Protectorate of Moravia and Bohemia

The protectorate of Moravia and Bohemia

The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was formed when Nazi Germany concluded its annexation of Czechoslovakia. In the course of the annexation the Sudetenland was absorbed by Germany, while Slovakia obtained nominal independence as a German puppet state. Bohemia and Moravia were majority ethnically Czech territories and administered directly by the Germans as occupied territory beginning on March 15, 1939. The Czech industry and people were turned quickly towards Germany's war production needs.

The occupation of Czechoslovakia was initially relatively benign, except for among Jews and other persecuted groups. However in the fall of 1939 Czechs under occupation demonstrated against their occupation. The Germans quickly moved to suppress this action. After the death of one of the protesters two weeks later demonstrations broke out anew. Germany cracked down immediately and arrested an estimated 1800 people. Public institutions, such as universities were closed. Leaders of the demonstrations were executed. Hundreds of supporters were sent to concentration camps.

On September 27, 1941 SS Officer Reinhard Heydrich was appointed to govern the territory. Even harsher repression began immediately. Mass arrests and executions became more common and a ghetto was established for the Jews of the territory. On June 4, 1942 Heydrich was assassinated, which resulted in reprisals. The crackdown was relatively effective and the populace remained quiet for nearly the rest of the war.

Czech losses resulting from political persecution and deaths in concentration camps totaled between 36,000 and 55,000. The Jewish population of Bohemia and Moravia (118,000 according to the 1930 census) was virtually annihilated. Many Jews emigrated after 1939; more than 70,000 were killed; 8,000 survived at Terezín. Several thousand Jews managed to live in freedom or in hiding throughout the occupation.

Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia in In the Presence of Mine Enemies

The Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was one of several territories formally annexed to the Greater German Reich in the wake of World War II. With the ascension of reformer Heinz Buckliger as Führer, the Protectorate became one of several territories pushing for greater sovereignty and independence. Their most prominent spokesman was Václav Havel.

In 2011, Prague saw a demonstration against the annexation and incorporation of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia into the Reich over 70 years before. Flags of the former Republic of Czechoslovakia were displayed.

Horst Witzleben reported that because the demonstration was peaceful, it was not broken up.

The Protectorate denounced the SS-backed putsch against Buckliger, and protested by seceding from theReich. While the failure of the putsch prevented the implimentation of this plan, the Protectorate overwhelming voted for reformers in the Reichstag Elections held the next month. It also held a referendum on independence, with more than 70% of the population in favor of the restoration of Czechoslovakia. The Protectorate signaled its intent to make independence an issue in the Reichstag.

The life in  the protectorate

The economic life in the protectorate was heavily impaired. Not only the separation of Slovakia, but in particular that of the Sudetenland caused unexpected economic problems. Many major industrial companies were concentrated in the German border regions, and the inland areas were suddenly not self-sufficient. If we add the fact that all inhabitants of Czech nationality were displaced from the German territories, who then despite all kinds of help hardly found any work in the rest of the country, and considering the initial signs of war, we can depict a situation that was anything but good.

The “Aryanization” (seizure) of all Jewish assets was also an important factor. The Jewish ethnic group played an indispensable role in pre-war Czechoslovakia. According to some estimates, there were several hundred thousand Jews living in Czechoslovakia, partially assimilated, who played important roles in culture and science as well as in the economic life of the country.

Protectorate administrators were appointed to major industrial companies, and the actual owners, if they were not sent directly to concentration camps, were deprived of any decision-making powers.

All production facilities in the protectorate were re-oriented to military production, or made to support the war-waging Germany. The developed arms industry of the pre-war period was intensified even further, textile and shoemaking firms participated massively in producing military uniforms for the Wehrmacht, and agricultural and food production was also directed to meet the needs of the occupying superpower. Due to these factors, the local population experienced a logical lack of basic consumer goods and foods. Therefore, rationing was introduced as early as in October 1939. The rations were gradually reduced during the years of war. Due to the absolute lack of necessities, mainly in the cities, the black market developed significantly. The urban population, which was hardest-hit by the consequences of war, was often totally dependent on aid from relatives in the countryside, who were at least able to maintain moderate self-sufficiency.

