1938 or 2005? WELCOME NEW READERS
Welcome to my new readers from Jewish Rants!
I know this post is rather long, but as you review this history lesson, think about how it sounds with today's cast of characters: Israel = Czech, Abu Mazen or Hamas = Hitler , Sharon=Benes, Quartet= England, France, Russia, Italy Gaza=Sudentenland etc. etc.
When Austria became a part of Nazi Germany, little Czechoslovakia, a democratic country formed out of the victory of the Western Allies over Germany in the first World War, found itself surrounded on three sides.
The Czech Republics's reserves were being called up in case it became necessary to defend their homeland. Britain, France and Russia began to put some pressure on the Nazi leader. Meanwhile, Czechoslovakia’s president, Eduard Benes (pronounced Ben-ish), continued to stress moderation and calm. Though he was furious, Hitler backed away, claiming he had no aggressive intentions toward the Czechoslovak Republic.
However, in Berlin on May 28, he told his generals, "It is my unshakable will that Czechoslovakia shall be wiped off the map."
The plan that would bring Europe once again to the brink of war was through the Sudentenland. This tiny section of the Czech Republic lay on the border of Germany. Many of the inhabitants were of German background as the land was at one time part of the German empire.
Constant terrorist attacks as well as marches and rallies in the Sudentenland kept the Czech militia active. Again, while the goverment called for calm, that territory was anything but that.
Using these attacks as a front, the German propaganda machine began to cry for justice for these so-called persecuted Germans in Czechoslovakia. It was expected that Britain would once again cede to the wishes of the Fuhrer. In June, Chamberlain spoke "off the record" that Britain favored turning over the Sudetenland to Germany "in the interest of peace."
Benes asked his people to be "firm and have faith in our state, in its health and its strength, in the indestructible spirit and devotion of its people." That evening in a speech by Goering he said of the Czechs "This miserable pygmy race without culture, no one knows where it came from, is oppressing a cultured people [Sudeten Germans] and behind it is Moscow and the eternal mask of the Jew devil..."
Chamberlain announced that he would go to Germany to meet with Hitler. Though the Czech's still felt they had things under control, the British government felt they needed to intervene. France and Britain had given their proposal for a settlement to the Czechoslovak Government. The Sudeten majority districts were to be turned over to Germany, and Britain was to take part in an international guarantee of what was left of Czechoslovakia.
Wednesday, September 22, 1938 a meeting between Chamberlain and Hitler got underway. No sooner had it begun than Hitler announced to the Prime Minister that the previous terms were no longer acceptable. Though the British, French and Czechs had all agreed to the secession of land, Hitler now demanded a German military occupation of the Sudetenland by October 1st (which had been his plan all along).
On September 29, 1938 the four powers, Germany, Italy, England and France met in Munich to decide the fate of Czechoslovakia. In effect, the little country had been carved up and was much smaller than previously, a much weaker state. Hitler had achieved his goal. By March 1939, Hitler would occupy all of the country.
Ref: Radio Days www.otr.com/munich.html
I know this post is rather long, but as you review this history lesson, think about how it sounds with today's cast of characters: Israel = Czech, Abu Mazen or Hamas = Hitler , Sharon=Benes, Quartet= England, France, Russia, Italy Gaza=Sudentenland etc. etc.
When Austria became a part of Nazi Germany, little Czechoslovakia, a democratic country formed out of the victory of the Western Allies over Germany in the first World War, found itself surrounded on three sides.
The Czech Republics's reserves were being called up in case it became necessary to defend their homeland. Britain, France and Russia began to put some pressure on the Nazi leader. Meanwhile, Czechoslovakia’s president, Eduard Benes (pronounced Ben-ish), continued to stress moderation and calm. Though he was furious, Hitler backed away, claiming he had no aggressive intentions toward the Czechoslovak Republic.
However, in Berlin on May 28, he told his generals, "It is my unshakable will that Czechoslovakia shall be wiped off the map."
The plan that would bring Europe once again to the brink of war was through the Sudentenland. This tiny section of the Czech Republic lay on the border of Germany. Many of the inhabitants were of German background as the land was at one time part of the German empire.
Constant terrorist attacks as well as marches and rallies in the Sudentenland kept the Czech militia active. Again, while the goverment called for calm, that territory was anything but that.
Using these attacks as a front, the German propaganda machine began to cry for justice for these so-called persecuted Germans in Czechoslovakia. It was expected that Britain would once again cede to the wishes of the Fuhrer. In June, Chamberlain spoke "off the record" that Britain favored turning over the Sudetenland to Germany "in the interest of peace."
Benes asked his people to be "firm and have faith in our state, in its health and its strength, in the indestructible spirit and devotion of its people." That evening in a speech by Goering he said of the Czechs "This miserable pygmy race without culture, no one knows where it came from, is oppressing a cultured people [Sudeten Germans] and behind it is Moscow and the eternal mask of the Jew devil..."
Chamberlain announced that he would go to Germany to meet with Hitler. Though the Czech's still felt they had things under control, the British government felt they needed to intervene. France and Britain had given their proposal for a settlement to the Czechoslovak Government. The Sudeten majority districts were to be turned over to Germany, and Britain was to take part in an international guarantee of what was left of Czechoslovakia.
Wednesday, September 22, 1938 a meeting between Chamberlain and Hitler got underway. No sooner had it begun than Hitler announced to the Prime Minister that the previous terms were no longer acceptable. Though the British, French and Czechs had all agreed to the secession of land, Hitler now demanded a German military occupation of the Sudetenland by October 1st (which had been his plan all along).
On September 29, 1938 the four powers, Germany, Italy, England and France met in Munich to decide the fate of Czechoslovakia. In effect, the little country had been carved up and was much smaller than previously, a much weaker state. Hitler had achieved his goal. By March 1939, Hitler would occupy all of the country.
Ref: Radio Days www.otr.com/munich.html
posted by MODoc | 8:43 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home