitel to General von Brauchitsch for the Army, to
Raeder for the Navy, and to Goering for the Luftwaffe. In
his

                                                  [Page 522]
                                                            
covering memorandum Keitel noted that its execution must be
assured "as from 1 October 1938 at the latest". (388-PS,
Item 11)

This document, which is the basic directive under which the
Wehrmacht carried out its planning for Case Green, reads as
follows:

     "1. Political Prerequisites.
     
     "It is my unalterable decision to smash Czechoslovakia
     by military action in the near future. It is the job of
     the political leaders to await or bring about the
     politically and militarily suitable moment.
     
     "An inevitable development of conditions inside
     Czechoslovakia or other political events in Europe
     creating a surprisingly favorable opportunity and one
     which may never come again may cause me to take early
     action.
     
     "The proper choice and determined and full utilization
     of a favorable moment is the surest guarantee of
     success. Accordingly the preparations are to be made at
     once.
     
     "2. Political Possibilities for the Commencement of the
     Action.
     
     "The following are necessary prerequisites for the
     intended invasion:
     
     "a. suitable obvious cause and, with it
     
     "b. sufficient political justification,
     
     "c. action unexpected by the enemy, which will find him
     prepared to the least possible degree.
     
     "From a military as well as a political standpoint the
     most favorable course is a lightning-swift action as
     the result of an incident through which Germany is
     provoked in an unbearable way for which at least part
     of world opinion will grant the moral justification of
     military action.
     
     "But even a period of tension, more or less preceding a
     war, must terminate in sudden action on our partwhich
     must have the elements of surprise as regards time and
     extent before the enemy is so advanced in military
     preparedness that he cannot be surpassed.
     
     "3. Conclusions for the Preparation of "Fall Gruen".
     
     a. For the Armed War it is essential that the surprise
     element as the most important factor contributing to
     success be made full use of by appropriate preparatory
     measures already in peace-time and by an unexpectedly
     rapid course of the action. Thus it is essential to
     create a situation within the first four days which
     plainly demonstrates, to hostile nations eager to
     intervene, the hopelessness of the Czechoslovakian
     military situation and which at the same
     
                                                  [Page 523]
                                                            
     time will give nations with territorial claims on
     Czechoslovakia an incentive to intervene immediately
     against Czechoslovakia. In such a case, intervention by
     Poland and Hungary against Czechoslovakia may be
     expected, especially if Francedue to the obvious pro-
     German attitude of Italy fears, or at least hesitates,
     to unleash a European war by intervening against
     Germany. Attempts by Russia to give military support to
     Czechoslovakia mainly by the Air Force are to be
     expected. If concrete successes are not achieved by the
     land operations within the first few days, a European
     crisis will certainly result. This knowledge must give
     commanders of all ranks the impetus to decided and bold
     action.
     
     "b. The Propaganda War must on the one hand intimidate
     Czechoslovakia by threats and soften her power of
     resistance, on the other hand issue directions to
     national groups for support in the Armed War and
     influence the neutrals into our way of thinking. I
     reserve further directions and determination of the
     date.
     
     "4. Tasks of the Armed Forces.
     
     "Armed Forces Preparations are to be made on the
     following basis:
     
     "a. The mass of all forces must be employed against
     Czechoslovakia.
     
     "b. For the West, a minimum of forces are to be
     provided as rear cover which may be required, the other
     frontiers in the East against Poland and Lithuania are
     merely to be protected, the Southern frontiers to be
     watched.
     
     "c. The sections of the army which can be rapidly
     employed must force the frontier fortifications with
     speed and decision and must break into Czechoslovakia
     with the greatest daring in the certainty that the bulk
     of the mobile army will follow them with the utmost
     speed. Preparations for this are to be made and timed
     in such a way that the sections of the army which can
     be rapidly employed cross the frontier at the appointed
     time at the same time as the penetration by the Air
     Force before the enemy can become aware of our
     mobilization.
     
     "For this, a timetable between Army and Air Force is to
     be worked out in conjunction with OKW and submitted to
     me for approval.
     
     "5. Missions for the branches of the Armed Forces.
     
     "a. Army: The basic principle of the surprise attack
     against Czechoslovakia must not be endangered by the
     inevitable time required for transporting the bulk of
     the field
     
                                                  [Page 524]
                                                            
     forces by rail nor the initiative of the Air Force be
     wasted. Therefore it is first of all essential to the
     army that as many assault columns as possible be
     employed at the same time as the surprise attack by the
     Air Force. These assault columns the composition of
     each, according to their tasks at that time must be
     formed with troops which can be employed rapidly owing
     to their proximity to the frontier or to motorization
     and to special measures of readiness. It must be the
     purpose of these thrusts to break into the
     Czechoslovakian fortification lines at numerous points
     and in a strategically favorable direction, to achieve
     a breakthrough or to break them down from the rear. For
     the success of this operation, cooperation with the
     Sudeten German frontier population, with deserters from
     the Czechoslovakian army, with parachutists or airborne
     troops and with units of the sabotage service will be
     of importance. The bulk of the army has the task of
     frustrating the Czechoslovakian plan of defense, of
     preventing the Czechoslovakian army from escaping into
     Slovakia, of forcing a battle, of beating the
     Czechoslovakian army and of occupying Bohemia and
     Moravia speedily. To this end a thrust into the heart
     of Czechoslovakia must be made with the strongest
     possible motorized and armored units using to the full
     the first successes of the assault columns and the
     effects of the Air Force operations. The rear cover
     provided for the West must be limited in numbers and
     quality to the extent which suits the present state of
     fortifications. Whether the units assigned this will be
     transported to the Western frontier immediately or held
     back for the time being will be decided in my special
     order. Preparations must however, be made to enable
     security detachments to be brought up to the Western
     frontier even during the strategic concentration
     'Gruen'. Independent of this, a first security garrison
     must be improvised from the engineers at present
     employed in constructing fortifications and from
     formations of the Labor Corps. The remaining frontiers
     as well as East Prussia, are to be only weakly
     protected. But, always depending on the political
     situation, the transfers by sea, of a part or even the
     bulk of the active forces of East Prussia, into the
     Reich must be taken into account.
     
     "b. Air Force. While leaving a minimum of defensive
     forces in the West, the Air Force is to be employed in
     bulk in a surprise attack against Czechoslovakia. The
     frontier is to be flown over at the same time as it is
     crossed by the first section of the Army ***" (388-PS,
     Item 11)
     
                                                  [Page 525]
                                                            
After detailed instructions for action by the Luftwaffe and
by the Navy the directive continues as follows:

     "In war economy it is essential that in the field of
     the armament industry a maximum-deployment of forces is
     made possible through increased supplies. In the course
     of operations, it is of value to contribute to the
     reinforcement of the total war-economic strength by
     rapidly reconnoitering and restarting important
     factories. For this reason the sparing of
     Czechoslovakian industrial and works installations
     insofar as military operations permitcan be of decisive
     importance to us." (388-PS, Item 11)

In other words, the Nazi conspirators, four months before -
the date of their planned attack, were already looking
forward bo the contribution which the Czech industrial plant
would make to the Nazi war economy. The last paragraph of
this directive reads as follows:
     
     "All preparations for sabotage and insurrection will be
     made by OKW. They will be made, in agreement with and
     according to the requirement of the branches of the
     Armed Forces, so that their effects accord with the
     operations of the Army and Air Force.
     
     "(Signed) ADOLF HITLER
     "Certified copy "
     (Signed) Zeitzler
     "Oberstleutnant on the General Staff."
     (388-PS, Item 11)

Three weeks later, on 18 June 1938, a draft for a new
directive was prepared and initialed by Keitel. It does not
supersede the 30 May directive. It reads, in part:

     "The immediate aim is a solution of the Czech problem
     by my own, free decision; this stands in the foreground
     of my political intentions. I am determined to use to
     the full every favorable political opportunity to
     realize this aim."
     
     "However, I will decide to take action against
     Czechoslovakia only if I am firmly convinced as in the
     case of the occupation of the demilitarized zone and
     the entry into Austria that France will not march and
     therefore England will not intervene." "The directives
     necessary for the prosecution of the war itself will be
     issued by me from time-to time "
     
     "K [Initialed by Keitel]
     "Z [Initialed by Zeitzler]"
     (388-PS, Item 14)

                                                  [Page 526]
                                                            
The second and third parts of this directive contain general
directions for the deployment of troops and for
precautionary measures in view of the possibility that,
during the execution of Case Green, France or England might
declare war on Germany. Six pages of complicated schedules
which follow this draft in the original have not been
translated into English. These schedules, which constitute
Item 15 in the Schmundt file (88-PS), give a time table of
specific measures for the preparation of the Army, Navy, and
Luftwaffe for the contemplated action.

Corroboration for the documents in the Schmundt file is
found in three entries in General Jodl's diary written i the
spring of 1938 (1780-PS). Although the first entry is not
dated, it appears to have been written several months after
the annexation of Austria:
     
     "After annexation of Austria, the Fuehrer mentions that
     there is no hurry to solve the Czech question because
     Austria has to be digested first. Nevertheless
     preparations for Case Green will have to be carried out
     energetically; they will have to be newly prepared on
     the basis of the changed strategic position because of
     the annexation of Austria. State of preparations (see
     memorandum L Ia of 19 April) reported to the Fuehrer on
     21 April.
     
     "The intention of the Fuehrer not to touch the Czech
     problem as yet is changed because of the Czech
     strategic troop concentration of 21 May, which occurs
     without any German threat and without the slightest
     cause for it.
     
     "Because of Germany's self restraint, its consequences
     lead to a loss of prestige of the Fuehrer, which he is
     not willing to take once more. Therefore, the new order
     is issued for 'green' on 30 May."
                              
                           *******
     
     "Major Schmundt reports ideas of the Fuehrer. Further
     conferences, which gradually reveal the exact
     intentions of the Fuehrer take place with the Chief of
     the Armed Forces High Command (OKW) on 28 May, 8 and 9
     June, see enclosures. (War Diary L)."
                              
                           *******
     
     "30 May: "The Fuehrer signs directive Green, where he
     states his final decision to destroy Czechoslovakia
     soon and thereby initiates military preparation all
     along the line. The previous intentions of the Army
     must be changed considerably in the direction of an
     immediate break-through into Czechoslovakia right on D-
     Day (X-Tag), combined with aerial penetration by the
     Air Force. Further details are derived from directive
     for strategic concentration of the army. The whole
     contrast becomes acute once more between the Fuehrer's
     intuition that we must do it this year and the opinion
     of the Army that we cannot do it as yet, as most
     certainly the Western Powers will interfere and we are
     not as yet equal to them." (1780-PS)

E. Luftwaffe Participation in Early Planning for Case Green.
During the spring and summer of 1938 the Luftwaffe was also
engaged in planning in connection with the forthcoming Case
Green and the further expansion of the Reich. A Top Secret
Document, dated 2 June 1938, was issued by Air Group Command
3 and entitled "Plan Study 1938: Instruction for Deployment
and Combat: Case Red." (R-150). This is another staff plan,
this time for mobilization and employment of the Luftwaffe
in the event of war with France. It is given significance by
the considerable progress, at this date, in planning for the
attack on Czechoslovakia. Various possibilities under which
war with France may occur are noted: all of them are
predicated on the assumption of a German-Czech conflict:

     "France will either interfere in the struggle between the Reich
     and Czechoslovakia in the course of 'Case Green', or
     
     "b start hostilities simultaneously with Czechoslovakia.
     
     "c It is possible but not likely that France will begin
     the fight, while Czechoslovakia still remains aloof."
     
     "Regardless of whether France enters the war as a
     result of 'Case Green' or whether she makes the opening
     move of the war simultaneously with Czechoslovakia, in
     any case the mass of the German offensive formations
     will, in conjunction with the Army, first deliver the
     decisive blow against Czechoslovakia." (R-150)

By midsummer direct and detailed planning for Case Green was
being carried out by the Luftwaffe. In early August, at the
direction of the Luftwaffe General Staff, the German Air
Attache in Prague reconnoitered the Freudenthal area of
Czechoslovakia, south of Upper Silesia, for suitable landing
grounds. This action is disclosed by a report of the
Luftwaffe General Staff, Intelligence Division, dated 12
August 1938 (1536-PS). This was a Top Secret document, for
General Officers only, of which only

                                                  [Page 528]
                                                            
two copies were made. Attached as an enclosure was the
report of Major Moericke, the German air attache in Prague,
dated 4 August 1938. The first four paragraphs of the
enclosure read: "I was ordered by the General Staff of the
Air Force to reconnoitre the land in the region
Freudenthal/Freihermersdorf for landing possibilities.

     "For this purpose I obtained private lodgings in Freudenthal
     with the manufacturer Macholdt, through one of my trusted
     men in Prague.

     "I had specifically ordered this man to give no details
     about me to M, particularly about my official position.

     "I used my official car (Dienst Pkw) for the journey to
     Freudenthal, taking precautions against being observed." (1536-PS)

By 25 August the imminence of the attack on Czechoslovakia
compelled the issuance by the Luftwaffe of a detailed
intelligence memorandum entitled "Extended Case Green,"
which consisted of an estimate of possible action by the
Western Powers during the attack on Czechoslovakia (375-PS).
This Top Secret memorandum of the Intelligence Section of
the Luftwaffe General Staff is dated at Berlin,25 August
1938. Based on the assumption that Great Britain and France
will declare war on Germany during Case Green, this study
contains an estimate of the strategy and air strength of the
Western Powers as of 1 October 1938, the target date for
Case Green. The first two sentences read as follows:

     "The basic assumption is that France will declare war during
     the Case Green. It is presumed that France will only decide
     upon war if active military assistance by Great Britain is
     definitely assured." (375-PS)

F. Negotiations with Italy and Hungary about Case Green.

Knowledge of pending action against Czechoslovakia was not
confined to a close circle of high officials of the Reich.
During the summer Germany's allies, Italy and Hungary, were
apprised by one means or another of the plans of the Nazi
conspirators. A captured document from German Foreign Office
files contains a confidential memorandum of a conversation
with the Italian ambassador, Attolico, in Berlin on 18 July
1938 (2800-PS). At the bottom is a handwritten note, headed
"For the Reichsminister [Ribbentrop] only." This note reads:
.

     "Attolico added that we had made it unmistakably clear
     to the Italians what our intentions are regarding
     Czechoslovakia. He also knew the appointed time well
     enough so that he could take perhaps a two months'
     holiday now which he could not do later on.
     
                                                  [Page 529]
     
     "Giving an idea of the attitude of other governments
     Attolico mentioned that the Roumanian government had
     refused to grant application for leave to its Berlin
     Minister." (2800-PS)

A month later Mussolini sent a message to Berlin, asking
that he be told the date on which Case Green would take
place. The German response is outlined in a German Foreign
Office note on a conversation with Ambassador Attolico,
signed "R" for Ribbentrop) and dated 23 August  1938:

     "On the voyage of the 'Patria' Ambassador Attolico explained
     to me that he had instructions to request the notification
     of a contemplated time for German action against
     Czechoslovakia from the German government.

     "In case the Czechs should again cause a provocation
     against Germany, Germany would march. This would be
     tomorrow, in six months or perhaps in a year. However,
     I could promise him, that the German government, in
     case of an increasing gravity of the situation or as
     soon as the Fuehrer made his decision, would notify the
     Italian-Chief of Government as rapidly as possible. In
     any case, the Italian government will be the first one
     who will receive such a notification.
     
     "R (initial) ."

Four days later Attolico again asked to be notified of the
date of the pending attack. The conversation is recorded in
another German Foreign Office Memorandum:

     "Ambassador Attolico paid me a visit today at 12
     o'clock to communicate the following:
     
     "He had received another written instruction from
     Mussolini asking that Germany communicate in time the
     probable date of action against Czechoslovakia.
     Mussolini asked for such notification, as Mr. Attolico
     assured me, in order 'to be able to take in due time
     the necessary measures on the French frontier.'
     
     ''Berlin, 27 August  1938 R
     
     "N. B. I replied to Ambassador Attolico, just as on his
     former demarche, that I could not impart any date to
     him, that, however, in any case Mussolini would be the
     first one to be informed of any decision.
     
                                 "Berlin, 2 September 1938."
                                                   (2792-PS)
     
Hungary, which borders Czechoslovakia to the southeast, was

                                                  [Page 530]
                                                            
from the first considered to be a possible participant in
Case Green. It will be recalled that in early March 1938
Keitel and Ribbentrop had exchanged letters on the question
of bringing Hungary into the Nazi planning (2786-PS). At
that time the decision was in the negative. But by mid-
August 1938 the Nazi conspirators were attempting to
persuade Hungary to join in the attack.

From August 21st to 26th Admiral Horthy and some of his
ministers visited Germany. Admiral Horthy witnessed the
launching of the Prince Eugen and conferred with Hitler.
There were discussions of the Czechoslovak question. A
captured German Foreign Office document, signed by von
Weizsacker, records the conversations between Hitler and
Ribbentrop and a Hungarian delegation consisting of Horthy,
Imredy, and Kanya aboard the S. S. Patria on 23 August  1938
(2796-PS). In this conference Ribbentrop inquired about the
Hungarian attitude in the event of a German attack on
Czechoslovakia and suggested that such an attack would prove
to be a good opportunity for Hungary. The Hungarians, with
the exception of Horthy, who wished to put the Hungarian
intention to participate on record, proved reluctant to
commit themselves. Thereupon Hitler emphasized Ribbentrop's
statement, and said:

     "Whoever wanted to join the meal would have to
     participate in the cooking as well." (2796 PS)

Von Weizsacker's memorandum reads as follows:

     "Von Ribbentrop inquired what Hungary's attitude would
     be if the Fuehrer would carry out his decision to
     answer a new Czech provocation by force. The reply of
     the Hungarians presented two kinds of obstacles: The
     Yugoslavian neutrality must be assured if Hungary
     marches towards the North and perhaps the East.
     Moreover, the Hungarian rearmament had only been
     started and 1 or 2 more years' time for its development
     should be allowed.

