Somewhat encouraged by certain previous remarks by Donald Trump, by his way of methodically sweeping away all the Nazi gratuments and the Nazi greetings of his acolytes, several American acolytes-Peter Hayes, Paul Lerner, Christopher Browning, Anne Berg-pointed out strange similarities between the first initiatives of the President of the United States and those of Adolf Hitler shortly after his arrival. It is true that the humiliation inflicted by Donald Trump and his vice-president JD Vance on Volodymyr Zelensky is not likely to contradict them-especially since it brings to the surface certain a little forgotten memories, including that of Emil Hacha.
Since the capitulation of Munich and the German occupation of the Sudétes, the Czechs expected the worst, and on March 13, 1939, their president, Emil Hacha, asked to be received by Hitler to obtain a relaxation of German pressure on his country. Exactly like the Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg a year earlier, Hacha will throw herself in the mouth of the wolf. For the taste of staging and to better undermine the resistance of his visitor, Hitler wanted to receive him at 1 am in the morning of March 15, in the new Chancellery of Wilhelmplatz; The Führer will be assisted by Marshal Goering, his dolphin and main acolyte.
The interpreter Paul Schmidt will thus describe the arrival of President Hacha: “The little elderly man, his dark eyes full of emotion, was introduced into the obscure office of Hitler. There should not be any intimate discussion, from man to man, or even dialogue, but rather a long indictment of Hitler against the Czechs. French. […] For the security of the Reich, it was necessary for Germany to establish a protectorate on what remained of Czechoslovakia. Hacha […] was as petrified in his seat by listening to Hitler’s words. It was surprising that the old man managed to keep a worthy attitude towards Hitler, after all the tensions to which he had been submitted. “
When Hacha vanishes
The unfortunate Hacha tries to place a few words, but he is roughly interrupted and ends up giving up. After a new and very long harangue of the Führer, Goering enters the office, accompanied by General Keitel, who will tell the rest: “These gentlemen were standing around the table, and Hitler was telling Hacha that it was up to what he had to do. […] Our troops were already underway, and they would cross the border at 6 am. He alone, Hacha, had the power to decide if the blood would be shed or if his country would be occupied peacefully. Hacha asked that he is a respite to be given, so that he can call his government in Prague. Could we make a telephone line available to it? Would Hitler agree to immediately stop the troop movement? Hitler refused, saying that our troops were already near the border. Before I could open my mouth, Goering intervened to announce that his aviation would be above Prague at dawn, and that he could not change anything. It was up to Hacha to decide whether there would be a bombardment or not. Subjected to this strong pressure, Hacha explained that he wanted at all costs to avoid a bloodbath. “
Hacha ends up obtaining permission to call his ministers to warn them of the invasion and order them to avoid resistance. Communication is established, but the line is almost immediately cut off, and while waiting for it to be restored, Hacha withdraws in an adjacent room with Goering, which takes advantage of this period to make it an apocalyptic description of what awaits Prague in the event of bombardment by Luftwaffe. “I thought, said Goering later, that this argument would speed up the whole process.” Indeed, the result is not long in coming: Hacha vanishes.
Goering remorse
Goering begins to panic, and we can understand it: nothing would be worse for a cold and calculating killer than to commit a homicide by imprudence! Besides, as we only lend to the rich, Hitler and Goering would undoubtedly be accused by the whole world of having murdered the president themselves. However, this one is infinitely more useful alive than dead. Thanks to a camper bite administered by Doctor Morell, the unfortunate Emil Hacha is therefore promptly brought back to life, communication with Prague is restored, and Hacha will sign at 4 am a press release prepared by Hitler, which ends with these words: “The two parties expressed the conviction that no effort should be spared to ensure tranquility From Central Europe. Three hours later, the German troops set in motion throughout the border; The fate of Czechoslovakia is sealed.
The stratagem has therefore fully succeeded. We will still notice that, by a remainder of decency or by simple concern for efficiency, the Führer did not wish to humiliate Hacha in public. Another notable difference: Hermann Goering, the second tormentor of the Czech president, seems to have quickly tested some remorse, if we believe his stepson, the Swedish Thomas von Kantzow: “Hermann could not get rid of the feeling of having acted as a goujat. ‘Okay, he kept repeating in Emmy [son épouse]it was not worthy of a gentleman. I am not a cruel man. But also, why did the Czechs choose such a fragile man? And think of the horrors that I spared the Czech people by forcing this old fool to sign. His dear capital of Prague would have been completely shaved. ‘ After which he hosted his head: ‘Despite everything, it must be recognized that it was not worthy of a gentleman …’ “
So, even the big triggers can have small dughers. But it was eight decades ago; Since then, the second knives have become even more ruthless – even in America …
*François Kersaudy is a historian and former professor at the universities of Oxford and Paris I. He is notably the author of Secrets of the Third Reich And the only French biography of Marshal Goering (Perrin).
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