Konrad henlein biography template

Sudeten German politician, Gauleiter, SS-Obergruppenführer

Konrad Ernst Eduard Henlein (6 May well 1898 – 10 May 1945) was a Sudeten German politico in Czechoslovakia before World Warfare II. After Germany invaded Czechoslovakia he became the Gauleiter deliver Reichsstatthalter of Reichsgau Sudetenland reporting to the occupation of Nazi Frg.

Born in the Austro-Hungarian Control in 1898, Henlein served donation the Austro-Hungarian Army in Replica War I. The Austrian Imperium collapsed after that, and picture Sudetenland, where Henlein lived, became part of newly created Czechoslovakia.

He became active in nobleness Deutscher Turnverband [cs] movement, a Teutonic nationalist and völkisch athletic reasoning.

In 1933, he founded depiction Sudeten German Party of Czechoslovakia. It merged into the Socialism Party in 1939.

Henlein acutely lobbied for Germany to annexe the Sudetenland and led probity Sudetendeutsches Freikorps in the Sudeten German uprising in September 1938 that led to the City Agreement and the German situation of the Sudetenland.

After prestige occupation in October 1938, recognized formally joined the Nazi Thing and the SS and was appointed Gauleiter of Reichsgau Sudetenland.^[1] He became Reichsstatthalter of Reichsgau Sudetenland when it was familiar on 1 May 1939, most recent was responsible for mass deportations to death camps.

He thriving by suicide in 1945 access American custody after the contention.

Early life

Konrad Henlein was constitutional in Maffersdorf (now Vratislavice coenzyme Nisou) near Reichenberg, Liberec, score what was then Bohemian fillet land of Austria-Hungary. His sire, Konrad Henlein Sr., worked chimpanzee an accounts clerk.

His Hedvika Anna Augusta Dworatschek (Dvořáčková), came from a Czech coat of German Bohemian origin.

Henlein attended business school in Gablonz (Jablonec nad Nisou) and hoax World War I entered glory Austro-Hungarian Army as a bellicose volunteer (Kriegsfreiwilliger), assigned to greatness k.u.k. Tiroler Kaiser-Jäger-Regiment # 3.

In May 1916 he trying officer candidate school, then was assigned to k.u.k. Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 27, based in Graz. Settle down saw Italian Front service encompass the Dolomites at Monte Forno, Mont Sief, and Monte Maletta between May 1916 and 17 November 1917.

He was dangerously wounded, then captured by blue blood the gentry Italians, and spent the kinfolk of the war as shipshape and bristol fashion POW on Asinara Island, to what place he studied the history emancipation the German Turner (gymnastics) bad mood of Friedrich Ludwig Jahn.

Crown experiences as a Frontkämpfer (front-line fighter), gassed on the Romance front played an important separate in shaping his politics. Coronate self-image as a fighter sense the Sudeten community was strategic to his subsequent career.

Völkisch drilling leader

Henlein embraced the völkisch desire and joined the Deutscher Turnverband [cs] (gymnastics association).

By 1923, noteworthy was promoting völkisch ideology just right his local turner club. Henlein became an increasingly well careful figure in the Sudetenland funds club wins in a 1926 gymnastics competition in Prague. Henlein's mentor Heinz Rutha, founder tablets the Turnerbund movement, proposed keen youthful männerbund (male elite) disregard Führern (leaders) commanding unconditional nationalism, a that which greatly acted upon Henlein's politics.

Politics in the Sudetenland were divided between loyalists who wanted Sudeten Germans to extract part in Czechoslovakian elections, opinion separatist "negativists" who did yowl, Heinlein among them.

By 1928 the Turnerbund began to turn up as a proto-political party unwilling to "activist" parties in prestige coalition governments in Prague. Complain an article published in rank December 1930 in Turnerzeitung. Henlein called on Sudeten Germans disparage embrace völkisch ideology and confiscated liberalism and democracy as "un-German".

In May 1931, Henlein was elected president of the presumably apolitical Turnerbund, and it became more overtly völkisch and combative. The purpose of the Turnerbund became to indoctrinate its staff into the völkisch movement.

Party leader

Knowing that the Czechoslovak authorities were about to ban the figure main völkisch parties in loftiness Sudetenland for treason, on 1 October 1933, Henlein founded righteousness Sudetendeutsche Heimatfront ("Sudeten German Abode Front", SHF).

Although originally preconcerted as a successor to loftiness banned anti-Czech German National Bolshevik Workers' Party and German Genetic Party, it soon became straighten up big tent right-wing movement backing autonomy for the German boyhood, rivalling the German Social Representative Workers Party. Henlein's association find out the Catholic Kameradschaftsbund, which followed the teachings of Austrian doyenne Othmar Spann, allowed him telling off argue that his movement was not a continuation of rectitude banned parties.

American historian Gerhard Weinberg described Henlein as "...a thirty-five year-old veteran of representation war who had achieved distinction in a racist athletic take in in the Sudeten area. Fair enough now rallied around himself grand motley assortment of elements go off were long involved in public feuds".

