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The Role of President Edvard Benes in Nazi-Occupied Czechoslovakia

Extended Essay
On October 22 1938 Edvard created the Czechoslovak National Liberation Committee. In 1940
The British government recognised this as the Czechoslovak Government in Exile with Edvard
as the President. On November 1939, following violent demonstrations in Prague and other
cities, the Nazis carried out mass arrests of student protesters and intellectuals such as priests,
communists, social democrats and Jewish community leaders, they also ordered the closure of
universities (initially for 3 years). Benes used this to unite the different resistance factions in
Czechoslovakia; the remnants of the KSC (Communist Party of Czechoslovakia) and three
democratic resistance groups, The Political Centre (PU), The Committee of the Petition (PVVZ)
and the Nations Defence (ON). He organised sport associations like the Sokol to become a
reservoir of recruits for resistance groups, using wireless radio transmitters. Benes used the
pressures of the mass arrests in November to bring the rebel groups under a single name, they
became the Central Leadership of Home Resistance (UVOD).
Hugh Dalton, UK Minister for Economic Warfare talked about creating subversive groups
behind enemy lines while others called for active efforts to combat the serious loss of
confidence in the British Empire which has arisen following our recent disasters. Neither
Dalton nor anyone in the British Cabinet had a grasp of the difficulties facing the underground
resistances in Nazi-Occupied Czechoslovakia. Benes was more realistic, he was unwilling to
jeopardise his existing intelligence networks at home by organising ambitious mass uprisings
that would fail in the face of overwhelming Nazi military presence. This made the British see
him as overly complacent in terms of resistance activities. Benes was becoming very
embarrassed by this, he said In my consultations with representatives of Allied countries the
subject of meaningful resistance to the enemy cropped up with humiliating insistence. The lack
of damaging Czech activities was damaging his diplomatic position with the Allies which
endangered his objective of re-establishing a pre-1938 Czechoslovakia. As if to add to his
pressures, the exiled government itself was divided with Communists wanting to become part of
the Soviet Union after liberation and Democrats who wanted a state following the policies of
western countries. Benes became the glue to unite the government in their aims by appealing to
their nationalism, as described in my source The Assassination of Reinhard Heydrich the
government in exile gradually came to be identified with a distinctive concept of the strategy
and tactics of that liberation. The London Concept, for which Edvard Benes, the former
president, was the main spokesperson, was primarily national in content. Its aim was simple: the
restoration of Czechoslovakia as an independent state, within its pre-1938 boundaries. Munich
and its consequences were to be erased from history. On September 5th 1941, Benes radioed
UVOD in Prague saying It is essential to move from theoretical plans and preparations to
deeds In London and Moscow we have been informed that the destruction or at least impact on
the Germans at this moment Our entire position will appear in a permanently unfavourable
light if we do not at least keep pace with the others. Following this the UVOD maximised its
sabotage activities and organised a week long boycott of the Protectorate Press from September
14-21. They also organised work slowly campaigns and large numbers of strikes which brought
an average fall of 18% in Protectorates industrial production. Telephone wires were cut across
Bohemia and Moravia, railway carriages were set on fire and the number of underground rebel
leaflets rose from 377 in June 1941 to 10,727 in October. Reinhard Heydrichs arrival in Prague
saw a dramatic tightening on Czech society by the Nazis. Communications to London from the
Protectorate ceased temporarily and the underground was paralysed by a wave of Gestapo
arrests. On September 30th alone, 58 were executed, 265 sent to Gestapo prisons, only 1 person
put on trial was found innocent. By the end of November 1941 over 404 official death sentences
carried out which were mostly Czech resistance. 6,000 arrests were made in winter of 1941-42
with 1,299 Czechs being sent to Mauthausen concentration camp on political crimes of which
4% survived the war. 1,487 sent to Auschwitz were accused of political crimes aswell. More than
90 wireless transmitters that linked Benes to the UVOD were confiscated by Nazis, this wave of
arrests and executions essentially wiped out resistance. Beness double agent, Thummel, was
discovered by Gestapo through deciphering messages from Czech paratroopers in late March
1942, few rebel activites were carried out in this period and were nowhere near the heights of
1941. Heydrich forced the Protectorate government president, Hacha, to denounce Benes on
broadcasts nationwide. Hacha agreed to try stop further bloodshed saying the exiled president
was stirring up trouble at a safe distance with no thoughts of the consequences Mr Benes does
not see, as I do, the tears of the mothers and wives who address their desperate pleas to me
because their sons and husbands fell into disaster after having been seduced by deceptive radio
broadcasts. He is in a position to permit himself illusions, to build castles in the air, and to paint
alluring pictures of the future For us, there is no way but to face reality with resolution and to
act soberly in accordance with bare facts. This burned all bridges with London from the
Protectorate.