     "Von Ribbentrop then explained to the Hungarians that
     the Yugoslavs would not dare to march while they were
     between the pincers of the Axis Powers. Rumania alone
     would therefore not move. England and France would also
     remain tranquil. England would not recklessly risk her
     Empire. She knew our newly acquired power. In reference
     to time, however, for the above-mentioned situation,
     nothing definite could be predicted since it would
     depend on Czech provocation. Von Ribbentrop repeated
     that whoever desires revision must exploit the good
     opportunity and participate.
     
     "The Hungarian reply thus remained a conditional one.
     
                                                  [Page 531]
                                                            
     Upon the question of von Ribbentrop, what purpose the
     desired General Staff conferences were to have, not
     much more was brought forward than the Hungarian desire
     of a mutual inventory of military material and
     preparedness for the Czech conflict. The clear
     political basis for such a conferencethe time of
     Hungarian interventionwas not obtained.
     
     "In the meantime, more positive language was used by
     von Horthy in his talk with the Fuehrer. He wished not
     to hide his doubts with regard to the English attitude,
     but he wished to put Hungary's intention to participate
     on record. The Hungarian Ministers were and remained,
     even later, more skeptical since they feel more
     strongly about the immediate danger for Hungary with
     its unprotected flanks.

     "When von Imredy had a discussion with the Fuehrer in
     the afternoon, he was very relieved when the Fuehrer
     explained to him, that, in regard to the situation in
     question, he demanded nothing of Hungary. He himself
     would not know the time. Whoever wanted to join the
     meal would have to participate in the cooking as well.
     Should Hungary wish conferences of the General Staffs,
     he would have no objections." (2796-PS)

By the third day of the conference the Germans were able to
note that in the event of a German-Czech conflict Hungary
would be sufficiently armed for participation on 1 October.
Another captured German Foreign Office Memorandum reports a
conversation between Ribbentrop and Kanya on 25 August 1938.
The last paragraph of this memorandum states:
     
     "Concerning Hungary's military preparedness in case of
     a German-Czech conflict von Kanya mentioned several
     days ago that his country would need a period of one to
     two years in order to develop adequately the armed
     strength of Hungary. During today's conversation von
     Kanya corrected this remark and said that Hungary's
     military situation was much better. His country would
     be ready, as far as armaments were concerned, to take
     part in the conflict by October 1st of this year."
     (2797-PS)
     
The signature to this document is not clear, but it appears
to be that of von Weizsacker.

These accounts of the German-Hungarian conference are
corroborated by General Jodls diary. The entry for 21-26
August reads as follows:
     
     "21-26 August:
     
     "Visit to Germany of the Hungarian Regent (Reichsver-
     
                                                  [Page 532]
                                                            
     weser). Accompanied by the Prime Minister, the Minister
     of Foreign Affairs and the Honved Minister v. Raatz.
     
     "They arrive with the idea that in the course of a
     great war, after a few years, and with the help of
     German troops, the old state of Hungary can be
     reestablished. They leave with the understanding that
     we have neither demands from, nor claims against them,
     but that Germany will not stand for a second
     provocation by Czechoslovakia, even if it should be
     tomorrow. If they want to participate at that moment,
     it is up to them.
     
     "Germany, however, will never play the role of
     arbitrator between them and Poland. The Hungarians
     agree; but they believe that, when the issue arises, a
     period of 48 hours would be indispensable to them to
     find out Yugoslavia's attitude." (1780-PS)

The upshot of the talks with the Hungarians proved to be a
staff conference on 6 September. Jodl's diary entry for that
day states:
     
     "6 September:
     
     "Chief of General Staff, General of Artillery Halder,
     has a conference with the Hungarian Chief of General
     Staff Fischer.
     
     "Before that he is briefed by me on the political
     attitude of the Fuehrerespecially his order not to give
     any hint on the exact moment. The same with Jodl,
     General v. Stuelpnagel." (1 780-PS)
     
G. Final Preparations for the Attack.

The setting in which these events took place was that of the
Munich Pact and the international crisis which led to it. As
this crisis was developing in August and September 1938,
frantic efforts were being made by the statesmen of the
world to preserve the peace of the world. These-statesmen,
unfortunately, were unaware of the plans and designs of the
Nazi conspirators.

The documents captured by Allied troops reveal the hitherto-
unknown story underlying the Pact of Munich. These papers
reveal the fraud and deceit practiced by the Nazi
conspirators in negotiating the Pact of Munich as a stepping-
stone toward further aggression. The hope for peace which
came with the Munich Pact, which later turned out to be a
snare and a deceit, was a trap carefully set by the Nazi
conspirators. The nature of the trap is indicated by the
events of the weeks just preceding the Munich agreement.

With a 1 October target date set for Case Green, there was a

                                                  [Page 533]
                                                            
noticeable increase in the tempo of the military
preparations in late August and September. Actual
preparations for the attack on Czechoslovakia were well
under way. The agenda of the Nazi conspirators were devoted
to technical details: the timing of X-day, questions of
mobilization, questions of transport and supply.

On 26 August Jodl initialed a memorandum entitled "Timing of
the X-Order and the Question of Advance Measures" (388-PS,
Item 17). This memorandum demonstrates clearly the
complicity of the OKW and of Keitel and Jodl, in the
fabrication of an incident as an excuse for war. It reveals
the character of the attack that Germany was preparing to
launch. The memorandum reads as follows:

     "TIMING OF THE X-ORDER AND THE QUESTION OF ADVANCE
     MEASURES
     
     "The Luftwaffe's endeavor to take the enemy air forces
     by surprise at their peace-time airports justifiably
     leads them to oppose measures taken in advance of the X-
     order and to the demand that the X-order itself be
     given sufficiently late on X minus 1 to prevent the
     fact of Germany's mobilization becoming known to
     Czechoslovakia on that day.
     
     "The army's efforts are tending in the opposite
     direction. It intends to let OKW initiate all advance
     measures between X minus 3 and X minus 1, which will
     contribute to the smooth and rapid working of the
     mobilization. With this in mind OKW also demands that
     the X order be given not later than 1400 on X minus 1.
     
     "To this the following must be said:
     
     "Operation (Aktion) Green will be set in motion by
     means of an 'incident' in Czechoslovakia which will
     give Germany provocation for military intervention. The
     fixing of the exact time for this incident is of the
     utmost importance.
     
     "It must come at a time when weather conditions are
     favorable for our superior air forces to go into action
     and at an hour which will enable authentic news of it
     to reach us on the afternoon of X minus 1.
     
     "It can then be spontaneously answered by the giving of
     the X order at 1400 on X minus 1.
     
     "On X minus 2 the Navy, Army and Air Force will merely
     receive an advance warning.
     
     "If the Fuehrer intends to follow this plan of action,
     all further discussion is superfluous.
     
     "For then no advance measures may be taken before X
     minus 1 for which there is not an innocent explanation
     as we
     
                                                  [Page 534]
                                                            
     shall otherwise appear to have manufactured the
     incident. Orders for absolutely essential advance
     measures must be given in good time and camouflaged
     with the help of the numerous maneuvers and exercises.
     
     "Also, the question raised by the Foreign Office as to
     whether all Germans should be called back in time from
     prospective enemy territories must in no way lead to
     the conspicuous departure from Czechoslovakia of any
     German subjects before the incident.
     
     "Even a warning of the diplomatic representatives in
     Prague is impossible before the first air attack,
     although the consequences could be very grave in the
     event of their becoming victims of such an attack (e.
     g., death of representatives of friendly or confirmed
     neutral powers.)
     
     "If, for technical reasons, the evening hours should be
     considered desirable for the incident, then the
     following day cannot be X day, but it must be the day
     after that.
     
     "In any case we must act on the principle that nothing
     must be done before the incident which might point to
     mobilization, and that the swiftest possible action
     must be taken after the incident. (X-Fall)

     "It is the purpose of these notes to point out what a
     great interest the Wehrmacht has in the incident and
     that it must be informed of the Fuehrer's intentions in
     good timeinsofar as the Abwehr Section is not also
     charged with the organization of the incident.
     
     "I request that the Fuehrer's decision be obtained on
     these points.
     
     "J [Jodl] 26/8.
     (388-PS, Item 17)
     
In handwriting at the bottom of the page are the notes of
Schmundt, Hitler's adjutant. These reveal that the
memorandum was submitted to Hitler on 30 August; that Hitler
agreed to act along these lines; and that Jodl was so
notified on 31 August.

On 3 September Keitel and von Brauchitsch met with Hitler at
the Berghof. Again Schmundt kept notes of the conference (88-
PS, Item 18). The first three paragraphs of these minutes
state:

     "Gen. Ob. v. Brauchitsch: Reports on the exact time of
     the transfer of the troops to 'exercise areas' for
     'Gruen'. Field units to be transferred on 28 Sept. From
     here will then be ready for action. When X Day becomes
     known, field units carry out exercises in opposite
     directions.
     
     "Fuehrer: Has objection. Troops assemble field units a
     2-
                                                  [Page 535]
     day march away. Carry out camouflage exercises
     everywhere.
     
     " ?: OKH must know when X-day is by 1200 noon, 27
     September." (388-PS, Item 18)

During the remainder of the conference Hitler gave his views
on the strategy the German armies should employ and the
strength of the Czech defenses they would encounter. He
spoke of the possibility of "drawing in the Henlein people."
The situation in the West still troubled him. Schmundt
noted:

     "The Fuehrer gives orders for the development of the
     Western fortifications; improvement of advance
     positions around Aachen and Saarbrucken. Construction
     of 300 to 400 battery positions (1600 artillery
     pieces.)" (388-PS, Item 18)

Five days later General Stulpnagel asked Jodl for written
assurance that the OKH would be informed five days in
advance about the pending action. In the evening Jodl
conferred with Luftwaffe generals about the coordination of
ground and air operations at the start of the attack. The 8
September entry in General Jodl's diary states:

     "8 September:
     
     "General Stulpnagel OQI asks for written assurance that
     the Army High Command will be informed five days in
     advance if the plan is to take place. I agree and add
     that the overall meteorological situation can be
     estimated to some extent only for two days in advance,
     and that therefore the plans may be changed up to this
     moment (D-day-2) (X-2 TAGE) .
     
     "General Stulpnagel mentions that for the first time he
     wonders whether the previous basis of the plan is not
     being abandoned. It presupposed that the Western Powers
     would not interfere decisively. It gradually seems as
     if the Fuehrer would stick to his decision even though
     he may no longer be of this opinion. It must be added
     that Hungary is at least moody and that Italy is
     reserved.
     
     "I must admit that I am worrying too, when comparing
     the change of opinion about political and military
     potentialities, according to directives of 24 June
     1937, 5 November 1937, 7 December 1937, 30 May 1938,
     with the last statements.

     "In spite of that one must be aware of the fact that
     the other nations will do everything they can to apply
     pressure to us. We must pass this test of nerves, but
     because only very few people know the art of
     withstanding this pressure successfully, the only
     possible solution is to inform only a very small circle
     of officers of news that causes us anxiety, and
     
                                                  [Page 536]
                                                            
     not to have it circulate through anterooms as
     heretofore. "1800 hours to 2100 hours: Conference with
     Chief of Army High Command and Chief of General Staff
     of the Air Force (present were Jeschonnek, Kammhuber,
     Sternburg and myself) .
     
     "We agree about the promulgation of the D-Day order (X-
     Befehl), (X-1, 4 o'clock) and pre-announcement to the
     Air Force (D-Day-1, X-1 day, 7 o'clock). The 'Y time'
     has yet to be examined; some formations have an
     approach flight of one hour." (1780-PS)

Late on the evening of the following day, 9 September,
Hitler met with Keitel and Generals von Brauchitsch and
Halder at Nurnberg. Dr. Todt, the construction engineer,
later joined the conference, which lasted from 10 in the
evening until 3:30 the following morning. Schmundt's minutes
are Item 19 in his file (388-PS). In this meeting General
Halder reviewed the missions assigned to four of the German
armies being committed to the attack: the 2d, 10th, 12th,
and 14th. With his characteristic enthusiasm for military
planning, Hitler then delivered a soliloquy on strategic
considerations which should be taken into account as the
attack developed. The discussions proceeded as follows:

     "General Oberst v. Brauchitsch: Employment of motorized
     divisions was based on the difficult rail situation in
     Austria and the difficulties in getting other divisions
     (ready to march) into the area at the right time. In
     the West vehicles will have to leave on the 20th of
     Sept. if X-Day remains as planned. Workers leave on the
     23rd, by relays. Specialist workers remain according to
     decision by Army Command 2.
     
     "The Fuehrer: Doesn't see why workers have to return
     home as early as X-11. Other workers and people are
     also on the way on mobilization day. Also the RR cars,
     they will stand around unnecessarily later on.
     
     "General Keitel: Workers are not under the jurisdiction
     of district commands (Bezirks Kdos.) in the West.
     Trains must be assembled.
     
     "v. Brauchitsch: 235,000 men RAD (Labour Service) will
     be drafted. 96 Construction Bns will be distributed
     (also in the east). 40,000 trained laborers stay in the
     West." (388-PS, Item 19)
     
From this date forward the Nazi conspirators were occupied
with the intricate planning required before the attack. On
11 September Jodl conferred with a representative of the
Propa-

                                                  [Page 537]
                                                            
ganda Ministry about method of refuting German violations of
International Law and exploiting those of the Czechs. The 11
September entry in the Jodl diary reads as follows:

     "11 September:
     
     "In the afternoon conference with Secretary of State
     Jahnke from the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and
     Propaganda on imminent common tasks.
     
     "The joint preparations for refutation (Wiedrlegun) of
     our own violations of international law, and the
     exploitation of its violations by the enemy, were
     considered particularly important." (1780-PS)

This discussion developed into a detailed study compiled by
Section L, Jodl's section of the OKW (C-2). Seven copies of
this captured document were prepared and distributed on 1
October 1938 to the OKH, the OKM, the Luftaffe, and the
Foreign Office. In this study anticipated violations of
International Law in the invasion of Czechoslovakia are
listed and counter-propaganda suggested for the use of the
propaganda agencies. This document is presented in a tabular
form, in which possible incidents are listed in the left-
hand column. In the second column are given specific
examples of the incidents; in the third and fourth columns
the position to be taken toward these incidents under
International -Law and under the laws of warfare is set
forth; the fifth column, which is blank, is reserved for the
explanation to be offered by the Propaganda Minister. The
first 10 hypothetical incidents, for which justification
must be found, and which are listed in column b of the table
are as follows:

     "la. In an air-raid on Prague the British Embassy is
     destroyed.
     
     "2. Englishmen or Frenchmen are injured or killed.
     
     "3. The Hradschin is destroyed in an air raid on
     Prague. "4. On account of a report that the Czechs have
     used gas, the firing of gas projectiles is ordered.
     
     "5. Czech civilians, not recognizable as soldiers, are
     caught in the act of sabotage (destruction of important
     bridges, destruction of foodstuffs and fodder) are
     discovered looting wounded or dead soldiers and
     thereupon shot.
     
     "6. Captured Czech soldiers or Czech civilians are
     detailed to do road work or to load munitions.
     
     "7. For military reasons it is necessary to requisition
     billets, food stuffs and fodder from the Czech
     population. As a result the latter suffer from want.
     
     "8. Czech population is, for military reasons,
     compulsorily evacuated to the rear area.
     
                                                  [Page 538]
                                                            
     "9. Churches are used for military accommodation.
     
     "10. In the course of their duty, German aircraft fly
     over Polish territory where they are involved in an air
     battle with Czech aircraft." (C-2)

From Nurnberg, on 10 September, Hitler issued an order
bringing the Reicharbeitsdienst, the German labor service,
under the OKW. This top secret order, of which 25 copies
were made, provides as follows:

     "1. The whole RAD organization comes under the command
     of the Supreme Command of the Army effective 15
     September.
     
     "2. The Chief of OKW decides on the first commitments
     of this organization in conjunction with the Reichs
     Labor Leader (Reichsrbeitsfuehrer) and on assignments
     from time to time to the Supreme Commands of the Navy,
     Army and Air Force. Where questions arise with regard
     to competency he will make a final decision in
     accordance with my instructions.
     
     "3. For the time being this order is to be made known
     only to the departments and personnel immediately
     concerned.
     
                                    "(signed) ADOLF HITLER."
                                           (388-PS, Item 20)
                                                            
Four days later, on 14 September, Keitel issued detailed
instructions for the employment of specific RAD units. This
order is item 21 in the Schmundt file. A further order
issued by Jodl on 16 September specified RAD units which
would receive military training. This is Item 24 in the
Schmundt file. (388-PS)

Two entries in Jodl's diary give further indications of the
problems of the OKW in this period of mid-September, just
two weeks before the anticipated X-day. The entries for 15
and 16 September read as follows:

     "15 September:
     
     "In the morning conference with Chief of Any High
     Command and Chief of General Staffs of Army and Air
     Forces; the question was discussed what could be done
     if the Fuehrer insists on advancement of the date, due
     to the rapid development of the situation.
     
     "16 September:
     
     "General Keitel returns from the Berghof at 1700 hours.
     He graphically describes the results of the conference
     between Chamberlain and the Fuehrer. The next
     conference will take place on the 21st or 22nd in
     Godesberg.
     
     "With consent of the Fuehrer, the order is given in the
     
                                                  [Page 539]
                                                            
     evening by the Armed Forces High Command to the Army
     High Command and to the Ministry of Finance, to line up
     the VGAD along the Czech border.
     
     "In the same way, an order is issued to the railways to
     have the empty rolling stock kept in readiness
     clandestinely for the strategic concentrations of the
     Army, so that it can be transported starting 28
     September." (1780-PS)

The order to the railroads to make rolling stock available
which General Jodl referred to appears as Item 22 in the
Schmundt file. In this order Keitel told the railroads to be
ready by 28 September but to continue work on the western
fortifications even after 20 September in the interest of
camouflage. The first and fourth paragraphs of this order
provide:

     "The Reichsbahn must provide trains of empty trucks in
     great numbers by September 28 for the carrying out of
     mobilization exercises. This task now takes precedence
     over all others."