Although the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was saved from the worst war atrocities as no battles took place on its territory except for during the end phase of the war, the situation in the country was far from being normal, and the impact on the economic life was also destructive.

Germans in the country were automatically citizens of the Third Reich while Czechs had their own government, though the Nazis took over the ministries of defense, foreign affairs, communications and customs. Clearly, the Third Reich was in control. Former democratic Czechoslovak president Eduard Beneš became the leader of the Czech government-in-exile, based in London. Slovakia became independent, supported by Nazi Germany, with Catholic priest Jozef Tiso as leader of a population that was 85 percent Slovak. Its political party was the Nazi-aligned Hlinka’s Slovak People’s Party – Party of Slovak National Unity as other political groupings were banned.

Suicides, shop windows and the letter “V”

Rights from www.ceskatelevize.cz

In response to the takeover, many chose suicide as a way out. Czechs had to possess new identification documents proclaiming they were not Roma or Jewish and had to show the authorities a family tree that went back to their grandparents’ era. Signs asserted that shops were Aryan; black-outs and rationing were the norm. People were trapped; no one could leave the Protectorate without a visa. Huge swastika-ridden flags hung from buildings as SS guards, ominously dressed in black, surveyed the streets. German officers and soldiers rode in cars decorated with swastikas. Hitler Youth parades were a common sight. After Czechs painted the letter “V” for victory on buildings during a black-out as a show of resistance, the Nazis began to utilize the ”V” symbol for themselves. Soon, a huge “V” was created on the cobblestones of Old Town Square.  Secondary schools received pro-Nazi textooks. Many people were executed; the relatives of the deceased had to cover the costs of the execution and the posters announcing it.

The press, film and artists against the regime

The press became propaganda for the Reich with books, music – such as jazz – and dramas also banned, but Czech films, cheerful comedies that served as a popular form of escape, were permitted as long as they were not nationalistic and had German subtitles. Reich Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels even had the largest sound stage in Europe constructed in Prague. Political jokes were forbidden as was listening to a foreign radio station. Official radio broadcasts consisted of war news and concerts. There were illegal magazines in existence, too.
Many Czech artists emigrated. Jewish poet Jiří Orten became a victim of the regime when a German ambulance ran him over on September 1, 1940. Writer Vladislav Vančura was executed for his anti-Nazi views. Cubist painter and author Josef Čapek died in a concentration camp during 1945. By 1944, most museums and all theatres were closed.

Empty shops, overcrowded trams and bad health

At the beginning of World War II, Prague shops were well-stocked with goods purchased before the war. Yet by 1944 stores were empty with signs proclaiming they were closed for the victory of the Reich. Garbage-ridden streets reeked. Nazi law forced people to drive on the right. By the end of 1944, private cars were banned. Most traveled on bicycle or took dirty and crowded trams that often broke down. The tram stops were announced in both Czech and German.
By February of 1945, people found themselves working 64 hours per week and sometimes as many as 10 hours on Sundays. A lot of women opted to get pregnant so they would not have to toil in factories during the war. The demanding work week, poor diet and illnesses brought on by stress all contributed to citizens’ bad health.  Infectious diseases were also no strangers to the period. For leisure time, though, healthy people played sports such as ice hockey and went swimming. Horse-racing was popular, too.

Czech resistance and Jan Opletal

Czechs took an active stance against the regime. There was an illegal Communist movement in the country, but many democrats also defied the Third Reich. One key event exhibiting resistance came October 28, 1939, on the anniversary of the 1918 Czechoslovak independence day. Czechs boycotted newspapers infused with Nazi ideology and refused to ride trams because the stops were announced in both Czech and German. Demonstrations in Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square turned violent after Czechs tore down German signs. The German police’s open fire resulted in nine seriously wounded while 400 demonstrators were arrested.  Medical student Jan Opletal, shot during the demonstration, died November 11. The permitted funeral procession on November 15 was broken up by the Czech police. On November 17 nine student leaders were executed without trial. To punish the Czechs, Frank closed all Czech universities.