As his ambitious plans began to crumble, Benes found an equally anxious ally in the British
Special Operations Executive (SOE). Launched in July 1940, it had enjoyed little success in its
first year of existence. Just like Benes, the SOE was becoming increasingly desperate to justify
its existence. Benes used this to his advantage and he, along with his chief of intelligence,
Frantisek Moravec, and high ranking SOE representatives met frequently to find a solution to
their common problem. They originally planned to drop Czech agents trained in sabotage and
intelligence into the Protectorate, but the combination of bad weather conditions and lack of
communications with resistance leaders topped this from happening. Benes began to realise in
this time that even the successful deployment of sabotage experts would not be spectacular
enough to impress his critics. He brought up more ambitious plan to the desperate SOE; since
they wouldnt be able to reach Hitler himself, they would assassinate the head of Nazi
Germanys terror apparatus, Reinhard Heydrich, who was, at the same time, giving the resistance
trouble in Czechoslovakia. The resistance remained dubious to the value of armed resistance to
the Nazis, as they had been passively resisting up until now (work slowly campaigns etc).
Though the matter is disputed among historians, it is theorised that Benes had his own agenda in
the liberation of Czechoslovakia through Heydrichs assassination. Although Heydrich referred
to the Czech people as garbage and believed that only a small percentage of them were suitable
to become German citizens, his actions in the public paradoxically made him popular as time
went by. Heydrichs initially bloody introductory period ended quickly, and while he continued
to deport Jews, the average Czech on the street began to profit from his rule in Czechoslovakia.
Whether Heydrich possessed the intelligence, lacking in many other prominent Nazis, to realise
that conquered peoples might be induced to support the Third Reich if the Germans offered
benefits instead of oppression and murder like in Poland. Many would argue that the Nazis made
an exception to their usual methods of tormenting and impoverishing them due to the regions
industrial value to the Nazi armaments production. Heydrich worried Benes as summarised;
Beness potential motivation for ordering Heydrichs death even in the teeth of heartfelt protests
from his own nations homegrown resistance movement: The reason was not that Heydrich had
inflicted a brutal regime of terror on the people of the Protectorate, but that he had been too soft
on them and was winning their support. He had started his rule with all the harshness expected of
him after the stick came the carrot. Heydrich turned off the terror as quickly as it had come,
and proceeded to woo the Czech people with increased wages and rations give the Czech
worker the chow he needs. He increased fat rations by 400 grams, tobacco rations were also
increased and 200,000 pairs of shoes were distributed to Czech workers, his aim was the
depoliticisation of the Czech people. Active opposition all but ceased against German Rule and
Benes believed that the the only way to revive it was to provoke the Germans into a new wave of
terror and repression. These show changes which, if true, would place Benes in the light of a
ruthless man willing to deliberately trigger the murder of thousands of men, women and children
in his nation simply to retain his political influence among the survivors. If this is accurate, then
Benes emerges on the page of history as an unusual type of war criminal, deliberately provoking
genocidal acts against his own nation in order to profit from their misery. Although lacking any
documental proof proving Benes mindset on the subject, the suspicion is not implausible, given
the thorough, detailed warnings of Nazi retribution Benes received and the fact he chose to
ignore them completely. These strong suggestions of malevolent intent casts doubt on the
assassination of Heydrich as an act of heroic tyrannicide, rather, it more strongly reflects a
cruelly selfish decision by an exiled president determined to regain his influence and luxurious
lifestyle, regardless of the human cost.