     "However, in accordance with the Fuehrers directive,
     every effort should be made to continue to supply the
     materials in as large quantities as feasible even after
     20 September 1938, and this for reasons of camouflage
     as well as in order to continue the important work of
     the Limes." (388-PS, Item 22)

The penultimate stage of the aggression began on 18
September. From that day until the 28th a series of orders
were issued advancing preparations for the attack. These
orders are included in the Schmundt file (388-PS). On the
18th the commitment schedule for the five participating
armiesthe 2d, 8th, 10th, 12th, and 14thwas set forth (388-
PS, Item 26). Hitler approved the secret mobilization of
five divisions in the west to protect the German rear during
Case Green 388-PS, Item 31). Further discussions were held
between the Army and the Luftwaffe about the time of day for
the attack. Conference notes initialed by Jodl and dated 27
September reveal the difference in views. These notes are
Item 54 in ie Schmundt file. The first three paragraphs
read:

     "COORDINATED TIME OF ATTACK BY ARMY AND AIR FORCES ON X
     DAY.
     
     "As a matter of principle, every effort should be made
     for a coordinated attack by Army and Air Forces on X
     Day.
     
     "The Army wishes to attack at dawn, i.e., about 0615.
     It also wishes to conduct some limited operations in
     the previous night, which however, would not alarm the
     entire Czech front.
     
     "Air Force's time of attack depends on weather
     conditions.
     
                                                  [Page 540]
     
     These could change the time of attack and also limit
     the area of operations. The weather of the last few
     days, for instance, would have delayed the start until
     between 0800 and 1100 due to low ceiling in Bavaria."
     (388-PS, Item 54)
     
A satisfactory solution appears to have been arrived at. The 
last two paragraphs read:
     
     "Thus it s proposed:
     
     "Attack by the Army -- independent of the attack by the air
     force -- at the time desired by the Army (0615) and
     permission for limited operations to take place before
     then, however, only to an extent that will not alarm
     the entire Czech front.
     
     "The Luftwaffe will attack at a time most suitable to
     them. (J) " (388-PS, Item 54)

On the same day, 27 September, Keitel sent a most secret
memorandum to Hess and the Reichsfuehrer SS, Himmler, for
the guidance of Nazi Party officials. This memorandum is
Item 2 in the Schmundt file. It directs the Party officials
and organizations to comply with the demands of the Army
during the secret mobilization in such matters as turning
over equipment and facilities. The first four paragraphs of
this message read:
     
     "As a result of the political situation the Fuehrer and
     Chancellor has ordered mobilization measures for the
     Armed Forces, without the political situation being
     aggravated by issuing the mobilization (X) order or
     corresponding codewords.
     
     "Within the framework of these mobilization measures it
     is necessary for the Armed Forces authorities to issue
     demands to the various Party authorities and their
     organizations, which are connected with the previous
     issuing of the mobilization order, the advance measures
     or special code names.
     
     "The special situation makes it necessary that these
     demands be met (even if the code word has not been
     previously issued) immediately and without being
     referred to higher authorities.
     
     "OKW requests that subordinate offices be given
     immediate instructions to this effect so that the
     mobilization of the Armed Forces can be carried out
     according to plan." 388-PS, Item 2)

Two additional entries from Jodl's diary reveal the extent
to which the Nazi conspirators carried forward their
preparations for attack even during the period of the
negotiations which

                                                  [Page 541]
                                                            
culminated in the Munich Agreement. The entries for 26 and
27 September read:

"26 September:

     "Chief of the Armed Forces High Command, acting through
     the Army High Command, has stopped the intended
     approach march of the advance units to the Czech
     border, because it is not yet necessary and because the
     Fuehrer does not intend to march in before the 30th in
     any case. Order to approach towards the Czech frontier
     need be given on the 27th only.
     
     "In the evening of the 26th, fixed radio stations of
     Breslau, Dresden and Vienna are put at the disposal of
     the Reich Ministry for Public Enlightenment and
     Propaganda for interference with possible Czech
     propaganda transmissions. "Question by Foreign office
     whether Czechs are to be allowed to leave and cross
     Germany. Decision from Chief of the Armed Forces High
     Command: yes.
     
     "1515 hours: The Chief of the Armed Forces High Command
     informs General Stumpf about the result of the
     Godesberg conversations and about the Fuehrer's
     opinion. In no case will X day be before the 30th.
     
     "It is important that e do not permit ourselves to be
     drawn into military engagements because of false
     reports, before Prague replied.
     
     "A question of Stumpf about Y hour results in the reply
     that on account of the weather situation, a
     simultaneous intervention of the Air Force and Army
     cannot be expected. The Army needs the dawn, the Air
     Force can only start later on account of frequent fogs.
     
     "The Fuehrer has to make a decision for the commander
     in chief who is to have priority.
     
     "The opinion of Stumpf is also that the attack of the
     Army has to proceed. The Fuehrer has not made any
     decision as yet about commitment against Prague.
     
     "2000 hours: The Fuehrer addresses the people and the
     world in an
     important speech at the Sportspalast.
     
     "27 September:
     
     "1320 hours: The Fuehrer consents to the first wave of
     attack being advanced to a line from where they can
     arrive in the assembly area by 30 September." (1780-PS)

The order referred to by General Jodl in the last entry was
also recorded by the faithful Schmundt. It appears as Item 3
of the file. It is the order which brought the Nazi armies
to the jumping-off point for unprovoked aggression:

                                                  [Page 542]
                                                            
     "At 1300 September 27 the Fuehrer and Supreme Commander
     of the Armed Forces ordered the movement of the assault
     units from their exercise areas to their jumping-off
     points.
     
     "The assault units (about 21 reinforced regiments, or 7
     divisions,) must be ready to begin the action against
     'Gruen' on September 30, the decision having been made
     one day previously by 1200 noon." (388-PS, Item 33)

There follows a pencil note by Schmundt:

     "This order was conveyed to General Keitel at 1320
     through Major Schmundt." (388-PS, Item 33)

H. The Campaign Within Czechoslovakia.

The military preparations for aggression against
Czechoslovakia had not been carried out in vacuum. They had
been preceded by a skillfully conceived campaign designed to
promote civil disobedience to the Czechoslovak State. Using
the techniques they had already developed in other ventures,
the Nazi conspirators over a period of years used money,
propaganda, and force to undermine Czechoslovakia. In this
program the Nazis focussed their attention on the persons of
German descent living in the Sudetenland, a mountainous area
bounding Bohemia and Moravia on the north, west, and south.

The Czechoslovak government's official report for the
prosecution and trial of German major war criminals,
entitled "German Crimes Against Czechoslovakia," sows the
background of the subsequent Nazi intrigue. (998-PS; 3061-
PS)

Nazi agitation in Czechoslovakia dated from the earliest
days of the NSDAP. In the years following the First World
War a German National Socialist Workers Party (DNSAP), which
maintained close contact with Hitler's NSDAP, was active in
the Sudetenland. In 1932, ringleaders of the Sudeten
Volksport, an organization corresponding to the Nazi SA,
openly endorsed the 21 points of Hitler's program, the first
of which demanded the union of all Germans in a Greater
Germany. Soon thereafter they were charged with planning
armed rebellion on behalf of a foreign power and were
sentenced for conspiracy against the Czech Republic. Late in
1933 the National Socialist Party of Czechoslovakia
forestalled its dissolution by voluntary liquidation, and
several of its chiefs escaped across the frontier. For a
year thereafter Nazi activity in Czechoslovakia continued
underground. (998-PS; 3061-PS)

On 1 October 1934, with the approval and at the urging of
the

                                                  [Page 543]
                                                            
Nazi conspirators, Konrad Henlein, an instructor of
gymnastics, established the "German Home Front" (Deutsche
Heimatfront), which the following spring became the Sudeten
German Party (sudetendeutsche Partei  SDP). Profiting from
the experience of the Czech National Socialist Party,
Henlein denied any connection with the German Nazis. He
rejected pan-Germanism, and professed his respect for
individual liberties and his loyalty to "honest democracy"
and to the Czech state. His party, none-the-less, was built
on the basis of the Nazi Fuehrerprinzip, and he became its
Fuehrer. By 1937, when the power of Hitler's Germany had
become manifest, Henlein and his followers were striking a
more aggressive note, demanding, without definition,
"complete Sudeten autonomy". The SDP laid proposals before
the Czech Parliament which would, in substance, have created
a state within a state. (998-PS; 3061-PS)

After the annexation of Austria in March 1938 the
Henleinists, who were now openly organized after the Nazi
model, intensified their activity. Undisguised anti-Semitic
propaganda started in the Henlein press; the campaign
against "bolshevism" was intensified; terrorism in the
Henlein-dominated communities increased. A storm troop
organization, patterned and trained on the principles of the
Nazi SS, was established, known as the FS (Freiwilliger
Selbstschutz, or Voluntary Vigilantes). On 24 April 1938, in
a speech to the Party Congress in Karlovy Vary, Henlein came
into the open with his "Karlsbad Program". In this speech,
which echoed Hitler in tone and substance, Henlein asserted
the right of the Sudeten Germans to profess "German
political philosophy?', which, it was clear, meant National
Socialism. (998-PS; 3061-PS)

As the summer of 1938 wore on, the Henleinists used every
technique of the Nazi Fifth Column. As summarized in the
Czech official report, these included:

(1) Espionage. Military espionage was conducted by the SDP,
the FS, and by other members of the German minority on
behalf of Germany. Czech defenses were mapped, and
information on Czech troop movements was furnished to the
German authorities.

(2) Nazification of German Organizations in Czechoslovakia.
The Henleinists systematically penetrated the whole life of
the German population of Czechoslovakia. Associations and
social and cultural centers gradually underwent
"Gleichschaltung", i.e., "purification, by the SDP. Among
the organizations conquered by the Henleinists were sport
societies, rowing clubs, associations of ex-service men, and
choral societies. The Henleinists

                                                  [Page 544]
                                                            
were particularly interested in penetrating as many business
institutions as possible and in bringing over to their side
the directors of banks, the owners or directors of
factories, and the managers of commercial firms. In the case
of Jewish ownership or direction they attempted to secure
the cooperation of the clerical and technical staffs of the
institution.

(3) German Direction and Leadership. The Henleinists
maintained permanent contact with the Nazi officials
designated to direct operations within Czechoslovakia.
Meetings in Germany at which Henleinists were exhorted and
instructed in Fifth Column activity were camouflaged by
being held in conjunction with Saenger Feste (choral
festivals), gymnastic shows and assemblies, and commercial
gatherings such as the Leipzig Fair. Whenever the Nazi
conspirators needed incidents for their war of nerves, it
was the duty of the Henleinists to supply them.

(4) Propaganda. Disruptive and subversive propaganda was
beamed at Czechoslovakia in German broadcasts and was echoed
in the German press. Goebbels called Czechoslovakia a "nest
of Bolshevism" and spread the false report of "Russian
troops and airplanes" centered in Prague. Under direction
from the Reich the Henleinists maintained whispering
propaganda in the Sudetenland, which contributed to the
mounting tension and to the creation of incidents. Illegal
Nazi literature was smuggled from Germany and widely
distributed in the border regions. The Henlein press more or
less openly espoused Nazi ideology to the German population.

(5) Murder and Terrorism. The Nazi conspirators provided the
Henleinists, and particularly the FS, with money and arms
with which to provoke incidents and to maintain a state of
permanent unrest. Gendarmes, customs officers, and other
Czech officials were attacked. A boycott was established
against Jewish lawyers, doctors, and tradesmen. The
Henleinists terrorized the non-Henlein population, and the
Nazi Gestapo crossed into border districts to carry
Czechoslovak citizens across the border to Germany. In
several cases political foes of the Nazis were murdered on
Czech soil. Nazi agents murdered Professor Theodor Lessing
in 1933 and the engineer Formis in 1935. Both men were anti-
Nazis who had escaped from Germany after Hitler came to
power and had sought refuge in Czechoslovakia. (998-PS; 3061-
PS)

Some time afterwards, when there was no longer need for
pretense and deception, Konrad Henlein made a clear and
frank statement of the mission assigned to him by the Nazi
conspirators. This statement was made in a lecture by Konrad
Hen-

                                                  [Page 545]
                                                            
lein quoted on page 29 of "Four Fighting Years", a
publication of the Czechoslovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In this lecture, delivered by Henlein on 4 March 1941 in the
Auditorium of the University of Vienna under the auspices of
the Wiener Verq tungsakalame, he discussed the "fight for
the liberation of the Sudetens" in the following terms:

     "National Socialism soon swept over us Sudeten Germans.
     Our struggle was of a different character from that in
     Germany. Although we had to behave differently in
     public we were, of course, secretly in touch with the
     National Socialist revolution in Germany so that we
     might be a part of it. The struggle for Greater Germany
     was waged on Sudeten soil, too. This struggle could be
     waged only by those inspired by the spirit of National
     Socialism, persons who were true followers of our
     Fuehrer, whatever their outward appearance. Fate sought
     me out to be the leader of the national group in its
     final struggle. When *** in autumn, 1933, the leaders
     of the NSDAP asked me to take over the political
     leadership of the Sudeten Germans, I had a difficult
     problem to solve. Should the National Socialist Party
     continue to be carried on illegally or should the
     movement, in the interest of the self-preservation of
     the Sudeten Germans and in order to prepare their
     return to the Reich, wage its struggle under camouflage
     and by methods which appeared quite legal to the
     outside world? For us Sudeten Germans only the second
     alternative seemed possible, for the preservation of
     our national group was at stake. It would certainly
     have been easier to exchange this hard and mentally
     exhausting struggle for the heroic gesture of
     confessing allegiance to National Socialism and
     entering a Czechoslovak prison. But it seemed more than
     doubtful whether by this means we could have fulfilled
     the political task of destroying Czechoslovakia as a
     bastion in the alliance against the German Reich."
     (2863-PS.)

1. Evidence Implicating Nazi Conspirators in Czechoslovak
Agitation.

The foregoing account of Nazi intrigue in Czechoslovakia is
the outline of this conspiracy as it had been pieced
together by the Czechoslovak government early in the summer
of 1945. Since then captured documents and other information
made available since the defeat of Germany have clearly and
conclusively demonstrated the implication, which hitherto
could only be deduced, of the Nazi conspirators in the
Sudetenland agitation.

                                                  [Page 546]

A telegram sent from the German Legation in Prague on 16
March 1938 to the Foreign Office in Berlin, presumably
written by the German Minister, Eisenlohr, proves
conclusively that the Henlein movement was an instrument of
the Nazi conspirators (3060-PS). The Henlein party, it
appears from this telegram, was directed from Berlin and
from the German Legation in Prague. It could have no policy
of its own; even the speeches of its leaders had to be
coordinated with the German authorities. This telegram reads
as follows:

     "Rebuff to Frank has had a salutary effect. Have
     thrashed out matters with Henlein, who recently had
     shunned me, and with Frank separately and received
     following promises;
     
     "1. The line of German Foreign Policy as transmitted by
     the German Legation is exclusively decisive for policy
     and tactics of the Sudeten German Party. My directives
     are to be complied with implicitly.
     
     "2. Public speeches and the press will be coordinated
     uniformly with my approval. The editorial staff of
     "Zeit" (Time) is to be improved.
     
     "3. Party leadership abandons the former intransigent
     line which in the end might lead to political
     complications and adopts a line of gradual promotion of
     Sudeten German interests. The objectives are to be set
     in every case with my participation and to be promoted
     by parallel diplomatic action. Laws for the protection
     of nationalities (Volksschutzesetze) and 'territorial
     autonomy' are no longer to be stressed.
     
     "4. If consultations with Berlin agencies are required
     or desired before Henlein issues important statements
     on his program, they are to be applied for and prepared
     through the Mission.
     
     "5. All information of the Sudeten German Party for
     German agencies is to be transmitted through the
     Legation.
     
     "6. Henlein will establish contact with me every week,
     and will come to Prague at any time if requested.
     
     "I now hope to have the Sudeten German Party under firm
     control, as this is more than ever necessary for coming
     developments in the interest of foreign policy. Please
     inform ministries concerned and Mittelstelle (Central
     Office for Racial Germans) and request them to support
     this uniform direction of the Sudeten German Party."
     (3060-PS)
     
The dressing-down administered by Eisenlohr to Henlein had
the desired effect. The day after the telegram was
dispatched from Prague, Henlein addressed a humble letter to
Ribbentrop, asking an early personal conversation (2789-PS).
This letter,

                                                  [Page 547]
                                                            
dated 17 March 1938, and captured in the German Foreign
Office files, states:

     "Most honored Minister of Foreign Affairs:
     
     "In our deeply felt joy over the fortunate turn of
     events in Austria we feel it our duty to express our
     gratitude to all those ho had a share in this new grand
     achievement of our Fuehrer.
     
     "I beg you, most honored Minister, to accept
     accordingly the sincere thanks of the Sudeten Germans
     herewith.
     
     "We shall show our appreciation to the Fuehrer by
     doubled efforts in the service of the Greater German
     policy.
     
     "The new situation requires a reexamination of the
     Sudeten German policy. For this purpose I beg to ask
     you for the opportunity for a very early personal talk.
     
     "In view of the necessity of such a clarification I
     have postponed the Nation-wide Party Congress,
     originally scheduled for 26 March 1938 and 27 March
     1938, for 4 weeks.
     
     "I would appreciate if the Minister, Dr. Eisenlohr, and
     one of my closest associates would be allowed to
     participate in the requested talks.
     
                                               "Heil Hitler,
                                             "Loyally yours,
                                       "/s/ Konrad Henlein."
                                                            

This letter makes it clear that Henlein was quite aware that
the seizure of Austria made possible the adoption of a new
policy toward Czechoslovakia. It also reveals that he was
already in close enough contact with Ribbentrop and the
German minister in Prague to feel free to suggest "early
personal" talks.

Ribbentrop was not unreceptive to Henlein's suggestion. The
conversations Henlein had proposed took place in the Foreign
Office in Berlin on 29 March 1938. The previous day Henlein
had conferred with Hitler himself. The captured German
Foreign Office notes of the conference on 29 March read as
follows:

     "The Reichsminister started out by emphasizing the
     necessity to keep the conference which had been
     scheduled strictly a secret; he then explained, in view
     of the directives which the Fuehrer himself had given
     to Konrad Henlein personally yesterday afternoon that
     there were two questions which were of outstanding
     importance for the conduct of policy of the Sudeten
     German Party ***"
     
                           *******
                                                  [Page 548]

     "The aim of the negotiations to be carried out by the
     Sudeten German party with the Czechoslovakian
     Government is finally this: to avoid entry into the
     Government by the extension and gradual specification
     of the demands to be made. It must be emphasized
     clearly in the negotiations that the Sudeten German
     Party alone is the party to the negotiations with the
     Czechoslovakian Government, not the Reich Cabinet
     (Reichsregierung). The Reich Cabinet itself must refuse
     to appear toward the Government in Prague or toward
     London and Paris as the advocate or peacemaker of the
     Sudeten German demands. It is a self-evident
     prerequisite that during the impending discussion with
     the Czechoslovak Government the Sudeten Germans would
     be firmly controlled by Konrad Henlein, would maintain
     quiet and discipline, and would avoid indiscretions.
     The assurances already given by Konrad Henlein in this
     connection were satisfactory.
     
