The September 1938 “Death Notice” of the Republic
The infamous Munich Agreement, in which the border areas of Czechoslovakia were ceded to Nazi Germany, was signed 86 years ago, in the night of 29–30 September 1938. This tragic example of policy of appeasement was seen as the western democratic powers, Great Britain and France, committing a treason of Czechoslovak population. Less than ten years later, in February 1948, another historical milestone came. The Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, also following directives from Moscow, seized the political power in the country and gradually began to remove its political and ideological opponents. Disagreement with totalitarian practice of the Communist Party was also shown by the former member of the Czechoslovak National Socialist Party (CSNS) Frantisek Klominek. Like hundreds of former CSNS members, he was arrested and investigated by the State Police (StB). During a house search in Klominek’s apartment in January 1950, StB confiscated, besides other items, also a copy of the “Death Notice” and also the related document entitled “Thanks”.
They are both now part of the investigation file V-5585 MV, included in the StB Investigation Headquarters – Investigation Files collection. The file was focused on investigation into an alleged illegal group of former CSNS members, codenamed as “Savrda Jaroslav and Co.”. Six former CSNS members were subsequently sentenced for alleged crimes against the republic under the infamous Act 231/1948 Coll. The trial was a follow-up on the staged political trial of “JUDr. Milada Horakova and Co.”. The alleged crimes against the state related to the so-called Czechoslovak Labour Party, which in fact was a provocation devised by the StB and codenamed “Scout”. When the case was reopened by the Inspection of the Ministry of the Interior in 1957, the Inspection “partially” accepted that the complaints raised by the convicts about the biased investigation were justified. But they were not released until an extensive amnesty for political prisoners in May 1960. Eight years later, they could have hoped for full court rehabilitation, but that was unfortunately put to a halt as strict totalitarian policies were reinstated after the occupation of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact armies in August 1968.
„Death Notice“
The undersigned are deeply sorry to announce the definite departure of their beloved and problematic child, Czechoslovakia.
It left us on Saturday 1 October 1938 after a long and painful suffering after an appendix surgery, relieved by the holy Komintern in Moscow, and put to the hands of the Fuehrer.
The celebratory tying was made from 1 to 10 October 1938 through the German Wehrmacht.
The requiem is to be held on 28 October 1938.
Silent condolences accepted by:
Gottwald, Dimitroff, Syrový (foster parents)
The United Nations (parents)
Litwinov-Finkelstein, Stalin (uncles)
In Geneva, 1 October 1938
Funeral services: Beneš, Jaksch a spol., previously Masaryk
„Thanks“
We cordially thank everyone for their numerous condolences on the departure of our beloved and problematic child, Czechoslovakia.
Our special thanks go to the world Jewish press for deeply felt obituaries., and the Jewish cultural community for laments over the grave. They were our only consolation.
The funeral was carried out by the Wehrmacht so carefully that the return is quite impossible.
Finally, we would like to thank also Benes, our home doctor, for selfless democratic care during the illness which resisted both communist ointments and Bolshevik herbs.
REST IN PEACE! THE TRUTH PREVAILED!
For signatures, see above.
In Geneva, November 1938
Sources:
ABS, Správa vyšetřování StB – vyšetřovací spisy (V) collection: arch. č. V-5585 MV
ABS, Inspekce ministra vnitra (A 8) collection: inv. j. 582