The Day We Went to War (4 page)

10 March, L
ONDON

At Chelsea Town Hall, Home Secretary and staunch Chamberlain supporter Sir Samuel Hoare delivers a speech to his constituents. He has asked the Prime Minister what tone he should adopt. ‘Cheerful,’ Chamberlain replied, ‘there is every reason for it.’ Now Hoare tells his audience that a Golden Age could be in the offing: ‘Five men in Europe (Chamberlain, Daladier, Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin), if they worked with a singleness of purpose and a unity of action, might in an incredibly short space of time transform the whole history of the world . . .’

‘Well, I suppose we should feel safer, but I think I should stay in bed – until the guns began. I might go outside then.’ Anderson shelters being loaded onto carts, ready for distribution at Wilbraham Road, Manchester, February 1939.

‘It was always my fate to see him when he was under stress of some emotion or other.’ British Ambassador Sir Nevile Henderson
(left)
and Hitler at a reception, 1 March 1939. Hitler’s interpreter, Dr Paul Schmidt, translates for the two men.

10 March, M
OSCOW

Soviet dictator Josef Stalin delivers a major speech on Soviet foreign policy. He tells the members of the Communist Party Congress that it is still Soviet policy to resist aggression and warns Britain and France against ‘retreating and retreating’, and making one con cession after another to the dictators. This policy, Stalin tells the delegates, will in the end lead to war. But he then warns that the Soviet Union will not allow itself ‘to be drawn into conflicts by warmongers who are accustomed to have others pull the chestnuts out of the fire for them’.

10 March, P
RAGUE

In an attempt to preserve the unity of Czecho-Slovakia, the Prague government dismisses Monsignor Jozef Tiso, the premier of the autonomous Slovakian government. Ever since Munich, forces inside and outside the country have been intent on destabilising the administration of Emil Hacha, who became president after Eduard Benes resigned last October.

13 March, B
ERLIN

Hitler receives Tiso. He tells him, ‘I am disappointed in Slovakia. The way your people have been behaving lately, they might almost be Czechs.’ The Fuehrer then goes on to advise the Slovakian premier to declare his country’s independence from Prague. Germany, Hitler assures Tiso, will guarantee that independence.

13 March, L
ONDON

At Holborn Town Hall there is a testing of gas helmets designed to protect babies and infants. The test proves successful and the Government announces that 1,400,000 gas helmets will be distributed within a few months.

14 March, B
RATISLAVA

The Slovak Diet votes to break away from Prague and declares Slovakian independence.

14 March, B
ERLIN

At 11pm, sixty-six-year-old President Emil Hacha of Czecho-Slovakia, accompanied by his daughter and his foreign minister Frantisek Chvalkovsky, arrive in the German capital. The two Czech politicians have come to discuss the worsening situation in their country. The Czechs are taken to Germany’s foremost hotel, the Adlon, where there is a large box of chocolates from the Fuehrer waiting for Hacha’s daughter. At midnight, Hacha and Chvalkovsky set out for the Reich Chancellery where Hitler has just been watching a film called
A Hopeless Case
.

15 March, B
ERLIN

Just after midnight Hitler, accompanied by von Ribbentrop and Luftwaffe chief Hermann Goering, receive Hacha and Chvalkovsky. Hitler bluntly tells the two Czechs that ‘in order to restore order’ he has ordered the German Army to occupy the Czech provinces of Bohemia and Moravia. He tells them that any resistance will be useless and Goering threatens to bomb Prague ruthlessly if any is shown. Hacha, under great physical and mental stress, gives way. He telephones Prague and orders that no resistance is to be offered to the German invaders. He then signs a document stating that he has ‘confidently placed the fate of the Czech people in the hands of the Fuehrer of the German Reich’. In the same document Hitler
accepts Hacha’s declaration and ‘expressed his intention of taking the Czech people under the protection of the German Reich and of guaranteeing them an autonomous development of their ethnic life as suited to their character’.

Ecstatic at his success, Hitler tells two of his female secretaries, pointing to his cheeks, ‘So, children, each of you give me a kiss there and there . . . This is the happiest day of my life . . . I will go down as the greatest German in history.’

15 March, L
ONDON

In the House of Lords, Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax announces that Hitler’s action in occupying Prague ‘is inconsistent with the spirit of the Munich Agreement’, while in the Commons, Chamberlain tells MPs: ‘I bitterly regret what has now occurred. But do not let us on that account be deflected from our course . . . We will continue to pursue our policy of appeasement.’

In and outside Parliament, the Prime Minister’s statement attracts a lot of unfavourable comment. He is accused of bringing ‘humiliation and shame’ on Britain. His personal shuttle diplomacy last September is now condemned as being ‘a fatal mistake’. Even the faithful Chamberlain supporter and industrialist Lord Nuffield says, ‘If it weren’t for Neville Chamberlain’s feelings, I would advocate the starting of war against Germany tomorrow.’

15 March, P
RAGUE

Hitler arrives at Hradcany Castle to view his latest conquest. At a buffet in the castle’s banqueting hall, the normally teetotal Hitler picks up a small glass of Pilsner lager and drains it dry. He grimaces and then laughs. Returning to Berlin he tells his entourage, ‘marching into Prague pleased me more than all that shilly-shallying at Munich’.