     "Following these general explanations of the Reich
     Minister the demands of the Sudeten German Party from
     the Czechoslovak Government as contained in the
     enclosure were discussed and approved in principle. For
     further cooperation, Konrad Henlein was instructed to
     keep in the closest possible touch with the
     Reichsminister and the Head of the Central Office for
     Racial Germans (mit dem Leiter der Volksdeutschen
     Mittelstelle), as well as the German Minister in
     Prague, as the local representative of the Foreign
     Minister. The task of the German Minister in Prague
     would be to support the demands of the Sudeten German
     Party as reasonable, not officially, but in more
     private talks with the Czechoslovak politicians without
     exerting any direct influence on the extent of the
     demands of the Party.
     
     "In conclusion there was a discussion whether it would
     be useful if the Sudeten German Party would cooperate
     with other minorities in Czechoslovakia, especially
     with the Slovaks. The Foreign Minister decided that the
     Party should have the discretion to keep a loose
     contact with other minority groups if the adoption of a
     parallel course by them might appear appropriate.
     
     "Berlin, 29 March 1938.
     "R [Initial]"

Not the least interesting aspect of this secret meeting is
the list of those who attended. Konrad Henlein, his
principal deputy, Karl Hermann Frank, and two others
represented the Sudeten German Party. Professor Haushofer
and SS Obergrup-

                                                  [Page 549]
                                                            
penfuehrer Lorenz represented the Volksdeutsche
Mittelstelle, the Central Office for Racial Germans. The
Foreign Office was represented by a delegation of eight.
These eight included Ribbentrop, who presided at the meeting
and did most of the talking, von Mackensen, Weiszacker, and
Minister Eisenlohr from the German Legation at Prague. (2788-
PS)

In May Henlein came to Berlin for more conversations with
the Nazi conspirators. At this time the plans for Case
Green, the attack on Czechoslovakia, were already on paper,
and it may be assumed that Henlein was briefed on the role
he was to play during the summer months. The entry for 22
May 1938 in General Jodl's diary reads as follows:

     "22 May: Fundamental conference between the Fuehrer and
     K. Henlein" (see enclosure). (1780-PS)

The enclosure, unfortunately, is missing.

It will be recalled that in his speech in Vienna, Henlein
had admitted that he had been selected by the Nazi
conspirators in the fall of 1933 to take over the political
leadership of the Sudeten Germans (2863-PS). The foregoing
documents show conclusively the nature of Henlein's mission.
They demonstrate that Henlein's policy, his propaganda, eve
his speeches were controlled by Berlin. Furthermore, from
the year 1935 the Sudeten German Party had been secretly
subsidized by the German Foreign Office. A secret
memorandum, captured in the German Foreign Office files,
signed by Woermann and dated Berlin, 19 August 1938, was
occasioned by the request of the Henlein Party for
additional funds. This memorandum reads

                         MEMORANDUM

     "The Sudeten German Party has been subsidized by the
     Foreign Office regularly since 1935 with certain
     amounts, consisting of a monthly payment of 15,000
     Marks; 12,000 Marks of this are transmitted to the
     Prague Legation for disbursement, and 3000 Marks are
     paid out to the Berlin representation of the party
     (Bureau Buerger). In the course of the last few months
     the tasks assigned to the Bureau Buerger have increased
     considerably due to the current negotiations with the
     Czech Government. The number of pamphlets and maps
     which are produced and disseminated has risen; the
     propaganda activity in the press has grown immensely;
     the expense accounts have increased especially because
     due to the necessity for continuous good information,
     the expenses for trips to Prague, London, and Paris
     (including the financing of travels of Sudeten German
     deputies and agents) have grown considerably heavier.
     Under these conditions the
     
                                                  [Page 550]
                                                            
     Bureau Buerger is no longer able to get along with the
     monthly allowance of 3000 Marks if it is to do
     everything required. Therefore, Mr. Buerger has applied
     to this office for an increase of this amount, from
     3000 Marks to 5500 Marks monthly. In view of the
     considerable increase in the business transacted by the
     Bureau, and of the importance which marks the activity
     of the Bureau in regard to the cooperation with the
     Foreign Office, this desire deserves the strongest
     support.
     
     "Herewith submitted to the Dep: Pers(onnel) with a
     request for approval. It is requested to increase the
     payments with retroactive effect from 1 August.*
     
                                     "Berlin, 19 August 1938
                                                /s/ Woermann
     
     "*Volkesdeutsche Mittelstelle (Central Office for
     Racial Germans) will be informed by the Political Dept.
     [handwritten marginal note]." (3059-PS; also 3061-PS)

As the military preparations to attack Czechoslovakia moved
forward in the late summer and early fall of 1938, the Nazi
command made good use of Henlein and his followers. About
the first of August the Air Attache at the German Legation
in Prague, Major Moericke, acting on instructions from
Luftwaffe headquarters in Berlin, visited the Sudeten German
leader in Freudenthal. With his assistance, and in the
company of the local leader of the FS (the Henlein
equivalent of the SS), he reconnoitered the surrounding
countryside to select possible airfield sites for German
use. The FS leader, a Czech reservist then on leave, was in
the uniform of the Czech armya fact which, the attache
noted, served as excellent camouflage.

The Air Attache's report reads in part as follows:

     "The manufacturer M. is head of the Sudeten German
     Glider Pilots in Freudenthal and said to be absolutely
     reliable by my trusted men. My personal impression
     fully confirmed this judgment. No hint of my identity
     was made to him, although I had the impression that M.
     knew who I was.
     
     "At my request, with which he complied without any
     question, M. travelled with me over the country in
     question. We used M.'s private car for the trip.
     
     "As M. did not know the country around Beneschau
     sufficiently well, he took with him the local leader of
     the FS, a Czech reservist of the Sudeten German Racial
     Group, at the time on leave. He was in uniform. For
     reasons of camouflage I was entirely in agreement with
     thiswithout actually saying so.
     
                                                  [Page 551]
     
     "As M., during the course of the drive, observed that I
     photographed large open spaces out of the car, he said
     'Aha, so you're looking for airfields !' I answered
     that we supposed that, in the case of any serious
     trouble, the Czechs would put their airfields
     immediately behind the line of fortifications and that
     I had the intention of looking over the country from
     that point of view." (1536-PS)

In the latter part of the Air Attache's report reference is
made to the presence of reliable agents and informers ( V-
Leute) apparently drawn from the ranks of the Henlein Party
in this area. It was indicated that these agents were in
touch with the Abwehrstelle, the intelligence office in
Breslau. (1536-PS)

In September, when the propaganda campaign was reaching its
height, the Nazis were not satisfied with playing merely on
the Sudeten demands for autonomy. They attempted to use the
Slovaks as well. On 19 September the Foreign Office in
Berlin sent the following telegram to the German Legation in
Prague:
     
     "Please inform deputy Kundt, at Konrad Henlein's
     request, to get into touch with the Slovaks at once and
     induce them to start their demands for autonomy
     tomorrow.
     
                                        "(signed) ALTENBURG"


Kundt was Henlein's representative in Prague.

As the harassed Czech government sought to stem the disorder
in the Sudetenland, the German Foreign Office turned to
threatening diplomatic tactics in a deliberate effort to
increase the tension between the two countries. Four
telegrams from the Foreign Office in Berlin to the Legation
in Prague, dispatched between the 16 September 1938 and 24
September 1938, are self-explanatory. The first telegram is
dated 16 September:

     "Tonight 160 subjects of Czechoslovakia of Czech blood
     were arrested in Germany. This measure is an answer to
     the arrest of Sudeten Germans since the Fuehrer's
     speech of 12 September. I request you to ascertain the
     number of Sudeten-Germans arrested since 12 September
     as extensively as possible. The number of those
     arrested there is estimated conservatively at 400 by
     the Gestapo cable report.
     
                                       "Woermann." (2855-PS)
     
The second telegram is dated 17 September. The first two
paragraphs read:
     
     "I. Request to inform the local government immediately
     of the following:
     
     "The Reich Government has decided that:
     
     "(a) Immediately as many Czech subjects of Czech
     descent,
     
                                                  [Page 552]
                                                            
     Czech-speaking Jews included, will be arrested in
     Germany as Sudeten Germans have been in Czechoslovakia
     since the beginning of the week.
     
     "(b) If any Sudeten Germans should be executed pursuant
     to a death sentence on the basis of martial law, an equal number
     of Czechs will be shot in Germany." (2854-PS)
     
The third telegram was sent on 24 September:

     "According to information received here Czechs have
     arrested 2 German frontier-policemen, seven customs-
     officials and 30 railway-officials. As countermeasure
     all the Czech staff in Marschegg were arrested. We are
     prepared to exchange the arrested Czech officials for
     the German officials. Please approach Government there
     and wire result.
                                         WOERMANN" (2853-PS)
     
On the same day the fourth telegram was dispatched. The last
paragraph read:
     
     "Confidential:
     
     "Yielding of the Czech hostages arrested here for the
     prevention of the execution of any sentences passed by
     military courts against Sudeten-Germans is, of course,
     out of question.
                                                  "WOERMANN"
                                                   (2856-PS)

In the latter half of September Henlein devoted himself and
his followers wholeheartedly to preparation for the coming
German attack. About 15 September, after Hitler's
provocative Nurnberg speech in which he accused "this Benes"
of "torturing" and planning the "extermination" of the
Sudeten Germans, Henlein and Karl Hermann Frank, one of his
principal deputies, fled to Germany to avoid arrest by the
Czech government. In Germany Henlein broadcast over the
powerful Reichssender radio station his determination to
lead the Sudeten Germans "home to the Reich" and denounced
"the Hussite Bolshevik criminals of Prague". From his
headquarters in a castle at Dondorf, outside Bayreuth, he
kept in close touch with the leading Nazi conspirators,
including Hitler and Himmler. He directed activities along
the border and began the organization of the Sudeten German
Free Corps, an auxiliary military organization. These events
are set forth in the Czechoslovak official report. (998-PS;
3061-PS)

Henlein's activities were carried on with the advice and
assistance of the Nazi leaders. Lt. Col. Koechling was
assigned to Hen-

                                                  [Page 553]
                                                            
lein in an advisory capacity to assist with the Sudeten
German Free Corps. In a conference with Hitler on the night
of 17 September Koechling received far-reaching military
powers. At this conference the purpose of the Free Corps was
frankly stated: the "maintenance of disorder and clashes".
Item 2, of the Schmundt file (388-PS), a telegram labeled
Most Secret reads as follows:

     "Last night conference took place between Fuehrer and
     Oberstleutnant Koechling. Duration of conference 7
     minutes. Lt. Col. Koechling remains directly
     responsible to OKW. He will be assigned to Konrad
     Henlein in an advisory capacity. He received far-
     reaching military plenary powers from the Fuehrer. The
     Sudeten German Free Corps remains responsible to Konrad
     Henlein alone. Purpose: Protection of the Sudeten
     Germans and maintenance of disturbances and clashes.
     The Free Corps will be established in Germany. Armament
     only with Austrian weapons. Activities of Free Corps to
     begin as soon as possible." (388-PS, Item 25)

General Jodl's diary gives a further insight into the
position of the Henlein Free Corps. At this time the Free
Corps was engaged in active skirmishing along the Czech
border, furnishing incidents and provocation in the desired
manner. Jodl's entries for 19 September 1938 and 20
September 1938 state:

     "19 September:
     
     "Order is given to the Army High Command to take care
     of the Sudeten German Free Corps. "20 September:
     "England and France have handed over their demands in
     Prague, the contents of which are still unknown. The
     activities of the Free Corps start assuming such an
     extent that they may bring about, and already have
     brought about consequences harmful to the plans of the
     Army. (Transferring rather strong units of the Czech
     Army to the proximity of the border.) By checking with
     Lt. Col. Koechling, I attempt to lead these activities
     into normal channels. "Toward the evening the Fuehrer
     also takes a hand and gives permission to act only with
     groups up to 12 men each, after the approval of the
     Corps HQ." (1780-PS)

A report from Henlein's staff, which was filed in Hitler's
headquarters, boasted of the offensive operations of the
Free Corps in the following terms:

     "Since 19 Sept.in more than 300 missionsthe Free Corps
     has executed its task with an amazing spirit of attack
     and with a willingness often reaching a degree of
     unqualified
     
                                                  [Page 554]
                                                            
     self-sacrifice. The result of the first phase of its
     activities: more than 1500 prisoners, 25 MGs and a
     large amount of weapons and equipment, aside from
     serious losses in dead and wounded suffered by the
     enemy." (388-PS, Item 30)

In this document the word "attack" was subsequently crossed
out, and the word "defense substituted. Similarly "the
enemy" was changed to read "the Czech terrorists".

In his headquarters in the castle at Dondorf, Henlein was in
close touch with Admiral Canaris of the Intelligence
Division of the OKW and with the SS and SA. The liaison
officer between the SS and Henlein was Oberfuehrer Gottlob
Berger, who in later years became prominent in the SS
command. An affidavit executed by Berger reads as follows:

     "I, GOTTLOB BERGER, under oath and being previously
     sworn, make the following statement:
     
     "1. In the fall of 1938 I held the rank and title of
     Oberfuehrer in the SS. In mid-September I was assigned
     as SS Liaison Officer with Konrad Henleins Sudeten
     German Free Corps at their headquarters in the castle
     of Dondorf outside Bayreuth. In this position I was
     responsible for all liaison between the Reichsfuehrer
     SS Himmler and Henlein and, in particular, I was
     delegated to select from the Sudeten Germans those who
     appeared eligible for membership in the SS or VT
     (Verfuegungs Truppe). In addition to myself, Liaison
     Officers stationed with Henlein included an
     Obergruppenfuehrer from the NSKK, whose name I have
     forgotten, and Obergruppenfuehrer Max Juettner, from
     the SA. In addition, Admiral Canaris, who was head of
     the OKW Abwehr, appeared at Dondorf nearly every two
     days and conferred with Henlein.
     
     "2. In the course of my official duties at Henleins
     headquarters I became familiar with the composition and
     activities of the Free Corps. Three groups were being
     formed under Henleins direction: One in the Eisenstein
     area, Bavaria; one in the Bayreuth area; one in the
     Dresden area; and possibly a fourth group in Silesia.
     These groups were supposedly composed of refugees from
     the Sudetenland who had crossed the border into
     Germany, but they actually contained Germans with
     previous service in the SA and NSKK (Nazi Motor Corps)
     as well. These Germans formed the skeleton of the Free
     Corps. On paper the Free Corps had a strength of 40000
     men. I do not know its actual strength, but I believe
     it to be considerably smaller than the paper
     
                                                  [Page 555]
                                                            
     figure. The Corps was armed with Manlicher-Schoenauer
     rifles from Army depots in Austria. It was my
     understanding that about 18000 rifles were issued to
     men under Henleins command. In addition, small numbers
     of machine guns [(Rifles and machine guns were of
     doubtful serviceability due to inferior ammunition).],
     hand grenades, and 2 captured antitank guns were placed
     at Henleins disposal. Part of the equipment furnished
     to Henlein, mostly haversacks, cooking utensils, and
     blankets, were supplied by the SA.
     
     "3. In the days preceding the conclusion of the four-
     power pact at Munich I heard of numerous occasions on
     which the Henlein Free Corps was engaged in skirmishes
     with Czech patrols along the border of the Sudetenland.
     These operations were under the direction of Henlein,
     who went forward from his Headquarters repeatedly to
     take direct command of his men.
     
     "The facts stated above are true; this declaration is
     made by me voluntarily and without compulsion; after
     reading over this statement I have signed and executed
     the same.
     
                                   "(Signed) Gottlob Berger"

Henlein and his Free Corps were also acting in collaboration
with the SD, (Sicherheitsdienst) Himmlers intelligence
organization. An affidavit executed by Alfred Helmut
Naujocks, a member of the SD, reads as follows:

     "I, ALFRED HELMUT NAUJOCKS, being first duly sworn,
     depose and state as follows:
     
     "1. In September 1938 I was working in Amt III of the
     SD. (The department which was then called Amt III later
     became Amt IV). In the course of my work I travelled
     between Berlin, Hof and Munich.
     
     "2. While in Hof, which is on the Czech border, I paid
     repeated visits to the SD Service Department, that is,
     Intelligence Office, which had been established there.
     This Service Department had the task of collecting all
     political intelligence emanating from the Czechoslovak
     border districts and passing it on to Berlin.
     Continuous day and night teleprinter communications had
     been established from Hof direct to Amt II of the SD in
     Berlin. To the best of my recollection the head of the
     Hof office was Daufeldt. The head of Amt III in Berlin
     at this time was Jost and his assistant was Filbert.
     
                                                  [Page 556]

     "3. The bulk of the intelligence we collected came from
     Henlein Free Corps, which had its headquarters in a
     castle at Dondorf, outside Bayreuth; the distance
     between Hof and Bayreuth is not very great, and we had
     daily access to all intelligence received by the Free
     Corps. There was a continuous liaison maintained with
     Czech territory by runners. Exploitation of this
     Intelligence was carried out every day in Berlin and
     was placed before Heydrich and Himmler.
     
     "4. I remember that the Free Corps made continuous
     complaints that they had not received sufficient supply
     of arms. Negotiations by letter and teleprint message
     went on for a number of days with Berlin until it
     became quite a nuisance. After that arms were supplied
     from the army, but I believe it was only a small
     quantity.
     
