Evening star., 1939-03-16
Prague
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be run by their powerful protector
and that they will have nothing to
say in these matters.
Although Hitler's decree made all
the quarter million Germans within
the protectorate German citizens,
this was subject to the provisions Of
the Nurnberg racial (anti-Jewish)
and other German laws. In other
words, German Jews cannot be citi-
ZenS.
All Inhabitants Subjects.
All other inhabitants of the pro-
tectorate are subjects Of the pro-
tectorate.
THE protectorate of Bohemia and
Moravia is autonomous and admin
listers Its own affairs" the decree
said:
1T exercises sovereign rights ap-
pertaining to a protectorate in har-
mony with the political, military and
economic interests of the Reich"
The German Fuehrer decreed that
the head of the autonomous admin
istration should enjoy all protection
and honors accorded the head of q
state. He said there would be
supreme head of the autonomous
protectorate and Reichs-protector
as guardian of Germalfy's interests.
He did not name them.
Takes Over FOreign Affairs,
Hitler assumed charge of the pro-
tectorate's foreign affairs, "espe-
cially the protection of its subjects
In foreign countries" and accorded
1t one representative accredited to
the German government with the
title of minister.
The decree linked the protectorate
ito the customs territory of the
German Reich" and put it under
German customs sovereignty"
1t made the German reichsmark
and the former Czecho-S -Slovak
crown legal tender, at least tempo
rarily, with their relative value to
be determined by Berlin.
Germany, the decree said, may
issue legal regulations in matters
of common interest, may set up Ger
man authorities and take over parts
of the protectorate's administration
1t said Bohemian and Moravian
laws would remain insofar as they
do not run counter to the spirit of
the German Reich as protector of
the territory"
Occupation Completed.
Hitler's troops had completed oc-
cupation of Bohemia and Moravia
as the Fuehrer laid down the new
law of the land. Hitler himself
slept last night in Hradcany Castle,
once seat of Bohemian kings and
for the last 20 years residence of
Czecho-Slovakia's presidents. To-
day he appeared on the castle
balcony.
The crowd before the palace was
mostly German and in response to
the F'uehrer's appearance it set UP
shouts of "Heil!". and a refrain OF
'Fuehrer, we thank YOU
Hitler did not speak.
Like the ancient Roman Augustus,
the modern Caesar wanted quickly
to see and be seen by the citizens
OF Prague and to inspect economic
and military resources.
List Is Moravian Chief.
Moravia's executive power was
placed in the hands Of Gen. Wilhelm
List, commander of the 5th Army
group stationed in Vienna, and Mo-
ravian civil administration was vest
ed in Joseph Buerckel, Hitlers COM
missioner in Austria.
Hitler followed the army more
quickly than ever he had done in
the past-into Vienna a year ago
and Sudetenland last October. He
did not give the Gestapo, secret DO
lice. time to make the customary
clean up" Of undesirable elements
In the region before he entered.
An undetermined number of ar
rests were made during the night
but time was insufficient for the
German advance guard to search
the entire city. Terrorized Jews and
German Social Democrats, who op.
posed the Nazis throughout the
Czech's disastrous history as q re-
public, hid or fled into the interior.
With Hitler were Won Ribbentrop.
Otto DIETRICH, his press chief, and
Konrad Henlein. Sudeten Nazi
leader. The Nazi Fuehrer never
entered q city as flagless as Prague
since he came to power.
Troops and police In armored cars
patrolled deserted streets through.
out the night. Only an occasional
civilian who possessed a military
pass could be seen after 8 PM, the
curfew hour.
Escape Cut on.
Jews and German political emf.
gres found frontiers closed to them.
Most of them learned too late that
the German army was coming.
A group of 800 Jews which had
planned to go through Poland to
Gdynia and then to Scandinavia
and England were cut of from the
Bohemian frontier with Poland by
the army's occupation. They have
credentials to emigrate but now they
will have to obtain Nad permission.
A Czech National Council" was
organized yesterday at . meeting of
political and patriotic organisations,
among them the Fascist party
headed by Rudolf o.jds.