15 March, W
ORTHING

‘Another wretched crisis in Czecho-slovakia – Hitler appealed to, and off to Prague immediately. The whole state built up by Masaryk completely disrupted and Hitler snaps up all the valuable pieces. The whole world aghast at Hitler’s arrogance. His flag hoisted on the wonderful old palace of Hungarian royalty. The Czechs humiliated to the dust – suicides, imprisonments, the Gestapo and all manner of dreadful things.’ (Joan Strange)

15 March, T
EDDINGTON

‘Hitler’s troops marched into Prague. The people hissed and booed and sang the Czech national anthem . . . German troops entered Slovakia – in response to an appeal from the Slovak government. I wonder!!! So many lies are told and such atrocious deeds done that no reliance can be placed on any statement that comes out of Berlin. No words are fit for Hitler who, maniac though he is, is allowed to do anything without let or hindrance – much to our shame.’ (Helena Mott)

16 March, T
EDDINGTON

‘Hitler (may he be damned) proclaims Czech state part of German empire. Bohemia and Moravia to be known as the Protectorate. He’s taken Slovakia also . . . 5,000 Czechs have been arrested by the Gestapo. Himmler is in Prague with Hitler (two fine specimens of cruel evil, ruthless brigands).’ (Helena Mott)

17 March, L
ONDON

Virgil Tilea, Roumanian Minister in London, hears a rumour that his country is about to be attacked by Germany. He asks Lord Halifax if Roumania can expect British support if the Nazis invade. The next day, the Foreign Office hears officially from Bucharest that there is not a word of truth in the rumour.

17 March, B
IRMINGHAM

Chamberlain is genuinely surprised at the vehemence of parliamentary and public opinion against Hitler’s Prague coup. Now, on his home ground of Birmingham, the Prime Minister acknowledges, ‘Public opinion in the world has received a sharper shock than has yet been administered to it, even by the present regime in Germany . . .’ and asks, ‘Is this the end of an old adventure or is it the beginning of a new? Is this the last attack upon a small state, or is it to be followed by others. Is this, in fact, a step in the direction of an attempt to dominate the world by force?’ In
either
case, Chamberlain concludes, ‘Others, too, knowing that we are not disinterested in what goes on in South-East Europe, will wish to have our counsel and advice.’

As a gesture of British disapproval, Ambassador Sir Nevile Henderson, who has only just returned to Berlin after an operation for throat cancer, is now recalled to London, ‘to report’.

17 March, W
ORTHING

‘The whole European situation looks almost as black as it did last September.’ (Joan Strange)

18 March, B
ERLIN

French Ambassador Robert Coulondre delivers France’s protest at the occupation of Prague. Like Sir Nevile, he too is recalled ‘for consultations’.

18 March, P
ARIS

The Chamber of Deputies, followed by the Senate, votes full powers to Daladier, President of the Council of Ministers, to deal with the ongoing international crisis.

19 March, M
OSCOW

The Soviet Government refuses to recognise the legality of Hitler’s
Prague coup. It describes the latest German aggression as having ‘dealt a fresh blow to the feeling of security of the peoples of Europe’.

21 March, W
ASHINGTON
DC

The State Department strongly condemns the German occupation of the Czech lands and the ‘temporary extinguishment of free and independent people’.

21 March, L
ONDON

French President Albert Lebrun arrives on a state visit to London to demonstrate the solidarity between France and Britain and the firmness of the
Entente Cordiale
. The visit is a great success, but disaster is only narrowly averted. At a reception at the Foreign Office, a sofa topples over and three British ministers are very nearly catapulted onto the King and Queen and their French guests. ‘How Hitler would have laughed,’ thinks Tory MP and devoted Chamberlainite Henry ‘Chips’ Channon.

21 March, B
ERLIN

Polish ambassador Jozef Lipski has an interview with von Ribbentrop. Beck has instructed Lipski to protest at Germany’s recent move against Czecho-Slovakia. Poland is now threatened on three sides. Von Ribbentrop counters by saying that Hitler’s patience with Poland is wearing thin. A solution to the problem of Danzig and the Polish Corridor must be found soon. This, von Ribbentrop tells Lipski, is a prerequisite for the peaceful future of German – Polish relations. Furthermore, Colonel Beck should himself come to Berlin to discuss the situation.

21 March, K
AUNAS

The Lithuanian Government, under threat of German military action, are forced to agree to Hitler’s demand to hand over the
port of Memel and its hinterland. Lithuania seized the German-inhabited territory back in 1923.

21 March, W
ORTHING

‘Memel is about to return to Germany – the Jews there panic-stricken.’ (Joan Strange)

21 March, T
EDDINGTON

‘Halifax states new policy. The Government has decided to take initiative in forming a powerful league against aggression . . . Russia, I do not think, will be cozened too easily. “Isvestia” [
sic
] says what is the value of lamentations like the British Premier’s at Birmingham? French and British statesmen are not children. The authors of the dangerous non-aggression game are now reaping the new fruits of their policy.’ (Helena Mott)

21 March, T
EDDINGTON

‘Franco sent a telegram of congratulation to Hitler on his raping of Czecho-slovakia and Hitler thanks him in a return message. Thieves’ honour!!!’ (Helena Mott)

22 March, B
ERLIN

From today, each evening at 8.15pm, German radio’s
Reichssender
is to broadcast the news in English. This will, the Nazi press assures readers, ‘give to the listener in foreign lands something quite new – the truth’.

22 March, T
EDDINGTON

‘Memel has been surrendered by Lithuania to Germany . . . Ribbentrop demanded absolute and immediate submission. And still we sit back and do not do anything, even protest.’ (Helena Mott)