     "5. Hof was the center for all intelligence collected
     by the SD on the Czechoslovak question. The SD had
     agents all along the border in every town. The names of
     these agents were reported to Hof, and two motor cars
     toured the border every day to collect the intelligence
     which had been unearthed. In addition, I remember that
     two or three companies of the SS-Totenkopf units were
     stationed in the neighborhood of Asch.
     
     "The facts stated above are true: this declaration is
     made by me voluntarily and without compulsion; after
     reading over this statement I have signed and executed
     the same at Nurnberg, Germany this 20th day of November
     1945.
     
                         " (signed) Alfred Helmut Naujocks."
     
Offensive operations along the Czechoslovak border were not
confined to skirmishes carried out by the Free Corps. Two SS
Totenkopf battalions were operating across the border in
Czech territory near Asch. Item 36 in the Schmundt file (388-
PS), an OKW most secret order signed by Jodl and dated 28
September, states:

     "Those SS-Totenkopf units now operating in the Asch
     Promontory (I and II Bn of Oberbayern Regiment) will
     come under the C in C Army only when they return to
     German Reich territory, or when the Army crosses the
     German-Czech frontier." (388-PS, Item 36)

According to the 25 September entry in General Jodl's diary
these SS Totenkopf battalions were operating in this area on
direct orders from Hitler. (1780-PS)

As the time for X-day approached, the disposition of the
Free Corps became a matter of dispute. On 26 September
Himmler

                                                  [Page 557]
                                                            
issued an order to the Chief of Staff of the Sudeten German
Free CorPs directing that the Free Corps come under control
of the Reichsfuehrer SS in the event of German invasion of
Czechoslovakia (388-PS, Item 37). On 28 September Keitel
directed that as soon as the German Army crosses the Czech
border the Free Corps will take orders from the OKH. In this
most secret order o the OKW Keitel discloses that Henlein's
men are already operating in Czechoslovak territory:

     "For the Henlein Free Corps and units subordinate to
     this the principle remains valid, that they receive
     instructions direct from the Fuehrer and that they
     carry out their operations only in conjunction with the
     competent general staff corps. The advance units of the
     Free Corps will have to report to the local commander
     of the frontier guard immediately before crossing the
     frontier.
     
     "Those units remaining forward of the frontier shouldin
     their own interestsget into communication with the
     frontier guard as often as possible.
     
     "As soon as the army crosses the Czech border the
     Henlein Free Corps will be subordinate to the OKH. Thus
     it will be expedient to assign a sector to the Free
     Corps even now which can be fitted into the scheme of
     army boundaries later." (388-PS, Item 34)

On 30 September, when it became clear that the Munich
settlement would result in a peaceful occupation of the
Sudetenland, Keitel ordered that the Free Corps Henlein in
its present composition be placed under command of Himmler:

     "1. Attachment of Henlein Free Corps:
     
     "The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces has just
     ordered that the Henlein Free Corps in its present
     composition be placed under command of Reichsfuehrer-SS
     and Chief of German Police.
     
     "It is therefore at the immediate disposal of OKH as
     field unit for the invasion, but is to be later drawn
     in like the rest of the police forces for police duties
     in agreement with the Reichsfuehrer SS." (388-PS, Item
     38)

J. Occupation of the Sudetenland under the Terms of the
Munich Agreement.

Under the threat of war by the Nazi conspirators, and with
war in fact about to be launched, the United Kingdom and
France concluded a pact with Germany and Italy at Munich on
the night of 29 September 1938. This treaty provided for the
cession of the

                                                  [Page 558]
                                                            
Sudetenland by Czechoslovakia to Germany. Czechoslovakia was
required to acquiesce. (TC-23)

On 1 October 1938 German troops began the occupation of the
Sudetenland.

During the conclusion of the Munich Pact the Wehrmacht had
been fully deployed for attack, awaiting only the word of
Hitler to begin the assault. With the cession of the
Sudetenland new orders were issued. On 30 September Keitel
promulgated Directive #1 on "Occupation of territory
separated from Czechoslovakia" (388-PS, Item 9). This
directive contained a time table for the occupation of
sectors of former Czech territory between 1 and 10 October
and specified the tasks of the German armed forces. The
fourth and fifth paragraphs provided:

     "2. The Armed Forces will have the following tasks:
     
     "The present degree of mobilized preparedness is to be
     maintained completely, for the present also in the
     West. Order for the rescinding of measures taken is
     held over.
     
     "The entry is to be planned in such a way that it can
     easily be converted into operation 'Gruen'." (388-PS,
     Item 9) It contained one further provision about the
     Henlein forces: "Henlein Free Corps. All combat action
     on the part of the Volunteer Corps must cease as from
     1st October." (388-PS, Item 9)

The Schmundt file contains a number of additional secret OKW
directives giving instructions for the occupation of the
Sudetenland and showing the scope of the preparations of the
OKW. Directives specifying the occupational area of the army
and the units under its command; arranging for
communications facilities, exchange facilities, supply, and
propaganda; and giving instructions to the civil departments
of the government were issued over Keitel's signature on 30
September (388-PS, Items 40, 41, 42). By 10 October von
Brauchitsch was able to report to Hitler that German troops
had reached the demarcation line and that the order for the
occupation of the Sudetenland had been fulfilled. The OKW
requested Hitler's permission to rescind Case Green, to
withdraw troops from the occupied area and to relieve the
OKH of executive powers in the Sudeten German area as of 15
October. (388-PS, Items 46, 47, 49)

On 18 October, in a formal letter to the Commander-in-Chief
of the Army, Col. Gen. von Brauchitsch, Hitler announced
that the civil authorities would take over responsibility
for the Sudeten German territory on 21 October and that the
OKH would be relieved of executive powers as of that date
(388-P, Item 51). On the same date additional demobilization
of the forces in the

                                                  [Page 559]
                                                            
Sudetenland was ordered by Hitler and Keitel. Three days
later the OKW requested Hitler's consent to the reversion of
the RAD from the control of the armed forces. (388-PS, Items
52, 53)

As the German forces entered the Sudetenland Henlein's
Sudetendeutsche Parte was merged with the NSDAP of Hitler.
The two men who had fled to Hitler's protection in mid-
September, Henlein and Karl Hermann Frank, were appointed
Gauleiter and Deputy Gauleiter, respectively, of the
Sudetengau. In the parts of the Czechoslovak Republic that
were still free the Sudetendeutsche Partei constituted
itself as the NationalSozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter-
Partei in der Tschechoslovake (NSDAP in Czechoslovakia)
under the direction of Kundt, another of Henlein's deputies.
These events are set forth in the Czechoslovak official
report. (998-PS; 3061-PS)

The stage was now prepared for the next move of the Nazi
conspirators.

K. Planning for the Conquest of the Remainder of
Czechoslovakia.

With the occupation of the Sudetenland and the inclusion of
the German-speaking Czechs within the Greater Reich it might
have been expected that the Nazi conspirators would be
satisfied. Thus far in the Nazi program of aggression the
conspirators had used as a pretext for their conquests the
union of the Volksdeutsche, the people of German descent,
with the Reich. Now, after Munich, substantially all the
Volksdeutsche in Czechoslovakia had been returned to German
rule. On 26 September, at the Sportspalast in Berlin, Hitler
spoke these words:

     "And now we are confronted with the last problem which
     must be solved and which will be solved. It is the last
     territorial claim which I have to make in Europe, but
     it is a claim from which I will not swerve, and which I
     will satisfy, God willing."
     
                           *******
     
     "I have little to explain. I am grateful to Mr.
     Chamberlain for all his efforts, and I have assured him
     that the German people want nothing but peace; but I
     have also told him that I cannot go back beyond the
     limits of our patience.
     
     "I assured him, moreover, and I repeat it here, that
     when this problem is solved there will be no more
     territorial problems for Germany in Europe. And I
     further assured him that from the moment when
     Czechoslovakia solves its other problems, that is to
     say when the Czechs have come to an arrangement with
     their other minorities peacefully and with-
     
                                                  [Page 560]
                                                            
     out oppression, I will no longer be interested in the
     Czech State. And that as far as I am concerned I will
     guarantee. We don't want any Czechs at all." (2358-PS)
     
Yet no more than two weeks later Hitler and Keitel were
preparing estimates of the military forces required to break
Czechoslovak resistance in Bohemia and Moravia. Item 48 of
the Schmundt file is a top secret telegram sent by Keitel to
Hitler's headquarters on 11 October 1938 in answer to four
questions which Hitler had propounded to the OKW. These were
the questions:

     "Question 1: What reinforcements are necessary in the
     present situation to break all Czech resistance in
     Bohemia and Moravia ?
     
     "Question 2: How much time is required for the
     regrouping or moving up of new forces?
     
     "Question 3: How much time will be required for the
     same purpose if it is executed after the intended
     demobilization and return measures?
     
     "Question 4: How much time would be required to achieve
     the state of readiness of October 1st?" (388-PS, Item
     48)

Whereupon, in the same telegram, Keitel reported to Hitler
the considered answers of the OKH and the Luftwaffe.

On 21 October, the same day on which the administration of
the Sudetenland was handed over to the civilian authorities,
a directive outlining plans for the conquest of the
remainder of Czechoslovakia was signed by Hitler and
initialed by Keitel. In this Top Secret Order, of which 10
copies were made, the Nazi conspirators, only three weeks
after the winning of the Sudetenland, were already looking
forward to new conquests:

     "The future tasks for the Armed Forces and the
     preparations for the conduct of war resulting from
     these tasks will be laid down by me in a later
     Directive.
     
     "Until this Directive comes into force the Armed Forces
     must be prepared at all times for the following
     eventualities:
     
     "1. The securing of the frontiers of Germany and the
     protection against surprise air attacks.
     
     "2. The liquidation of the remainder of Czechoslovakia.
     
     "3. The occupation of the Memelland."
     
                           *******
     "It must be possible to smash at any time the remainder
     of Czechoslovakia if her policy should become hostile
     towards Germany.
     
     "The preparations to be made by the Armed Forces for
     this contingency will be considerably smaller in extent
     than those
     
                                                  [Page 561]
                                                            
     for 'Gruen'; they must, however, guarantee a continuous
     and considerably higher state of preparedness, since
     planned mobilization measures have been dispensed with.
     The organization, order of battle and state of
     readiness of the units earmarked for that purpose are
     in peace-time to be so arranged for a surprise assault
     that Czechoslovakia herself will be deprived of all
     possibility of organized resistance. The object: is the
     swift occupation of Bohemia and Moravia and the cutting
     off of Slovakia. The preparations should be such, that
     at the same time 'Grenzsicherng West' (the measures of
     frontier defense in the West) can be carried out.
     
     "The detailed mission of Army and Air Force is as
     follows:
     
     "The units stationed in the vicinity of Bohemia-Moravia
     and several motorized divisions are to be earmarked for
     a surprise type of attack. Their number will be
     determined by the forces remaining in Czechoslovakia; a
     quick and decisive success must be assured. The
     assembly and preparations for the attack must be worked
     out. Forces not needed will b kept in readiness in such
     a manner that they may be either committed in securing
     the frontiers or sent after the attack army.
     
     "b. Air Force
     
     "The quick advance of the German Army is to be assured
     by an early elimination of the Czech Air Force.
     
     "For this purpose the commitment in a surprise attack
     from peace-time bases has to be prepared. Whether for
     this purpose still stronger forces may be required can
     only be determined from the development of the military
     situation in Czechoslovakia. At the same time a
     simultaneous assembly of the remainder of the offensive
     forces against the West must be prepared." (C-136)

This order was signed by Hitler and authenticated by Keitel.
It was distributed to the OKH, to Goering's Luftwaffe, and
to Raeder at Navy headquarters.

Two months later, on 17 December 1938, Keitel issued an
appendix to the original order stating that by command of
the Fuehrer preparations for the liquidation of
Czechoslovakia are to continue. Distribution of this Top
Secret order was the same as or the 21 October order. The
order provides:
     
     "2. COROLLARY TO DIRECTIVE OF 21.10.38.
     
     "Reference 'Liquidation of the Rest of Czechoslovakia'
     the Fuehrer has given the following additional order:
     
     "The preparations for this eventuality are to continue
     on the
     
                                                  [Page 562]
                                                            
     assumption that no resistance worth mentioning is to be
     expected.
     
     "To the outside world too it must clearly appear that
     it is merely an action of pacification and not a
     warlike undertaking.
     
     "The action must therefore be carried out by the peace
     time Armed Forces only, without reinforcements from
     mobilization. The necessary readiness for action,
     especially the ensuring that the most necessary
     supplies are brought up, must be effected by adjustment
     within the units.
     
     "Similarly the units of the Army detailed for the march
     must, as a general rule, leave their stations only
     during the night prior to the crossing of the frontier,
     and will not previously form up systematically on the
     frontier. The transport necessary for previous
     organization should be limited to the minimum and will
     be camouflaged as much as possible. Necessary
     movements, if any, of single units and particularly of
     motorized forces, to the troop-training areas situated
     near the frontier, must have the approval of the
     Fuehrer.
     
     "The Air Force should take action in accordance with
     the similar general directives.
     
     "For the same reasons the exercise of executive power
     by the Supreme Command of the Army is laid down only
     for the newly occupied territory and only for a short
     period.
     
          "Chief of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces.
                                            "KEITEL" (C-138)
                                                            
This particular copy of the order, an original carbon signed
in ink by Keitel, was the one sent to the OKM, the German
naval headquarters. It bears the initials of Fricke, head of
the Operational Division of the Naval War Staff, of
Schniewind, Chief of Staff of the Naval War Staff, and of
Raeder.

As the Wehrmacht moved forward with plans for what it
clearly considered would be an easy victory, the Foreign
Office played its part. In a discussion of means of
improving German-Czech relations with the Czechoslovak
Foreign Minister, Chvalkovsky, in Berlin on 21 January 1939,
Ribbentrop urged upon the Czech government a "quick
reduction" in the size of the Czech army. The captured
German Foreign Office notes of this discussion bear the
following footnote, in Ribbentrop's handwriting:

     "I mentioned to Chvalkovsky especially that a quick
     reduction in the Czech army would be decisive in our
     judgment." (2795-PS)
     
                                                  [Page 563]

L. Extension of Fifth Column Activity

As in the case of Austria and the Sudetenland, the Nazi
conspirators did not intend to rely on the Wehrmacht alone
to accomplish their calculated objective of "liquidating"
Czechoslovakia. With the German minority separated from
Czechoslovakia, they could no longer use the cry, "home to
the Reich." One sizeable minority, the Slovaks, remained
within the Czechoslovak State. The Czechoslovak Government
had made every effort to conciliate Slovak extremists in the
months after the cession of the Sudetenland. Autonomy had
been granted to Slovakia, with an autonomous cabinet and
parliament at Bratislava. Nonetheless, despite these
concessions, it was in Slovakia that the Nazi conspirators
found men ready to take their money and do their bidding.
The following picture of Nazi operations in Slovakia is
based on the Czechoslovak official report. (998-PS; 3061-PS)

Nazi propaganda and "research" groups had long been
interested in maintaining close connections with the Slovak
autonomist opposition. When Bela Tuka, who later became
Prime Minister of the puppet state of Slovakia, was tried
for espionage and treason in 1929, the evidence established
that he had already established connections with Nazi groups
within Germany. Prior to 1938 Nazi aides were in close
contact with Slovak traitors living in exile and were
attempting to establish more profitable contacts in the semi-
fascist Slovak Catholic Peoples Party of Monsignor Andrew
Hlinka. Out of sympathy with the predominantly anti-clerical
government in Prague, some Catholic elements in Slovakia
proved willing to cooperate with the Nazis. In February and
July 1938 the leaders of the Henlein movement conferred with
top men of Father Hlinka's party and agreed to- furnish one
another with mutual assistance in pressing their respective
claim to autonomy. This understanding proved useful in the
September agitation when, at the proper moment, the Foreign
Office in Berlin wired the Henlein leader, Kundt, in Prague
to tell the Slovaks to start their demands for autonomy.
(See 2858-PS.)

By this time, mid-summer 1938, the Nazis were in direct
contact with figures in the Slovak autonomist movement and
had paid agents among the higher staff of Father Hlinka's
party. These agents undertook to render impossible any
understanding between the Slovak autonomists and the Slovak
parties in the government at Prague. Franz Karmasin, later
to become Volksgruppenfuehrer had been appointed Nazi leader
in Slovakia and professed to be serving the cause of Slovak
autonomy while on the Nazi pay roll. On 22 November the
Nazis indiscreetly wired

                                                  [Page 564]
                                                            
Karmasin to collect his money at the German Legation in
person. The telegram, sent from the German Legation at
Prague to Bratislava (Pressburg), reads as follows:

     "Delegate Kundt asks to notify State Secretary Karmasin
     that he would appreciate it if he could personally draw
     the sum which is being kept for him at the treasury of
     the embassy.
     
                                          "HENCKE" (2859-PS)

Karmasin proved to be extremely useful to the Nazi cause. A
captured memorandum of the German Foreign Office, dated
Berlin, 29 November 1939 eight months after the conquest of
Czechoslovakiathrows a revealing light both on Karmasin and
on the German Foreign Office:

     "On the question of payments to KARMASIN
     
     "Karmasin receives 30,000 Marks for the VDA (Peoples'
     League for Germans Abroad) until 1 April 1940; from
     then on 15,000 Marks monthly.
     
     "Furthermore, the Central Office for Racial Germans
     (Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle) has deposited 300,000
     Marks for Karmasin with the German Mission in
     Bratislava (Pressburg) on which he could fall back in
     an emergency.
     
     "Furthermore, Karmasin has received money from Reich
     Minister Seyss-Inquart; for the present it has been
     impossible to determine what amounts had been involved,
     and whether the payments will continue.
     
     "Therefore it appears that Karmasin has been provided
     with sufficient money; thus one could await whether he
     would put up new demands himself.
     
     "Herewith presented to the Reich Foreign Minister.
     
                                    "/s/ WOERMANN" (2794-PS)

This document shows the complicity of the German Foreign
Office in the subsidization of illegal organizations abroad.
More important, it shows that the Germans still considered
it necessary to supply their under-cover representatives in
Pressburg with substantial funds even after the declaration
of the so-called independent State of Slovakia.