The initial preparations for Operation Anthropoid (Heydrichs assassination) started on October
2nd 1941, 7 months ahead of the designated date for the assassination. The aim of this mission,
as Benes described, was to cause social unrest in Nazi-Occupied territories in hopes of
deflecting German resources to a number of trouble spots (uprisings). On October 3rd, Benes
met with the head of the SOE, Frank Nelson, and Moravec in London. The details of the
operation were discussed: The SOE would provide weapons and training for 2 or 3 Czech men
to carry out a spectacular assassination. Heydrich, if possible. This would underline both the
SOEs capability to deal a severe blow against the Nazi security apparatus and the determination
of Benes to stand up to Nazi oppressors. Benes, along with Nelson, devised a very specific plan a
week later: it called for a direct attack on Heydrich when he would be driving from his country
estate to Prague Castle, ideally at a crossroads where the car would need to slow down. Brutal
German reprisals would lead to a mass uprising of the Czech population against Nazi Rule in the
Protectorate, as the plan went. Benes was apprehensive of the possible repercussions in the
Protectorate and the British did not want to be seen as validating assassinations as a legitimate
warfare tactic, both sides felt the need to produce some form of cover story. They agreed that
the assassination would be used as Allied propaganda as a spontaneous act of resistance, planned
and carried out by the Czech underground at home, even though they had no idea of the plan at
the time. After dropping the 2 assassins, Gabcik and Kubis, in Germany on December 28th 1941,
Benes continued to drop agents who were continuously captured or killed during operations.
One, who managed to re-establish contact with one of the few surviving commanders of the
UVOD, Captain Vaclav Moravek, and to install a radio transmitter which beamed information on
industrial production and the populations mood back to London. His name was Alfred Bartos. It
was also he who, eventually, figured out in May the purpose of Gabcik and Kubiss mission.
Twice in early May, UVOD broadcast desperate messages to Benes asking him to abandon the
assassination, arguing that German reprisals to killing Heydrich were likely to wipe out what was
left of the Czech underground: Judging by the preparations which Ota and Zdenek (codenames
for the assassins) are making, and by the place where they are making these preparations, we
assume, in spite of the silence they are maintaining, That they are planning to assassinate H
(Heydrich). This assassination would in no way benefit the Allies, and might have incalculable
consequences for our nation. It would not only endanger our hostages and political prisoners, but
also cost thousands of other lives. It would expose the nation to unparalleled consequences,
while at the same time sweeping away the last remnants of organisation (underground). As a
result it would become impossible to do anything useful for the Allies in future. We therefore ask
you issue instructions through Silver A (Bartoss operation group) for the assassination to be
cancelled. Delay may prove dangerous. Send instructions immediately- should an assassination
nevertheless be desirable for considerations of foreign policy, let it be directed against someone
else. Two days later Benes responded with a misleading message: Dont worry when it
commes to terrorist actions. We believe we see the situation clearly, therefore, given the
situation, any actions against officials of the German Reich do not come into consideration. Let
UVOD know. The following day, May 15th 1942 sent another message without even
mentioning the assassination. I expect that in the forthcoming offensive the Germans will push
with their forces. They are sure to have some success In such a case I would expect German
proposals for an inconclusive peace. The crisis would be a serious on for us. In such a situation,
an act of violence such as disturbances, subversion, sabotage or demonstrations, might be
imperative or even necessary in our country. This would save the nation internationally, and
even great sacrifices would be worth it Gabcik and Kubis, despite final pleas from their
underground protectors to abandon the mission, felt they were in no position to defy direct orders
given to them by Benes.
After assassination attempt, Heydrich was in critical condition and required lifesaving surgery.
Himmler and Hitler both sent their own personal physicians immediately and Hitler himself
demanded that 10,000 Czech people were to be executed in revolt. Police had to restrain ethnic
Germans from attacking Czech stores, bars and restaurants and fro lynching their Czech
neighbours. Beness plan was going to have the desired effect but for the intervention of Karl
Hermann Frank, Heydrichs Deputy, flew to Berlin to convince Hitler to not engage mass
killings for fear that it would work against Germanys vital economic interests in the region. He
also told Hitler it was an isolated act originating from London. He argued that mass killings
would mean to abandon Heydrichs successful occupation policies, endangering the productivity
of the Czech armaments industry and playing into the hands of Beness plan. As Benes
suspected, Hitler responded with threatening to send SS General Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski
(head of SS Anti-partisan warfare) to Prague. Hitler insisted Zelewski would happily wade
through a sea of blood without the least scruple. The Czechs must learn the lesson that if they
shoot down one man, he will immediately be replaced by somebody even worse. Martial law
was declared over the Protectorate, anyone providing help or shelter for the assassins or even
failing to report information on their whereabouts, was to be executed along with their entire
families. The same fate was offered to Czechs over 16 who failed to obtain new identification
papers before midnight of Friday 29th May. All public transport ceased. Cinemas, theatres,
restaurants and coffee houses were closed. The Prague music festival was interrupted. A curfew
was established between 9pm and 6am and a reward of 10 million crowns was awarded for
capture of the assassins. The Protectorate government, to distance itself from the assassination,
pledged to double the reward.
