(c) The execution of the plan to
invade Czechoslovakia
April 1938 to March 1939.
1. Simultaneously with their annexation of
Austria the Nazi conspirators gave false assurances to the
Czechoslovak Government that they would not attack that country. But
within a month they met to plan specific ways and means of attacking
Czechoslovakia, and to revise, in the light of the acquisition of
Austria, the previous plans for aggression against Czechoslovakia.
2. On 21 April 1938, the Nazi conspirators met and prepared to
launch an attack on Czechoslovakia not later than 1 October 1938.
They planned specifically to create an "incident" to
"justify" the attack. They decided to launch a military
attack only after a period of diplomatic squabbling which, growing
more serious, would lead to the excuse for war, or, in the
alternative, to unleash a lightning attack as a result of an
"incident" of their own creation. Consideration was given
to assassinating the German Ambassador at Prague to create the
requisite incident. From and after 21 April 1938, the Nazi
conspirators caused to be prepared detailed and precise military
plans designed to carry out such an attack at any opportune moment
and calculated to overcome all Czechoslovak resistance within four
days, thus presenting the world with a fait accompli, and so
forestalling outside resistance. Throughout the months of May, June,
July, August, and September, these plans were made more specific and
detailed, and by 3 September 1938, it was decided that all troops
were to be ready for action on 28 September 1938.
3. Throughout this same period, the Nazi conspirators were
agitating the minorities question in Czechoslovakia, and particularly
in the Sudetenland, leading to a diplomatic crisis in August and
September 1938. After the Nazi conspirators threatened war, the
United Kingdom and France concluded a pact with Germany and Italy at
Munich on 29 September 1938, involving the cession of the Sudetenland
by Czechoslovakia to Germany. Czechoslovakia was required to
acquiesce. On 1 October 1938, German troops occupied the Sudetenland.
4. On 15 March 1939, contrary to the provisions of the Munich
Pact itself, the Nazi conspirators caused the completion of their
plan by seizing and occupying the major part of Czechoslovakia not
ceded to Germany by the Munich Pact.
4. Formulation of the plan to attack
Poland: preparation and initiation of aggressive war: March 1939 to
September 1939.
(a) With these aggressions successfully
consummated, the conspirators had obtained much desired resources and
bases and were ready to undertake further aggressions by means of
war. Following