Some time in the winter of 1938-1939 Goering conferred with
Durcansky and Mach, two leaders in the Slovak extremist
group, who were accompanied by Karmasin. The Slovaks told
Goering of their desire for what they called "independence,"
with strong political, economic, and military ties to
Germany. They promised that the Jewish problem would be
solved as it had been in Germany and that the Communist
Party would be prohibited. The notes of the meeting report
that Goering considered that the

                                                  [Page 565]
                                                            
Slovak efforts towards independence were to be supported,
although his motives were scarcely altruistic. The undated
minutes of this conversation between Goering and Durcansky,
captured among the files of the German Foreign Office, are
jotted down in somewhat telegraphic style:

     "To begin with DURKANSKY (Deputy Prime Minister) reads
     out declaration. Contents: Friendship for the Fuehrer;
     gratitude, that through the Fuehrer autonomy has become
     possible for the SLOVAKS. The SLOVAKS never want to
     belong to HUNGARY. The SLOVAKS want full independence
     with strongest political, economic and military ties to
     Germany. BRATISLAVA to be capital. The execution of the
     plan only possible if the army and police are SLOVAK.
     "An independent SLOVAKIA to be proclaimed at the
     meeting of the first SLOVAK Diet. In the case of a
     plebiscite the majority would favour a separation from
     PRAGUE. Jews will vote for Hungary. The area of the
     plebiscite to be up to the MARCH, where a large SLOVAK
     population lives.
     
     "The Jewish problem will be solved similarly to that in
     Germany. The Communist party to be prohibited.
     
     "The Germans in SLOVAKIA do not want to belong to
     Hungary but wish to stay in SLOVAKIA.
     
     "The German influence with the SLOVAK Government
     considerable; the appointment of a German Minister
     (member of the cabinet) has been promised.
     
     "At present negotiations with HUNGARY are being
     conducted by the SLOVAKS. The CZECHS are more yielding
     towards the Hungarians than the SLOVAKS.
     
     "The Fieldmarshal considers; that the SLOVAK
     negotiations towards independence are to be supported
     in a suitable manner. Czechoslovakia without Slovakia
     is still more at our mercy.
     
     "Air bases in Slovakia are of great importance for the
     German Air Force for use against the East." (2801-PS)

In mid-February 1939 a Slovak delegation journeyed to
Berlin. It consisted of Tuca, one of the Slovaks with whom
the Germans had been in contact, and Karmasin, the paid
representative of the Nazi conspirators in Slovakia. They
conferred with Hitler and Ribbentrop in the Reichs
Chancellery in Berlin on Sunday, 12 February 1939. The
captured German Foreign Office minutes of that meeting read
as follows:

     "After a brief welcome Tuca thanks the Fuehrer for
     granting this meeting. He addresses the Fuehrer with
     'My Fuehrer' and he voices the opinion that he, though
     only a modest
     
                                                  [Page 566]
                                                            
     man himself, might well claim to speak for the Slovak
     nation. The Czech courts and prison gave him the right
     to make such a statement. He states that the Fuehrer
     had not only opened the Slovak question but that he had
     been also the first one to acknowledge the dignity of
     the Slovak nation. The Slovakian people will gladly
     fight under the leadership of the Fuehrer for the
     maintenance of European civilization. Obviously future
     association with the Czechs had become an impossibility
     for the Slovaks from a moral as well as economic point
     of view." (2790-PS)

It is noteworthy that Tuca addressed Hitler as "My Fuehrer".
During this meeting the Nazi conspirators apparently were
successful in planting the idea of insurrection with the
Slovak delegation. The final sentence of this document,
spoken by Tuca, is conclusive:

     "I entrust the fate of my people to your care." (2790-
     PS)

It is apparent from these documents that in mid-February
1939 the Nazis had a well-disciplined group of Slovaks at
their service, many of them drawn from the ranks of Father
Hlinka's party. Flattered by the personal attention of such
men as Hitler and Ribbentrop, and subsidized by German
representatives, these Slovaks proved willing tools in the
hands of the Nazi conspirators.

In addition to the Slovaks, the Nazi conspirators made use
of the few Germans still remaining within the mutilated
Czech republic. Kundt, Henlein's deputy who had been
appointed leader of this German minority, created as many
artificial "focal points of German culture" as possible.
Germans from the- districts handed over to Germany were
ordered from Berlin to continue their studies at the German
University in Prague and to make it a center of aggressive
Naziism. With the assistance of German civil servants, a
deliberate campaign of Nazi infiltration into Czech public
and private institutions was carried out, and the
Henleinists gave full cooperation with Gestapo agents from
the Reich who appeared on Czech soil. The Nazi "political
activity" was designed to undermine and to weaken Czech
resistance to the commands from Germany. In the face of
continued threats and duress on both diplomatic and
propaganda levels, the Czech government was unable to take
adequate measures against these trespasses on its
sovereignty. (998-PS; 3061-PS)

In early March, with the date for the invasion of
Czechoslovakia already close at hand, fifth column activity
moved into its final phase. In Bohemia and Moravia the FS,
Henlein's equivalent of the SS, were in touch with the Nazi
conspirators in the Reich and laid the groundwork for the
events of 14 and 15 March.

                                                  [Page 567]

An article by SS-Gruppenfuehrer Karl Hermann Frank,
published in Boehmen un Maehrerl,, the official periodical
of the Reichs Protector of Bohemia and Moravia, March 1941,
page 79, reveals with considerable frankness the functions
which the FS and SS served and the pride the Nazi
conspirators took in the activities of these organizations:

"The SS on 15 March 1939
     
     "A modern people and a modern state are today
     unthinkable without political troops. To these are
     allotted the special task of being the advance guard of
     the political will and the guarantor of its unity. This
     is especially true of the German folk-groups, which
     have their home in some other people's state.
     Accordingly the Sudeten German Party had formerly also
     organized its political troop, the Voluntary Vigilantes
     (Freiwilliger Selbstschutz), called 'FS' for short.
     This troop was trained essentially in accordance with
     the principles of the SS, so far as these could be used
     in this region at that time. The troop was likewise
     assigned here the special task of protecting the
     homeland, actively, if necessary. It stood up well in
     its first test in this connection, wherever in the fall
     crisis of 1938 it had to assume the protection of the
     homeland, arms in hand.
     
     "After the annexation of the Sudeten Gau, the tasks of
     the FS were transferred essentially to the German
     student organizations as compact troop formations in
     Prague and Brunn, aside from the isolated German
     communities which remained in the second republic. This
     was also natural because many active students from the
     Sudeten Gau were already members of the FS. The student
     organizations then had to endure this test, in common
     with other Germans, during the crisis of March 1939
     ***"
     
                          "*******
     
     "In the early morning hours of March 15, after the
     announcement of the planned entry of German troops in
     various localities, German men had to act in some
     localities in order to assure a quiet course of events,
     either by assumption of the police authority, as for
     instance in Brunn, or by corresponding instruction of
     the police president, etc. In some Czech offices, men
     had likewise, in the early hours of the morning, begun
     to burn valuable archives and the material of political
     files. It was also necessary to take measures here in
     order to prevent foolish destruction ***. How
     significant the many-sided and comprehensive measures
     were considered by the competent German agencies,
     follows from the fact that
     
                                                  [Page 568]
                                                            
     many of the men either on March 15 itself or on the
     following days were admitted into the SS with fitting
     acknowledgment, in part even through the Reichsfuehrer
     SS himself or through SS Group Leader Heydrich. The
     activities and deeds of these men were thereby
     designated as accomplished in the interest of the SS.
     
     "Immediately after the corresponding divisions of the
     SS had marched in with the first columns of the German
     Army and had assumed responsibility in the appropriate
     sectors, the men here placed themselves at once at
     their further disposition and became valuable
     auxiliaries and collaborators. **" (2826-PS)

The background of the German intrigue in Slovakia is
outlined in two British diplomatic despatches (D-571, D-572)
and excerpts from despatches sent by M. Coulondre, the
French Ambassador in Berlin to the French Foreign Office
between 13 March 1939 and 18 March 1939, and published in
the French Yellow Book. (2943-PS)

In Slovakia the long-anticipated crisis came on 10 March. On
that day the Czechoslovakian government dismissed those
members of the Slovak Cabinet who refused to continue
negotiations with Prague, among them Prime Minister Tiso and
Durcansky. Within 24 hours the Nazis seized upon this act of
the Czech government as an excuse for intervention. On the
following day, 11 March, a strange scene was enacted in
Bratislava, the Slovak capital. It is related in the report
of the British Minister in Prague to the British government:

     "Herr Buerckel, Herr Seyss-Inquart and five German
     generals came at about 10 P. M. on the evening of
     Saturday, the 11th March, into a Cabinet meeting in
     progress at Bratislava, and told the Slovak Government
     that they should proclaim the independence of Slovakia.
     When M. Sidor (the Prime Minister) showed hesitation,
     Herr Buerckel took him on one side and explained that
     Herr Hitler had decided to settle the question of
     Czecho-Slovakia definitely. Slovakia ought, therefore,
     to proclaim her independence because Herr Hitler would
     otherwise disinterest himself in her fate. M. Sidor
     thanked Herr Buerckel for this information, but said
     that he must discuss the situation with the Government
     at Prague." (D-571)

Events were now moving rapidly. Durcansky, one of the
dismissed ministers, escaped with Nazi assistance to Vienna,
where the facilities of the German broadcasting station were
placed at his disposal. Arms and ammunition were brought
from German

                                                  [Page 569]
                                                            
Offices in Engerau, across the Danube, into Slovakia where
they were used by the FS and the Hlinka Guard to create
incident and disorder of the type required by the Nazis as
an excuse for military action. The situation at Engerau is
described in an affidavit of Alfred Helmut Naujocks:

     "I, ALFRED HELMUT NAUJOCKS, being first duly sworn,
     depose and state as follows:
     
     "1. From 1934 to 1941 I was a member of the SD. In the
     winter of 1939 I was stationed in Berlin, working in
     Amt VI, Chief Sector South East. Early in March, four
     or five days before Slovakia declared its independence,
     Heydrich, who was chief of the SD, ordered me to report
     to Nebe, the chief of the Reich Criminal Police. Nebe
     had been told by Heydrich to accelerate the production
     of explosives which his department was manufacturing
     for the use of certain Slovak groups. These explosives
     were small tins weighing approximately 500 grams.
     
     "2. As soon as forty or fifty of these explosives had
     been finished, I carried them by automobile to a small
     village called Engerau, just across the border from
     Pressburg in Slovakia. The Security Police had a
     Service Department in this village for the handling of
     SD activities. I turned over the explosives to this
     office and found there a group of Slovaks, including
     Karmasin, Mach, Tuka and Durcansky. In fact, three of
     these people then present later became ministers in the
     new Slovak government. I was informed that the
     explosives were to be turned over to the Hlinka Guards
     across the border in Slovakia and were to be used in
     incidents designed to create the proper atmosphere for
     a revolution.
     
     "3. I stayed in Engerau for a day and a half and then
     returned to Berlin.
     
     "4. One or two weeks later I met in Berlin the same
     Slovak delegation, including Mach, Tuka, Durcansky and
     Karmasin, which I had seen in Engerau. They had flown
     to Berlin for a conference with Goering. Heydrich asked
     me to look after them and to report to him what
     developed during the conference with Goering. I
     reported this conference in detail to Heydrich. It
     dealt principally with the organization of the new
     Slovak state.. My principal recollection of the
     conference is that the Slovaks hardly got a word in
     because Goer ing was talking all the time.
     
     "The facts stated above are true; this declaration is
     made by
     
                                                  [Page 570]
                                                            
     me voluntarily and without compulsion; after reading
     over the statement I have signed and executed the same
     at NURNBERG, Germany this 20th day of November 1945.

                           "(Signed) Alfred Helmut Naujocks"
                            ALFRED HELMUT NAUJOCKS"(3030-PS)
                                                            
At this time the German press and radio launched a violent
campaign against the Czechoslovak government. And,
significantly, an invitation from Berlin was delivered in
Bratislava. Tiso, the dismissed prime minister, was summoned
by Hitler to an audience in the German capital. A plane was
awaiting him in Vienna. (998-PS; 3061-PS; 2943-PS)

M. Occupation of Czechoslovakia Under Threat of Military
Force.

At this point, in the second week of March 1939,
preparations for what the Nazi leaders liked to call the
"liquidation" of Czechoslovakia were progressing with a
gratifying smoothness. The military, diplomatic, and
propaganda machinery of the Nazi conspirators was moving in
close coordination. As during Case Green of the preceding
summer, the Nazi conspirators had invited Hungary to
participate in the attack. It appears from a letter Admiral
Horthy, the Hungarian Regent, wrote to Hitler on 13 March
1939, which was captured in the German Foreign Office files,
that Horthy was flattered by the invitation:
     
     "Your Excellency, "My sincere thanks.
     
     "I can hardly tell you how happy I am because this Head
     Water Region -- I dislike using big words -- is of
     vital importance to the life of Hungary.
     
     "In spite of the fact that our recruits have only been
     serving for 5 weeks we are going into this affair with
     eager enthusiasm. The dispositions have already been
     made. On Thursday, the 16th of this month, a frontier
     incident will take place which will be followed by the
     big blow on Saturday.
     
     "I shall never forget this proof of friendship and your
     Excellency may rely on my unshakeable gratitude at all
     times. "Your devoted friend.
     
     "(Signed) HORTHY "
     Budapest. 13 March 1939." (2816-PS)

From this letter it may be inferred that the Nazi
conspirators had already informed the Hungarian government
of their plans

                                                  [Page 571]
                                                            
for military action against Czechoslovakia. As it turned
out, the timetable was advanced somewhat.

On the diplomatic level Ribbentrop was active. On 13 March,
the same day on which Horthy wrote his letter, Ribbentrop
sent a cautionary telegram to the German minister in Prague,
outlining the course of conduct he should pursue during the
coming diplomatic pressure:

     "Telegram in secret code
     
     "With reference to telephone instructions given by
     Kordt today.
     
     "In case you should get any written communication from
     President HACHA, please do not make any written or
     verbal comments or take any other action on them but
     pass them on here by cipher telegram. Moreover, I must
     ask you and the other members of the Embassy to make a
     point of not being available if the Czech government
     wants to communicate with you during the next few days.
     
                            "(Signed) RIBBENTROP". (2815-PS)

On the afternoon of 13 March, Monsignor Tiso, accompanied by
Durcansky and by Karmasin, the local Nazi- leader, arrived
in Berlin in response to the summons from Hitler. Late that
afternoon Tiso was received by Hitler in his study in the
Reichs Chancellery and was presented with an ultimatum. Two
alternatives were given him: either to declare the
independence of Slovakia or to be left, without German
assistance, to the mercies of Poland and Hungary. This
decision, Hitler said, was not a question of days, but of
hours. The captured German Foreign Office minutes of this
meeting between Hitler and Tiso on 13 March show that in the
inducements Hitler held out to the Slovaks Hitler displayed
his customary disregard for truth:

     "*** Now he [Hitler] had permitted Minister Tiso to
     come here in order to make this question clear in a
     very short time. Germany had no interests east of the
     Carpathian mountains. It was indifferent to him what
     happened there. The question was whether Slovakia
     wished to conduct her own affairs or not. He did not
     wish for anything from Slovakia. He would not pledge
     his people or even a single soldier to something which
     was not in any way desired by the Slovak people. He
     would like to secure final confirmation as to what
     Slovakia really wished. He did not wish that reproaches
     should come from Hungary that he was preserving
     something which did not wish to be preserved at all. He
     took a liberal view of unrest and demonstration in
     general, but in this connection, unrest was only an
     outward indica-
     
                                                  [Page 572]
                                                            
     tion of interior instability. He would not tolerate it,
     and he had for that reason permitted Tiso to come in
     order to hear his decision. It was not a question of
     days, but of hours. He had stated at that time that if
     Slovakia wished to make herself independent he would
     support this endeavor and even guarantee it. He would
     stand by his word so long as Slovakia would make it
     clear that she wished for independence. If she
     hesitated or did not wish to dissolve the connection
     with Prague, he would leave the destiny of Slovakia to
     the mercy of events, for which he was no longer
     responsible. In that case he would only intercede for
     German interests and those did not lie east of the
     Carpathians. Germany had nothing to do with Slovakia.
     She had never belonged to Germany.
     
     "The Fuehrer asked the Reich Foreign Minister if he had
     any remarks to add. The Reich Foreign Minister also
     emphasized for his part the conception that in this
     case a decision was a question of hours not of days. He
     showed the Fuehrer a message he had just received which
     reported Hungarian troop movements on the Slovak
     frontiers. The Fuehrer read this report, mentioned it
     to Tiso, and expressed the hope that Slovakia would
     soon decide clearly for herself." (2802-PS)
     
Those present at this meeting included Ribbentrop, Keitel,
State Secretary Dietrich, State Secretary Keppler, and
Minister of State Meissner.

While in Berlin, the Slovaks also conferred separately with
Ribbentrop and with other high Nazi officials. Ribbentrop
solicitously handed Tiso a copy, already drafted in SIovak,
of the law proclaiming the independence of Slovakia. On the
night of 13 March a German plane was placed at Tiso's
disposal to carry him home. On 14 March, pursuant to the
wishes of the Nazi conspirators, the Diet of Bratislava
proclaimed the independence of Slovakia.

With Slovak extremists, acting at Nazi bidding, in open
revolt against the Czechoslovak government, the Nazi leaders
were now in a position to move against Prague. On the
evening of 14 March, at the suggestion of the German
Legation in Prague M. Hacha, the president of the
Czechoslovak republic, and M. Chvalkovsky, his foreign
minister, arrived in Berlin. The atmosphere in which they
found themselves was hostile. Since the preceding weekend
the Nazi press had accused the Czechs of using violence
against the Slovaks and especially against members of the
German minority and citizens of the Reich. Both press and
radio

                                                  [Page 573]
                                                            
proclaimed that the lives of Germans were in danger, that
the situation was intolerable and that it was necessary to
smother as quickly as possible the focus of trouble which
Prague had become in the heart of Europe.

After midnight on the 15 March, at 1:15 in the morning,
Hacha and Chvalkovsky were ushered into the Reichs
Chancellery. They found there Hitler, von Ribbentrop,
Goering, Keitel, and other high Nazi officials. The captured
German Foreign Office account of this meeting furnishes a
revealing picture of Nazi behaviour and tactics. It must be
remembered that this account of the conference of the night
of March 14-15 comes from German sources, and must be read
as an account biased by its source.