As Benes and the SOE had wanted, the Acting Reich Protector, Kurt Daluege, feared that the
assassination would be a signal for a more general uprising in the region. He unleashed one of
the largest police operations in modern European history. Prague was completely sealed off by
the German police and army. Valuable resources were being diverted to here just as the SOE and
Benes had planned. Gestapo units, reinforced by the Order Police, SS, Czech gendarmerie and 3
Wehrmacht battalions (total of 12,000 men) began to raid 36,000 buildings in search of the
assassins. Around 500 people were arrested for unrelated, minor offences and the 2 agents had
still not been found. While the Czech population were holding their breath, Benes was ecstatic,
he immediately sent a message to Bartos: I see that you and your friends are full of
determination. It is proof to me that the Czech nation is unshakable in its position. I assure you
that it is bringing results. The events at home have had an incredible effect in London, and have
brought great recognition of the Czech nations resistance. Eventually the assassins positions
were revealed and the SS closed in on them. Kubis and Gabcik killed themselves before the
Germans got to them. As a result of this the Germans took their vengeance out on the general
population. The most well known incident occurred in the village of Lidice. Lidice was
considered a hotbed of Beness UVOD resistance activity and where the assassins had hidden
after their deployment back in December. They completely destroyed the village On the day of
Heydrichs state funeral , the village of Lidice, near Prague, was set on fire and entirely leveled
by the SS for allegedly sheltering the parachute agents (Kubis and Gabcik). Two hundred male
inhabitants were shot on the spot, its female population sent to concentration camps and the
children given up for adoption by German families. The SS ran a ruthless program of murder in
Czechoslovakia which left 5,000 Czechs dead.
Although the events of this period are well-known today, that assassination ultimately ruined the
resistance movement because of Beness choice to ignore the warnings from the resistance
themselves and chose to keep secrets from the SOE. For example it was discovered after the war
that before the assassination had taken place Beness and Bartoss communications could have
been compromised by the Gestapo. Benes decided to not tell the SOE for fear the assassination
would be cancelled. Though Heydrich occupied a place far up the Nazi hierarchy and had direct
control over Czechoslovakia, Adolf Eichmann and others readily substituted for him in an
operational sense following his death, though he had almost won the Czech people over,
organised mass arrests and deportations and executions, he proved to be quite replaceable. It is
true that, in fact, Beness plan increased oppression and Czech genocide so much that the Czech
people were cowed by the Nazis for several years and set back resistance timetables for years.
The next resurgence was carried out by the ethnic Slovaks in 1944. They succeeded and formed
a provisional government of the Slovak National Council. This uprising was what Benes had
intended but was far too late in the war to make a difference. Beness plan had triggered such
unbridled violence from the Germans that the Czechs remained inactive for the rest of the
occupation, this inactivity cemented Czechoslovakia as a Nazi industrial powerhouse through
1942-44. Though it is doubtful that Czechoslovakia could have thrown off the Nazi war machine
earlier than mid 1945, it is equally clear the assassination failed to inspire significant resistance
and resulted in its temporary suppression. Having failed to alter the course of the war here, it is
fair to ask what the assassination actually achieved. The Allies would have certainly have
sentenced Heydrich to death after the war if he had survived, Operation Anthropoid resulted in
one tragic consequence: the deaths of over 5,000 Czechs and thousands of Jews in exchange for
one German life that was doomed sooner or later regardless of the plots outcome. It is, however,
possible that the man at the heart of the scheme, the exiled president Edvard Benes, got exactly
what he wanted, generating hatred for Germans and support for himself regardless of the horrible
cost to his nations men and women forced to live under the Third Reichs rule.

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