YEAR OF TYRANNY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 May 1940, Page 3

YEAR OF TYRANNY

FATE OF THE CZECHS. RUTHLESS CRUSHING OF SPIRIT. Nazi brutality has boon so open and inhuman in Czechoslovakia that the whole world lias shuddered al the reports which have come out of that country during the past few months, says a writer in a London paper. Every device is still being adopted to crush the faintest sign of Czech nationalism.

The Nazis are not out simply for military conquest or economic control. but to eliminate the nation’s spiritual and cultural life through destroying all its leaders. They have broken every promise they gave the Czechs, and look upon the Protectorate as a colony to bo robbed of all its wealth. This is indeed a sad time for the Czechs. It brings back memories of two outstanding events in their history which cannot be commemorated except by those in exile. March 7 was the nineteenth anniversary of the birth of ihoir great President. Thomas Masaryk, and March 15 saw the completion of a year of Nazi occupation. The Germans are doing everything possible to “persuade’ ’the Czechs to organise “spontaneous” demonstrations of thankfulness for Nazi domination. President Hacha is being threatened with dire penalties unless he denies the fact that at the celebrated interview ho had with Hitler in Berlin on March 15, 1939, the Fuehrer threatened to bomb Prague unless Hacha obeyed orders.

Fortunately, the world knows too much about that interview to bo hoodwinked bj' anything said now. And as for the Czechs, such a resolute people are too embittered to listen to Nazi charms. HITLER’S “PROMISE.” For what has happened to them during the past year? Ono recalls that their President came back with a promise signed by Hitler that the new Protectorate would be guaranteed “an autonomous development suited to its own ’character.” The Nazis have interpreted that promise, as usual, in their own strange way. Last November, 100 professors and students were killed in Prague. Four thousand were* deported to concentration camps, already overcrowded with their compatriots. Today more than 5000 members of the former Czechoslovak Army are in prison. Arrests by the Gestapo in the villages number 20 every day. Hundreds of Czechs in Prague do not sleep in the same house twp nights in succession for fear of being arrested.

At the same time all those Czechs whose family responsibilities are not too heavy are doing everything possible to escape from this German "paradise.” This is the kind of. regime which the Nazis have imposed upon a weaker people within 12 months of marching into their capital.

And they intend to extend it wherever they can. It was no idle boast which Streicher made as the German Army marched into Bohemia a year ago. “This is only a beginning,” he bragged, far greater events will follow. . .

A most level-headed and highly placed Czech official, who recently 'escaped from Prague, told mo of a conversation which he had with a German civil servant in Prague. Said the Czech: “I expect you will bo staying in our capital for some time?”

Came the reply: “Unfortunately not. You see, I have to attend the special course at Marburg University, as I am to be one of those to take over in England next summer!”