Hacha opened the conference. He was conciliatory, even
humble. He thanked Hitler for receiving him and said he knew
that the fate of Czechoslovakia rested in the Fuehrer's
hands. Hitler replied that he regretted that he had been
forced to ask Hacha to come to Berlin, particularly because
of the great age of the President. (Hacha was then in his
seventies.) But this journey, Hitler told the President,
could be of great advantage to his country, because "it was
only a matter of hours until Germany would intervene." The
conference proceeded as follows, with Hitler speaking:

     "Slovakia was a matter of indifference to him. If
     Slovakia had kept closer to Germany, it would have been
     an obligation to Germany, but he was glad that he did
     not have this obligation now. He had no interests
     whatsoever in the territory east of the Lower
     Carpathian Mts. Last autumn he had not wanted to draw
     the final consequences because he had believed that it
     was possible to live together. But even at that time,
     and also later in his conversations with Chvalkovsky,
     he made it clear that he would ruthlessly smash this
     state if Benes' tendencies were not completely revised.
     Chvalkovsky understood this and asked the Fuehrer to
     have patience. The Fuehrer saw this point of view, but
     the months went by without any change. The new regime
     did not succeed in eliminating the old one
     psychologically. He observed this from the press, mouth
     to mouth propaganda, dismissals of Germans and many
     other things which, to him, were a symbol of the whole
     situation. At first he had not understood this but when
     it became clear to him he drew his conclusions because,
     had the development continued in this way, the
     relations with Czechoslovakia would in a few years have
     become the same as six months ago. Why did
     Czechoslovakia not immediately reduce its army to a
     reasonable size? Such
     
                                                  [Page 574]
                                                            
     an army was a tremendous burden for such a state
     because it only makes sense if it supports the foreign
     political mission of the State. Since Czechoslovakia no
     longer has a foreign political mission, such an army is
     meaningless. He enumerates several examples which
     proved to him that the spirit in the army was not
     changed. This symptom convinced him that the army would
     be a severe political burden in the future. Added to
     this were the inevitable development of economic
     necessities and, further, the protests from national
     groups which could no longer endure life as it was.

     "Last Sunday, therefore, for me the die was cast. I
     summoned the Hungarian envoy and notified him that I
     was withdrawing my [restraining] hands from the
     country. We are now confronted with this fact. He had
     given the order to the German troops top march into
     Czechoslovakia and to incorporate Czechoslovakia into
     the German Reich. He wanted to give Czechoslovakia
     fullest autonomy and a life of her own to a larger
     extent than she had ever enjoyed during Austrian rule.
     Germanys attitude towards Czechoslovakia will be
     determined tomorrow and depends on the attitude of the
     Czechoslovakian military towards the German troops. He
     no longer trusts the government. He believes in the
     honesty and straight forwardness of Hacha and
     Chvalkovsky but doubts that the government will be able
     to assert itself in the entire nation. The German Army
     had already started out today, and at one barracks
     where resistance was offered, it was ruthlessly broken;
     another barracks had given in at the deployment of
     heavy artillery.
     
     "At 6 oclock in the morning the German army would
     invade Czechoslovakia from all sides and the German air
     force would occupy the German air fields. There existed
     two possibilities. The first one would be that the
     invasion of the German troops would lead to a battle.
     In this case the resistance will be broken by all means
     with physical force. The other possibility is that the
     invasion of the German troops occurs in Bearable form.
     In that case it would be easy for the Fuehrer to give
     Czechoslovakia at the new organization of Czech life a
     generous life of her own, autonomy and a certain
     national liberty.

     "We witnessed at the moment a great historical turning-
     point. He would not like to torture and de-nationalize
     the Czechs. He also did not do all that because of
     hatred but in order to protect Germany. If
     Czechoslovakia in the fall of
     
                                                  [Page 575]
                                                            
     last year would not have yielded, the Czech people
     would have been exterminated. Nobody could have
     prevented him from doing that. It was his will that the
     Czech people should live a full national life and he
     believed firmly that a way could be found which would
     make far-reaching concessions to the Czech desires. If
     fighting would break out tomorrow, the pressure would
     result in counter-pressure One would annihilate one
     another and it would then not be possible any more for
     him to give the promised alleviations. Within two days
     the Czech army would not exist any more. Of course,
     Germans would also be killed and this would result in a
     hatred which would force him because of his instinct of
     self-preservation not to grant autonomy any more. The
     world would not move a muscle. He felt pity for the
     Czech people when he read the foreign press. It gave
     him the impression expressed in a German proverb: The
     Moor has done his duty, the Moor may go.

     "That was the state of affairs. There were two courses
     open to Germany, a harder one which did not want any
     concessions and wished in memory of the past that
     Czechoslovakia would be conquered with blood, and
     another one, the attitude of which corresponded with
     the proposals stated above.
     
     "That was the reason why he had asked Hacha to come
     here. This invitation was the last good deed which he
     could offer to the Czech people. If it would come to a
     fight, the bloodshed would also force us to hate. But
     the visit of Hacha could perhaps prevent the extreme.
     Perhaps it would contribute to finding a form of
     construction which would be much more far-reaching for
     Czechoslovakia than she could ever have hoped for in
     old Austria. His aim was only to create a necessary
     security for the German people.
     
     "The hours went past. At 6 oclock the troops would
     march in. He was almost ashamed to say that there was
     one German division to each Czech battalion. The
     military action was no small one, but planned with all
     generosity. He would advise him now to retire with
     Chvalkovsky in order to discuss what should be done."
     (2798-PS)

In reply to this long harangue, Hacha, according to the
German minutes, said he agreed that resistance would be
useless. He expressed doubt that he would be able to issue
the necessary orders to the Czech Army in four hours left
him before the German army crossed the Czech border. He
asked if the object of the invasion was to disarm the Czech
Army. If so, that might be arranged. Hitler replied that his
decision was final, that it

                                                  [Page 576]
                                                            
was well known what a decision of the Fuehrer meant. He
turned to the circle of Nazi conspirators surrounding him,
which included Goering, Ribbentrop, and Keitel, for their
support. The only possibility of disarming the Czech Army,
Hitler said, was by the intervention of the German Army. At
this point Hacha and Chvalkovsky retired from the room.
(2798-PS)

A dispatch from the British Ambassador, Sir Nevile
Henderson, published in the British Blue Book, describes a
conversation with Goering in which the events of this early
morning meeting are set forth (2861-PS). Dispatch No. 77 in
the French Yellow Book from M. Coulondre, the French
Ambassador, gives another well-informed version of this same
midnight meeting (2943-PS). The following account of the
remainder of this meeting is drawn from these two sources,
as well as from the captured German minutes (2787-PS). (Cf.
also 061-PS.)

When President Hacha left the conference room in the Reichs
Chancellery, he was in such a state of exhaustion that he
needed medical attention from a physician who was on hand
for that purpose. It appears that he was given an injection
to sustain him during the ordeal. When the two Czechs
returned to the room the Nazi conspirators again told them
of the power and invincibility of the Wehrmacht. They
reminded him that in three hours, at 6 in the morning, the
German Army would cross the border. Goering boasted of what
the German Wehrmacht would do if Czech forces resisted the
invading Germans. If German lives were lost, Goering said,
his Luftwaffe would blast half Prague into ruins in two
hours. And that, Goering said, would be only the beginning.
Under this threat of imminent and merciless attack by land
and air, the President of Czechoslovakia at 4:30 in the
morning signed the document with which the Nazi conspirators
confronted him. This Declaration of 15 March 1939 reads:

     "the President of the Czechoslovak State *** entrusts
     with entire confidence the destiny of the Czech people
     and the Czech country to the hands of the Fuehrer of
     the German Reich." (TC-49)
     
While the Nazi officials were threatening and intimidating
the representatives of the Czech government, the Wehrmacht
had in some areas already crossed the Czech border. The
Czech industrial centres of Maehrisch-Ostrau and Witkowitz,
close to the Silesian and Polish borders, were occupied by
German troops 'and SS units during the early evening of 14
March. An article in the German military magazine, the
Wehrmacht, of 29 March 1939 describes the movement of German
troops during the occupation:

     "From Silesia, Saxony and Northern Bavaria and the Ost-
     
                                                  [Page 577]
                                                            
     mark, seven Army Corps moved on the morning of March 15
     past the former Czech border. On the evening of March
     14 parts of the VIII Army Corps and the SS
     Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler, under the command of the
     Commanding General of the VIII Army Corps, had already
     occupied the industrial centers of Witkowitz and
     Maehrisch Ostrau.

     "The troops of Army Group 3 under the command of
     General of Infantry Blaskowitz were to take Bohemia
     under their protection, while the troops of Army Group
     5 under General of Inf. List were given the same
     mission for Moravia.
     
     "For this purpose parts of the Air Force (particularly
     reconnaissance planes and antiaircraft artillery) as
     well as parts of the SS Verfuegungstruppen were placed
     at the disposal of the two army groups.
     
     "On the evening of March 14, the march order was
     received by the troops. On March 15 at 6 A. M. the
     columns moved past the border and then moved on with
     utmost precision. ***" (3571-PS)

(Other descriptions of the military movements of 14 and 15
March are contained in documents 2860-PS, 3618-PS, and 3619-
PS.)

At dawn on 15 March German troops poured into Czechoslovakia
from all sides. Hitler issued an order of the day to the
Armed Forces and a proclamation to the German people, which
stated succinctly, "Czechoslovakia has ceased to exist." (TC-
50)

On the following day, in direct contravention of Article 81
of the Treaty of Versailles, Czechoslovakia was formally
incorporated into the German Reich under the name of the
"Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia." This decree, signed
in Prague on 16 March 1939 by Hitler, Lammers, Frick, and
Ribbentrop, commenced with this declaration:

     "The Bohemian-Moravian countries belonged for a
     millennium to the living space of the German people."
     (TC-51)

The remainder of the decree sets forth in bleak detail the
extent to which Czechoslovakia henceforth was to be
subjugated to Germany. A German Protector was to be
appointed by the Fuehrer for the so-called Protectorate. The
German Government assumed charge of their foreign affairs
and of their customs and their excise. It was specified that
German garrisons and military establishments would be
maintained in the Protectorate. (TC-51)

At the same time the extremist leaders in Slovakia, who at
German insistence had done so much to undermine the Czech
State, found that the independence of their week-old state
was in fact qualified. A Treaty of Protection between
Slovakia and

                                                  [Page 578]
                                                            
the Reich was signed in Vienna on 18 March and by Ribbentrop
in Berlin on 23 March (1439-PS). A secret protocol to this
treaty was also signed in Berlin on 23 March by Ribbentrop
for Germany, and by Tuka and Durcansky for Slovakia (2793-
PS). The first four articles of this treaty provide:

     "The German Government and the Slovak Government have
     agreed, after the Slovak State has placed itself under
     the protection of the German Reich, to regulate by
     treaty the consequences resulting from this fact. For
     this purpose the undersigned representatives of the two
     governments have agreed on the following provisions.
     
     "ARTICLE 1. The German Reich undertakes to protect the
     political independence of the State of Slovakia and the
     integrity of its territory.
     
     "ARTICLE 2. For the purpose of making effective the
     protection undertaken by the German Reich, the German
     armed forces shall have the right, at all time, to
     construct military installations and to keep them
     garrisoned in the strength they deem necessary, in an
     area delimited on its western side by the frontiers of
     the State of Slovakia and on its eastern side by a line
     formed by the eastern rims of the Lower Carpathians,
     the White Carpathians and the Javornik Mountains.
     
     "The Government of Slovakia will take the necessary
     steps to assure that the land required for these
     installations shall be conveyed to the German armed
     forces. Furthermore the Government of Slovakia will
     agree to grant exemption from custom duties for imports
     from the Reich for the maintenance of the German troops
     and the supply of military installations.
     
     "Military sovereignty will be assumed by the German
     armed forces in the zone described in the first
     paragraph of this article.
     
     "German citizens who, on the basis of private
     employment contracts, are engaged in the construction
     of military installations in the designated zone shall
     be subject to German jurisdiction.
     
     "ARTICLE 3. The Government of Slovakia will organize
     its military forces in close agreement with German
     armed forces.
     
     "ARTICLE 4. In accordance with the relationship of
     protection agreed upon, the Government of Slovakia will
     at all times conduct its foreign affairs in close
     agreement with the German Government." (1439-PS)
     
                                                  [Page 579]
     
The secret protocol provided for close economic and
financial collaboration between Germany and Slovakia.
Mineral resources and subsoil rights were placed at the
disposal of the German government. Article I, Paragraph 3,
provided:
     
     "(3) Investigation, development and utilization of the
     Slovak natural resources. In this respect the basic
     principle is that insofar as they are needed to meet
     Slovakias own requirements, they should be placed in
     first line at Germanys disposal. The entire soil
     research (Bodenforschung) will be placed under the
     Reich agency for soil research (Reichsstelle fuer
     Bodenforschung). The government of the Slovak State
     will soon start an investigation to determine whether
     the present owners of concessions and privileges have
     fulfilled the industrial obligations prescribed by law
     and it will cancel concessions and privileges in cases
     where these duties have been neglected. (2793-PS)

In their private conversations the Nazi conspirators gave
abundant evidence that they considered Slovakia a puppet
State, in effect a German possession. A memorandum of
information given by Hitler to von Brauchitisch on 25 March 1939
deals in the main with problems arising from recently
occupied Bohemia and Moravia and Slovakia. It states in
part:

     "Col. Gen. Keitel shall inform Slovak Government via
     Foreign Office that it would not be allowed to keep of
     garrison armed Slovak units (Hlinka Guards) on this
     side of the border formed by the River Waag. They shall
     be transferred to the new Slovak territory. Hlinka
     Guards should be disarmed.
     
     "Slovak shall be requested via Foreign Office to
     deliver to us against payment any arms we want and
     which are still kept in Slovakia. This request is to be
     based upon agreement made between Army and Czech
     troops. For this payment these millions should be used
     which we will pour anyhow into Slovakia.
     
     "Czech Protectorate.
     
     "H. Gr. [translators note: probably Army groups.] shall
     be asked again whether the request shall be repeated
     again for the delivery of all arms within a stated time
     limit and under the threat of severe penalties.
     
     "We take all war material of former Czechoslovakia
     without paying for it. The guns bought by contract
     before 15 February though shall be paid for.
     
     "Bohemia-Moravia have to make annual contributions to
     the German treasury. Their amount shall be fixed on the
     basis
     
                                                  [Page 580]
                                                            
     of the expenses earmarked formerly for the Czech Army."
     (R-100)

The German conquest of Czechoslovakia in direct
contravention of the Munich agreement was the occasion for
formal protests from the British (TC-52) and French (TC-53)
governments, both dated 17 March 1939. On the same day, 17
March 1939, the Acting Secretary of State of the United
States issued a statement which read in part as follows:

     "***This Government, founded upon and dedicated to the
     principles of human liberty and of democracy, cannot
     refrain from making known this country's condemnation
     of the acts which have resulted in the temporary
     extinguishment of the liberties of a free and
     independent people with whom, from the day when the
     Republic of Czechoslovakia attained its independence,
     the people of the United States have maintained
     specially close and friendly relations." (2862-PS)

N. The Importance of Czechoslovakia in Future Aggressions.

With Czechoslovakia in German hands, the Nazi conspirators
had accomplished the program they had set for themselves in
the meeting in Berlin on 5 November 1937 (386-PS). This
program of conquest had been intended to shorten Germany's
frontiers, to increase its industrial and food reserves, and
to place it in a position, both industrially and
strategically, from which the Nazis could launch more
ambitious and more devastating campaigns of aggression. In
less than a year and a half this program had beer carried
through to the satisfaction of the Nazi leaders.

Of all the Nazi conspirators perhaps Goering was the most
aware of the economic and strategic advantages which would
accrue from the possession of Czechoslovakia. The Top Secret
minutes of a conference with Goering in the Air Ministry,
held on 14 October 1938 -- just two weeks after the
occupation of the Sudetenlandreports a discussion of
economic problems. At this date Goering's remarks were
somewhat prophetic:

     "The Sudetenland has to be exploited with all the
     means. General Field Marshal Goering counts upon a
     complete industrial assimilation of the Slovakia.
     Czechia and Slovakia would become German dominions.
     Everything possible must be taken out. The Oder-Danube
     Canal has to be speeded up. Searches for oil and ore
     have to be conducted in Slovakia, notably by State
     Secretary Keppler." (1301-PS, Item 10)

In the summer of 1939, after the incorporation of Bohemia
and Moravia into the Reich, Goering again revealed the great
interest of the Nazi leaders in the Czechoslovak economic
potential. The

                                                  [Page 581]
                                                            
minutes dated Berlin, 27 July 1939, and signed Mueller, of a
conference two days earlier between Goering and a group of
officials from the OKW and from other agencies of the German
government concerned with war production, read as follows:

     "1. In a rather long statement the Field Marshal explained
     that the incorporation of Bohemia and Moravia into the
     German economy had taken place, among other reasons, to
     increase the German war potential by exploitation of the
     industry there. Letters, such as the decree of the Reich
     Minister for Economics -- S 10 402/39 of 10 July 1939 -- as
     well as -a letter with similar meaning to the JUNKERS firm,
     which might possibly lower the kind and extent of the
     armament measures in the Protectorate, are contrary to this
     principle. If it is necessary to issue such directives, this
     should be done only with his consent. In any case, he
     insists, in agreement with the directive by Hitler, that the
     war potential of the Protectorate is definitely to be
     exploited in part or in full and is to be directed towards
     mobilization as soon as possible.***" (R-133)

In addition to strengthening the Nazi-economic potential for
war, the conquest of Czechoslovakia provided the Nazis with
new bases from which to wage their next war of aggression,
the attack on Poland. It will be recalled that the minutes
of the conference between Goering and a pro-Nazi Slovak
delegation in the winter of 1938-39 state Goering's
conclusions as follows:

     "Air bases in Slovakia are of great importance for the
     German Air Force for use against the East." (2801-PS)

In a conference between Goering, Mussolini, and Ciano on 15
April 1939, one month after the conquest of Czechoslovakia,
Goering told his junior partners in the Axis of the progress
of German preparations for war. He compared the strength of
Germany with the strength of England and France. He
mentioned the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in these
words:

     "However, the heavy armament of Czechoslovakia shows,
     in any case, how dangerous this country could have
     been, even after Munich, in the event of a serious
     conflict. Because of Germany's action the situation of
     both Axis countries was ameliorated, among other
     reasons because of the economic possibilities which
     result from the transfer to Germany of the great
     production capacity (armament potential) of
     Czechoslovakia. That contributes toward a considerable
     strengthening of the axis against the Western powers.
     Furthermore, Germany now need not keep ready a single
     division for protection against that country in case of
     a big-
     
                                                  [Page 582]
                                                            
     ger conflict. This, too, is an advantage by which both
     axis countries will, in the last analysis, benefit."
     
