ANNEXATION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 16 March 1939, Page 7

ANNEXATION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA

“TAKEN UNDER PROTECTION OF GERMAN REICH” TROOPS MARCH INTO PRAGUE PEOPLE STUNNED BY OCCUPATION ORDERS THAT INVASION MUST NOT BE RESISTED (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 16th March. 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, 15th March. “Herr Hitler has taken the Czech people under the protection of the German Reich. The autonomous development of Czech national life will be guaranteed by the German Reich. ” This report was issued to-day following a conference in Berlin between the President of the Czech Republic, Dr. Hacha, and Herr Hitler. An agreement along those lines has been signed by Dr. Hacha, M. Chvalkovsky, Czech Foreign Minister, Herr Hitler and Herr von Ribbentrop, German Foreign Minister. “In order to reach final appeasement,” states the report, “Dr. Hacha placed the fate of the Czech people and land trustingly in the hands of the Fuhrer, and the Fuhrer accepted this.” Shortly after the end of the conference in Berlin, the Prague wireless announced that German troops had begun to occupy Czech territory. It was announced that the Czech troops would be disarmed as the Germans met them. Appeals are being broadcast every 1 5 minutes that the Czech army should not resist the German occupation, adding: “Arms must be surrendered without hesitation.” An official statement issued after the brodacast announced that the German advance must nowhere be resisted, otherwise it would cause the most unforeseen consequences, leading to the intervention becoming utterly brutal. “All commanders must obey the orders of the occupying army. The Czech army will be disarmed. Military and civil aeroplanes must remain at their aerodromes and none must attempt to take the air. Prague will be occupied at 6.30 a.m.” The Vienna correspondent of the British United Press says that German troops have already occupied Pilsen. They crossed the border of the Czech republic at Moravska and Ostrava and occupied police headquarters and the town hall. Civilians attempted to prevent the tanks from entering, singing the Czech national anthem, whereupon the Germans fired blank shots and the crowds dispersed. Further shooting was reported during a later demonstration. It is reliably reported that the Germans crossed the border at two other points in addition to Moravska and Ostrava. GERMAN TROOPS IN PRAGUE The German forces entered Prague at 9.20 a.m. (G.M.T.) to-day.

Germans entered Bratislava at 5.45 p.m. after the unexpected position at Boesing and Ratzerdorf. Germans occupied President llaclia's castle. CURFEW ORDERED The curfew was ordered in Prague at u p.m. to avoid risk of disturbances in the present mood of the Czechs. Banks in Bratislava have closed for three days to allow affairs to settle down. RECOGNITION BY POLAND A Warsaw message says that Poland has recognised the Slovakian Republican Government de jure. It is denied that Poland has invaded Slovakia. A message from Kaunas (Lithuania) states that Herr Naumann, leader of Memel Germans, told the party he felt himself entitled in the light of the new European situation to eventually take the necessary steps to freedom without consulting the Diet. TERRITORY IN HANDS OF GERMANS All Bohemia and Moravia are now virtually in German hands. The occupying forces are small. Contacts between Czech and German troops are courteous and correct. The German general Von Gablenz, was appointed Military Governor. M. Prchala asked five days for the evacuation of Czech troops. German troops arrived at Ratzerdorf, five miles distant. Anti-aircraft guns were placed on the roofs of buildings in the centre of Berlin this morning. It is stated that they are for the celebration of Air Force Day on 18th March. A suggestion that bombing raids by Czech pilots running amok are frared is denied. Hungarian troops have made contact with Polish troops on the Car-patho-Ukraine frontier. Greetings were cordial and a number of Czech officials crossed into Poland. The Czechoslovakia crisis checked business on the Stock Exchange, but British Funds are only a shade easier. Czecho and Prague loans were heavily marked down. German Dawes and Young loans declined slightly.

GERMAN TROOPS HISSED A crowd of 5000 in Wencelas Square i at Prague fervently but tearfully sang the Czech national a.-them, gave the c clenchcd fist salute and hissed and booed as German troops entered the heart of Prague at 9.20 this morning. A company of military motor cycles a heading the column roared into t Wencelas Square, and the main body of the troops quickly followed. The police t suppressed all demonstrations by the c crowd. The city was stirred when it heard I the news of the impen ing occupation. Many heard it over the wireless for the \ first time this morning. They respond- t cd, however, to the appeal to go quietly tc work. < NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO SURRENDER A broadcast stated that the Germans, * with powerful mechanised forces, were * entering Bohemia and Moravia from all 1 directions and the Government had no ( alternative but to surrender. Resistance would only have involved the loss of nationhood. The Germans must be well and not provocatively received. A scouting force of 100 German troops crossed the border near Melnik 20 milts from Prague at 6 a.m. in a t blindii 3 snowstorm. There was no re- c sistance. Warplanes, believed to be German, flew over Prague at 7.30 a.m. v Silent villagers watched the troops march to Prague and women wept openly. One of the first moves of the troops was to force traffic to keep to f the right side of the road as is done in Germany. J After the occupation of Prague, Sude- j ten Germans with swastika arm bands parader in the streets unchallenged, j German flags appeared in some private t houses. City activities are normal but a crowds packed the banks and travel offk s with the idea of migrating, but t; there is little hope of this. p It is officially stated that Herr Hitler c is accompanying the German troops c which are occupying Bohemia and Moravia. fc E SLOVAK TOWNS OCCUPIED C It is officially announced from Vienna that German troops occupied the Slovak towns of Sillein, Neustadt and I Boesing after M. Durcansky, Foreign f Minister, appealed for help. It is also reported that Polish troops entered ; Slovakia. I POST FOR HERR IIENLEIN Herr Henlein, leader of the Sudeten Germans in Czechoslovakia, has been ( appointed civil administrator of the ( . German armies, with headquarters in ~ Prague. F Herr Hitler arrived at Boelimisch- j h leipa. in Bohemia. H

AIR TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

RESTRICTIONS BY GERMANY i Received 16th March, 10 45 a.m.) BERLIN, 15th March. Field-Marshal Goering has issued n decree that no planes except those of the Reich Air Force may fly west of a line drawn from Bratislava to Maerischotrau. Large areas of Germany are also closed to all except the Air Force All travel in and out of Bohemia and Moravia is forbidden indefinitely.