The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-12-27

gaS-maSk.
the German Reichstag and called
FOR new elections which were
simultaneously to be vote OF
approval Of the anschulnss. II
Welded the 99.0S per cent in fa-
vor, and elected 8l3 deputies, in
GLIDING the Austrian delegation.
1t was clear that Hitler's next
goal was oudeten Germany but
| no one expected the issue to come
to breaking-point as quickly as it
did. Mobilization of Czech troops
on the weekend of May q is un-
derstood to have determined him
to q force a conclusion. -.
This mobilization followed re-
ports that the Germans had con-
centrated troops on the. Czech
frontier; the reports were flatly
denied by Berlin, but the world
interpreted .Prague's vigorous
measures as setback for Hitler.
From that time on, developments
began to assume a fateful similar
| ity to what had preceded the Aus
trian collapse. ,
Two things lent sharp impetus
to the gathering crisis? the hold
ling of maneuvers, Virtually mo-
bilizationl throughout Germany
and the annual Nazi congress at
Nuremberg, early in September,
At, this rally, Hitler. proclaimed
that Germany was ready to 60 to
any limits to support the Sudeten
Germans, who, he said, were be-
ing terrorized by the Czechs:
The obvious effect of Hitler's
speech was to stir up new excite
! ment and, new hope in, Sudenten'
land. Prague answered with mar.
tial law. Incidents increased
blood was spilled; yfugitives began
streaming into; the Reich, and
Hitler in radio speech sayagely
attacked Eduard Benes, president
Of Czechoslovakia.
WAR IN. EUROPE NEAR
War? By mid-September the
decisive question was, whether, il
Prague did not yield to Hitler's
threats, the showdown cocld be
localized to a campaign by the
German forces into Czechoslo-
vakia; or whether France and
Britain would support Czecho.
slovakia at the risk of a general
war. There is no doubt that Hit.
Ter would have risked a local
campaign. Whether, supported by
Italy, he would have CHANGED
fighting France, Britain, and per
haps Russia, can be answered by
few men except Hitler himself.
No answer was necessary. II
was obviated, in an atmosphere of
nerve-shattering tension, by Brit
ish Prime Minister Neville Cham
berlain's trips to Berchtesgaden
and Godesberg, and by the final
meeting of Hitler, Chamberlain,
Benito Mussolini and Edouard
Daladier at Munich on September
20. The worlds headlines scream
ed Peace" when the meeting
was over. Peace it was, with Hit
Ter getting all and more than he
had demanded without firing a
gun. e,
The Nazi were not slow to
capitalize on their enhanced pres
tige. Not only. did they sweep the
remnant Czechoslovakia into their
orbit politically and economically,
but they pushed their campaign
of southeastern penetration with
renewed vigor. -.
YEAR OF JEWISH
OPPRESSION ,~---
The year all but completed the
ruination of Germany's Jews. The
bands of economic strangulation
were steadily frightened I'm the
early months; Jews were excluded
from the stock Exchanges, from,
the practice of medicine and den
tistry and law; on April 81, q
Goering decree under which Jews
had to register all their German
and foreign property above 5000
marks, put the authorities in final
possession of information which
they would some day need in as
sessing or confiscating Jewish
wealth. The day came seven
months later when, allegedly be-
cause of the Jewish murder of q
German diplomat, organized MODS
smashed the windows and con
tents of every Jewish shop in the
country, burned synagogues
plundered and harried and beat
many; on top of which the gov
eminent ordered the Jews to pay
for this havoc themselves, levied a
fine of 1,000,000,000 marks on
them as community and exclud'
ed them finally from business en-
terprises. The reprisals went into
other fields; Jews were excluded
from theaters, concerts, cinemas,
lectures and museums. They were
barred from the streets on Ger
tain days.
Hitler's visit to Rome in MAY
gave new strength to the Rome.
Berlin axis, and yielded it's fruits
F,.at1the'tiine Of thcSCzech crisis. To
Italy, Hitler gave a ptiarantrp If