                           *******
     
     "** the action taken by Germany in Czechoslovakia is to
     be viewed as an advantage for the axis in case Poland
     should finally join the enemies of the axis powers.
     Germany could then attack this country from 2 flanks
     and would be within only 25 minutes flying distance
     from the new Polish industrial center which had been
     moved further into the interior of the country, nearer
     to the other Polish industrial districts, because of
     its proximity to the border. Now by the turn of events
     it is located again in the proximity of the border."
     (1874-PS)

The absorption of the Sudetenland, effected on 1 October
1938, in practical effect destroyed Czechoslovakia as a
military power. The final conquest of Czechoslovakia came on
15 March 1939. This conquest had been the intention and aim
of the Nazi leaders during the preparations for Case Green
in the summer of 1938, and had been forestalled only by the
Munich agreement. With Czechoslovakia, less than six months
after the Munich agreement, securely in German hands, the
Nazi conspirators had achieved their objective. Bohemia and
Moravia were incorporated into the Reich, shortening German
frontiers and adding the Czech manufacturing plant to the
German war potential. The puppet state of Slovakia,
conceived in Berlin and independent only in name, had been
set up to the east of Moravia. In this state, which
outflanked Poland to the south, the Nazi army, under the
terms of the treaty drafted by Ribbentrop, took upon itself
the establishment of bases and extensive military
installations. From this state in September 1939 units of
the German Army did, in fact, carry out the attack on
Poland.

Logic and premeditation are patent in each step of the
German aggression. Each conquest of the Nazi conspirators
was deliberately planned as a stepping stone to new and more
ambitious aggression. The words of Hitler in the conference
in the Reichs Chancellery on 23 May 1939, when he was
planning the Polish campaign, are significant:

     "The period which lies behind us has indeed been put to
     good use. All measures have been taken in the correct
     sequence and in harmony with our aims." (L-79)

It is appropriate to refer to two other speeches of the Nazi
leaders. In his lecture at Munich on 7 November 1943 Jodl
spoke as follows:
     
     "The bloodless solution of the Czech conflict in the
     autumn
     
                                                  [Page 583]
                                                            
     of 1938 and spring of 1939 and the annexation of
     Slovakia rounded off the territory of Greater Germany
     in such a way that it now became possible to consider
     the Polish problem on the basis of more or less
     favourable strategic premises." (L-172)

In the speech to his military commanders on 23 November
1939, Hitler described the process by which he had rebuilt
the military power of the Reich:

     "The next step was Bohemia, Moravia and Poland. This
     step also was not possible to accomplish in one
     campaign. First of all, the western fortifications had
     to be finished. It was not possible to reach the goal
     in one effort. It was clear to me from the first moment
     that I could not be satisfied with the Sudeten-German
     territory. That was only a partial solution. The
     decision to march into Bohemia was made. Then followed
     the erection of the Protectorate and with that the
     basis for the action against Poland was laid." (789-PS)

           LEGAL REFERENCES AND LIST OF DOCUMENTS
            RELATING TO THE EXECUTION OF THE PLAN
                  TO INVADE CZECHOSLOVAKIA
                              

Charter of the International Military Tribunal,
Article 6 (a).

International Military Tribunal, Indictment
Number 1, Sections IV (F) 3 (a, c); V.

[Note: A single asterisk (*) before a document indicates
that the document was received in evidence at the Nurnberg
trial. A double asterisk (**) before a document number
indicates that the document was referred to during the trial
but was not formally received in evidence, for the reason
given in parentheses following the description of the
document. The USA series number, given in parentheses
following the description of the document, is the official
exhibit number assigned by the court.]

                                                  [Page 584]

*375-PS Case Green with wider implications, report of 
Intelligence Division, Luftwaffe General Staff, 25 August 1938. 
(USA 84). Vol. III Pg. 280

*386-PS; Notes on a conference with
Hitler in the Reich Chancellery, Berlin, 6 November 1937,
signed by Hitler's adjutant, Hossbach, and dated 10 November
1937. (USA 25) Vol. III Pg.295

*388-PS; File of papers on Case Green (the plan for the attack on 
Czechoslovakia), kept by Schmundt, Hitlers adjutant, April-October 
1938. (USA 26) Vol. III Pg.305

*789-PS; Speech of the Fuehrer at a
conference, 23 November 1939, to which all Supreme
Commanders were ordered. (USA 23) Vol. III Pg.572

*998-PS; "German Crimes Against
Czechoslovakia". Excerpts from Czechoslovak Official Report
for the prosecution and trial of the German Major War
Criminals by the International Military Tribunal established
according to Agreement of four Great Powers of 8 August
1945. (USA 91) Vol. III Pg.656

                                                  [Page 585]
                                                            
*1301-PS; File relating to financing
of armament including minutes of conference with Goering at
the Air Ministry, 14 October 1938, concerning acceleration
of rearmament. (USA 123) 868

*1439-PS; Treaty of Protection
between Slovakia and the Reich, signed in Vienna 18 March
and in Berlin 23 March 1939. 1939 Reichsgesetzblatt, Part I,
p. 606. (GB 135) Vol. IV Pg.18

*1536-PS; Report of Luftwaffe General
Staff, Intelligence Division, 12 August 1938, on
reconnaissance by German Air Attache at Prague for airfield
in Czechoslovakia, enclosing report of the Air Attache,
Major Moericke, 4 August 1938. (USA 83) Vol. IV Pg.96

*1780-PS; Excerpts from diary kept by
General Jodl, January 1937 to August 1939. (USA 72) Vol. IV
Pg.360

*1874-PS; Notes on conference between
Goering, Mussolini and Ciano, 15 April 1939. (USA 125) Vol.
IV Pg.518

2358-PS; Speech by Hitler in
Sportspalast, Berlin, 26 September 1938, from Voelkischer
Beobachter,. Munich Edition, 27 September 1938. Vol. IV
Pg.1100

*2360-PS; Speech by Hitler before
Reichstag, 30 January 1939, from Voelkischer Beobachter,
Munich Edition, 31 January 1939. (GB 134) Vol. IV Pg.1101

*2786-PS Letter from Ribbentrop to
Keitel, 4 March 1938. (USA 81) Vol. V Pg. 419

*2788-PS; Notes of conference in the
Foreign Office between Ribbentrop, Konrad Henlein, K. H. E
rank and others on program for Sudeten agitation, 29 March
1938. (USA 95) Vol. V Pg.422

                                                  [Page 586]
                                                            
*2789-PS; Letter from Konrad Henlein
to Ribbentrop, 17 March 1938. (USA 94) Vol. V Pg.424

*2790-PS; German Foreign Office
minutes of conference between Hitler, Ribbentrop, Tuca and
Karmasin, 12 February   1939. (USA 110) Vol. V Pg.425

*2791-PS; German Foreign Office
minutes of conversation between Ribbentrop and Attolico, the
Italian Ambassador, 23 August  1938. (USA 86) Vol. V Pg.426

*2792-PS; German Foreign Office
minutes of conversations between Ribbentrop and Attolico, 27
August  1938 and 2 September 1938. (USA 87) Vol. V Pg.426

*2793-PS; Confidential protocol
concerning economic and financial collaboration between the
German Reich and State of Slovakia. (USA 120) Vol. V Pg.427

*2794; German Foreign Office
memorandum on payments to Karmasin, 29 November 1939. (USA
108) Vol. V Pg.429

*2795-PS; Handwritten postscript by
Ribbentrop to German Foreign Office notes of Ribbentrop-
Chvalkovsky conversation, 21 January 1939. (USA 106) Vol. V
Pg.430

*2796-PS; German Foreign Office notes
on conversations between Hitler, Ribbentrop and von
Weizsacker and the Hungarian Ministers Imredy and von Kanya,
23 August  1938. (USA 88) Vol. V Pg.430

*2797-PS; German Foreign Office
memorandum of conversation between Ribbentrop and von
Kanya,25 August 1938. (USA 89) Vol. V Pg.432

                                                  [Page 587]
                                                            
*2798-PS; German Foreign Office
minutes of the meeting between Hitler and President Hacha of
Czechoslovakia, 15 March 1939. (USA 118; GB 5) Vol. V Pg.433

*2800-PS; German Foreign Office notes
of a conversation with Attolico, the Italian Ambassador, 18
July 1938. (USA 85) Vol. V Pg.442

*2801-PS; Minutes of conversation
between Goering and Slovak Minister Durkansky (probably late
fall or early winter 1938-39). (USA 109) Vol. V Pg.442

*2802-PS; German Foreign Office notes
of conference on 13 March 1939 between Hitler and Monsignor
Tiso, Prime Minister of Slovakia. (USA 117) Vol. V Pg.442

*2815-PS; Telegram from Ribbentrop to
the German Minister in Prague, 13 March 1939. (USA 116) Vol.
V Pg.443

*2816-PS; Letter from Horthy, the
Hungarian Regent, to Hitler, dated Budapest, 13 March 1939.
(USA 115) Vol. V Pg.451

*2826-PS; The SS on 15 March 1939, an
article by SS-Gruppenfuehrer K. H. Frank, in magazine
Bohemia and Moravia, May 1941, p. 179., (USA 111) Vol. V
Pg.472

*2853-PS; Telegram from German
Foreign Office to German Legation in Prague, 24 September
1938. (USA 100) Vol. V Pg.521

*2854-PS; Telegram from German
Foreign Office to German Legation in Prague, 17 September 1938. (USA
99) Vol. V Pg.521

*2855-PS; Telegram from German
Foreign Office to German Legation in Prague, 16 September
1938. (USA 98) Vol. V Pg.522

[Page 588]

*2856-PS; Telegram from German
Foreign Office to German Legation in Prague, 24 September
1938. (USA 101) Vol. V Pg.522

*2858; Telegram from German Foreign
Office to German Legation in Prague, 19 September 1938. (USA
97) Vol. V Pg.523

*2859-PS; Telegram from German
Legation, Prague, to Consulate at Bratislava, 22 November
1938. (USA 107) Vol. V Pg.523

*2860-PS; Document No. 10 in the
British Blue Book. Speech by Lord Halifax in the House of
Lords, 20 March 1939. (USA 119) Vol. V Pg.523

*2861-PS; Document No. 12 in the
British Blue Book. Dispatch from Sir Nevile Henderson to
British Foreign Office, 28 May 1939, relating details of
conversation with Goering. (USA 119) Vol. V Pg.524

*2862-PS; Document No. 126 in Peace
and War. Statement by Acting Secretary of State Sumner
Welles, 17 March 1939. (USA 122) Vol. V Pg.525

**2863-PS; Lecture by Konrad Henlein,
delivered in Vienna, 4 March 1941. Quoted in "Four Fighting
Years", Czechoslovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs, London,
1943, pp. 29-30. (Referred to but not offered in evidence.)
(USA 92) Vol. V Pg.525

2906-PS; German Foreign Office
minutes of meeting between Hitler and Chvalkovsky, the
Czechoslovak Foreign Minister, 21 January 1939. Vol. V
Pg.571

                                                  [Page 589]
                                                            

*2943-PS; Documents Numbers 65, 57,
62, 65, 66, 73, 77 and 79 in the French Yellow Book.
excerpts from eight dispatches from M. Coulondre, the French
Ambassador in Berlin, to the French Foreign Office, between
13 March 1939 and 18 March 1939. (USA 114) Vol. V Pg.608

**3029-PS; Affidavit of Alfred
Naujocks, 20 November 1945, on activities of the SD along
the Czechoslovak border during September 1938. (USA 103)
(Objection to admission in evidence upheld.) Vol. V Pg.738

3030-PS; Affidavit of Alfred
Naujocks, 20 November 1945, on relationship between the SD
and pro-Nazi Slovak groups in March 1939. Vol. V Pg.739

**3036-PS; Affidavit of Gottlob
Berger on the composition and activity of the Henlein Free
Corps in September 1938. (Objection to admission in evidence
upheld.) (USA 102) Vol. V Pg.742

3037-PS; Affidavit of Fritz
Wiedemann, 121 January 1945, on the meeting between Hitler
and his principal advisers in Reichs Chancellery on 28 May
1938. Vol. V Pg.743

*3054-PS; "The Nazi Plan", script of
a motion picture composed of captured German film. (USA 167)
Vol. V Pg.801

*3059-PS; German Foreign Office
memorandum, 19 August 1938, on payments to Henlein's Sudeten
German Party between 1935 and 1938. (USA 96) Vol. V Pg.855

*3060-PS; Dispatch from German
Minister in Prague to Foreign Office in Berlin about policy
arrangements with Henlein, 16 March 1938. (USA 98) Vol. V
Pg.856

                                                  [Page 590]

*3061-PS; Supplement No. 2 to the
Official Czechoslovak Report entitled "German Crimes Against
Czechoslovakia" (document 998-PS). (USA 126) Vol. V Pg.857

3571-PS; Report of US Military
Attache, Berlin, including an article in magazine Wehrmacht,
29 March 1939, describing occupation of Bohemia and Moravia
by German troops. Vol. VI Pg.264

3618-PS; Report of US Military
Attache in Berlin, 20 March 1939, Concerning occupation of
Czechoslovakia. Vol. VI Pg.389

3619-PS; Report of US Military
Attache in Berlin, 19 April 1939, concerning occupation of
Czechoslovakia. Vol. VI Pg.398

3638-PS; Memorandum of Ribbentrop, 1
October 1938, concerning his conversation with Ciano about
the Polish demands made on Czechoslovakia. Vol. VI Pg.400

*3842-PS; Statement of Fritz
Mundhenke, 7 March 1946, concerning the activities of
Kaltenbrunner and SS in preparation for occupation of
Czechoslovakia. (USA 805) Vol. VI Pg.778

*C-2; Examples of violations of
International Law and proposed counter propaganda, issued by
OKW, 1 October 1938. (USA 90) Vol. VI Pg.799

*C-136; OKW Order on preparations for
war, October 21 1938, signed by Hitler and initialled by
Keitel. (USA 104) Vol. VI Pg.947

*C-138; Supplement of 17 December
1938, signed by Keitel, to 21 October Order of the OKW. (USA
105) Vol. VI Pg.950

                                                  [Page 591]
                                                            
*C-175; OKW Directive for Unified
Preparation for War 1937-1938, with covering letter from von
Blomberg, 24 June 1937. (USA 69) Vol. VI Pg.1006

*D-571; Official report of British
Minister in Prague to Viscount Halifax, 21 March 1939. (USA
112) Vol. VII Pg.88

*D-572; Dispatch from Mr. Pares,
British Consul in Bratislava to Mr. Newton, 20 March 1939,
describing German support of Slovak separatists. (USA 113)
Vol. VII Pg.90

*L-79; Minutes of conference, 23 May
1939, "Indoctrination on the political situation and future
aims". (USA 27) Vol. VII Pg.847

*L-179; "The Strategic Position at
the Beginning of the 5th Year of War", a lecture delivered
by Jodl on 7 November 1943 at Munich to Reich and
Gauleiters. (USA 34) Vol. VII Pg.920

*R-100; Minutes of instructions given
by Hitler to General von Brauchitsch on 25 March 1939. (USA 121)
Vol. VIII Pg.83

*R-133; Notes on conference with
Goering in Westerland on 25 July 1939, signed Mueller, dated
Berlin 27 July 1939. (USA 124) Vol. VIII Pg.202

*R-150; Extracts from Luftwaffe Group
Command Three Study on Instruction for Deployment and Combat
"Case Red", 2 June 1938. (USA 82) Vol. VIII Pg.268

*TC-14; Arbitration Treaty between
Germany and Czechoslovakia, signed at Locarno, 10 October
1925. (GB 14) Vol. VIII Pg.325

*TC-23; Agreement between Germany,
the United Kingdom, France and Italy, 29 September 1938. (GB
23) Vol. VIII Pg.370
                                                  [Page 592]

*TC-27; German assurances to
Czechoslovakia, 11 March 1938 and 12 March 1938, as reported
by M. Masaryk, the Czechoslovak Minister to London to
Viscount Halifax. (GB 21) Vol. VIII Pg.377

*TC-49; Agreement with
Czechoslovakia, 15 March 1939, signed by Hitler, von
Ribbentrop, Hacha and Chvalkovsky, from Documents of German
Politics, Part VII, pp. 498499. (GB 6) Vol. VIII Pg.402

*TC-50; Proclamation of the Fuehrer
to the German people and Order of the Fuehrer to the
Wehrmacht, 15 March 1939, from Documents of German Politics,
Part VII, pp. 499-501. (GB 7) Vol. VIII Pg.402

*TC-51; Decree establishing the
Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, 16 March 1939. (GB 8)
Vol. VIII Pg.404

*TC-52; Formal British protest
against the annexation of Czechoslovakia in violation of the
Munich Agreement, 17 March 1939. (GB 9) Vol. VIII Pg.407

*TC-53; Formal French protest against
the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia in violation of the
Munich Agreement, 17 March 1939. (GB 10) Vol. VIII Pg.407

Affidavit H; Affidavit of Franz
Halder, 22 November 1945. Vol. VIII Pg.643

**Chart No. 11; Aggressive Action
1938-39. (Enlargement displayed to Tribunal.). Vol. VIII
Pg.780

**Chart No. 12; German Aggression.
(Enlargement displayed to Tribunal.) Vol. VIII Pg.781

**Chart No. 13.; Violations of
Treaties, Agreements and Assurances. (Enlargement displayed
to Tribunal.) Vol. VIII Pg. 782


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