SLAVERY 1941 MODEL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 27, 11 March 1942, Page 2

SLAVERY 1941 MODEL

Dr. Frank Munk, now a lecturer in economics at Heed College, escaped from his native Czechoslovakia after the Nazi invasion el Prague. Prior to that time he had served his country in many capacities as an eeonimist, member o! the Masaryk academy, and in economic planning. He wrote many books on economic problems prior to his migration to the United States. His latest book, "Economics ol Force," published recently in Ne\» York, ileals with the same basic situation discussed in the iollowing article. The iirst tanks and armoured cars bearing license plates with the sinister letters AVH, the forerunners of the German army of invasion, were rattling down the street while I was looking down from the wide, modern windows of my otTise in Prague. At this moment the door behind me was opened silently ami m> blonde secretary, Mrs S., came in. She Avas an elt'icient young woman from the bilingual border districts of Czechoslovakia Avho spoke both Chechoslovakian and German fluently. She came in to inform me that she Avas under orders from the new masters and would henceforth have to supervise all my actions. It was the frigid morning of March 15, 1939—the fateful "Ides of March." Thus began for me a period of practical acquaintance Avitli subjection and utimately of slavery that ended only Avhen I escaped several months late'. Millions, of human beings, more and more every month, however, haA'e come under its spell and even more millions are facing j it as a foreboding and dark iDrospect for the future.

At 8 o'clock in the morning I Avas a free man. Ours Avas a free nation. At 9.30 o'clock the same morning we Ave re Avorse than serfs, "\vithout any rights Avhatsoever.

For tAventy years Ave lived in the free, democratic republic of Czechoslovakia. We had freedom of the press, of speech, of regilion. We were a happy, prosperous people. From the moment the Nazi army invaded Prague every telephone conversation became a hazard. Hundreds of my friends Avere arrested the first day. Some of them disappeared in the Pankrac prison, others in the concentration camps .of Oranienburg or Buchemvald, in Germany. NeAVspaper.s ceased tO' be organs of public opinion and became mere propaganda sheets, directed by liCAvly imported Nazis or old fifth columnists. Agents,, brought in. secretly weeks in advance, occupied all banks. WitlulraAvals of money Avere prohibited in order to make possible large-scale confiscation.