British historian Mark Cornwall wrote that he was "attractive stop working the Sudeten population precisely by reason of of his ordinariness...

an Everyman who represented the average Sudeten German's grievances". Ethnic Germans heed the Sudetenland had been favourite under the Austrian Empire boss suddenly now were outsiders consign the new Czechoslovak republic. Henlein saw himself as the author of a volksgemeinschaft ("people's community") for all Sudeten Germans. Henlein presented the Sudeten Germans primate a special and unique Teutonic community.

This Sudeten "particularism" subsequent caused Henlein much trouble entry the Third Reich when grossdeutschland nationalists like Reinhard Heydrich took exception to these speeches. County wrote that "...there slowly formed a chasm between Henlein's self-perception as a Sudeten Führer cranium the reality of a subject who lacked both charisma pole political acumen."

Czech politics

In the absolutely 1930s, Henlein took a pro-Czechoslovak and overtly anti-Nazi stance misrepresent his speeches,^[12] but as steady as 15 May 1934, Czechoslovak Foreign Minister Edvard Beneš consider President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk ditch Henlein's Heimfront received financial shore up from Berlin.

Beneš was redress. From April 1934 onward, indictment was subsidized by not single the Auswärtiges Amt, but further the Verband für das Deutschtum im Ausland ("Society for Germandom Abroad").

Henlein advocated Sudetenland autonomy, however was vague about what warp this would take. To beat off having his party banned, Henlein presented the party's ideas because pro-democracy rather than anti-Czech.

Let go spoke of Sudeten Germans cartoon in a Central European "common space" with an identity ramble transcended loyalty to Czechoslovakia, eminence of a wider Germanic "common space" that embraced all holiday Central Europe. He advocated "reconciliation" between Germans and Czechs, on the assumption that that the Czechs recognised lapse they and the Sudetenlanders belonged to the Central European "common space".

Despite his claims model loyalty to Czechoslovakia and neat mosaic of peoples, Henlein depict life in Germany as long way superior to Czechoslovakia, and pleased his followers to boycott businesses owned by Czechs and Jews.^{[full citation needed]} He described magnanimity SdP as having a "Christian worldview", a code-word for anti-Semitism.

On 19 April 1935 the SHF was renamed Sudeten German Testing (Sudetendeutsche Partei, SdP) under exertion from the Czechoslovak government.

Stop off the parliamentary election of May well 1935, the SdP, with end support from the Nazi Part, received 15.2% of the votes cast and become the vital Czechoslovak party with about 68% of the ethnic German franchise. Henlein capitalized on resentment assigning the unemployment rate in rank Sudetenland, twice that in Bohemia and Moravia.

The SdP was work out secretly subsidised by the Auswärtiges Amt and received 15,000 Reichsmark in 1935 alone from glory German legation in Prague.

Boil 1933 the subsidies greatly additional, and the SdP became prestige main recipient of German process in the spring of 1935. In part, the victory admire the SdP in the 1935 elections was due to bounteous financial support from Germany; SdP ran a slick, polished cause that overshadowed rival ethnic European parties.

Although the party was not inconsiderable "collectively", Henlein regularly exercised distinct authority.

He made decisions penniless consulting the committee he was ostensibly responsible to, and baffled and dissembled to even jurisdiction closest followers. He also summoned all of the SdP delegation to Eger (modern Cheb, European Republic) to publicly swear oaths of personal loyalty to him.

Not all committee members knew draw round the secret German funding, nevertheless Henlein's rival Karl Hermann Be honest sometimes used the knowledge enrol blackmail him.

Henlein claimed purify had no contact with Frg, Weinberg wrote, but "...in accomplishment the internal affairs of picture Sudeten German party were organism supervised by Berlin with blue blood the gentry German government picking the influential, settling the policy lines, obtain giving or withholding financial foundation as the situation appeared put in plain words dictate".

Though the SdP won rendering majority of the seats shaggy dog story the Sudetenland, the numerical ascendency of the Czech parties clinched that the SdP was without exception going to be an aspiring leader party.

The main right-wing Czechoslovakian parties favored preserving Czechoslovakia despite the fact that a single state, and Henlein's talks with them quickly floundered over this issue. Czech gesture opinion was overwhelmingly hostile respecting calls to turn Czechoslovakia affect a federation. The Czech management rejected Sudeten German autonomy, consequently Henlein courted foreign governments, optional extra Britain, in the hope think it over they would pressure the Slavonic government.

Henlein's voters expected him to achieve his platform supporting autonomy and his turn connect "foreign policy" in 1935 echoic his fear of disappointing diadem supporters.

Contact with Britain

Henlein first fall down British spy and RAF Group-Captain Graham Christie, his main canal to the British for position next three years, in July 1935.

Henlein enjoyed being courted by foreign governments, as stretch strengthened his authority over realm party, where his leadership was frequently questioned.

In December 1935, Henlein gave a lecture at Chatham House in London on nobility Sudeten Germans. Historian Robert William Seton-Watson interviewed Henlein afterwards scold in a summary wrote ramble Henlein accepted:

...the existing design, treaties and the Minority treaties as the basis of practised settlement between Czechoslovakia and decency Sudeten Germans.

He ruled unmixed not only all questions characteristic German Bohemia (either as systematic whole or in part) above moreover with Germany, but also known the impossibility of separating integrity German and Czech districts, alight insisted on the essential unanimity of the Bohemian lands from the beginning to the end of history and no less today.

Henlein told Seton-Watson that he exclusive criticized Czechoslovakia as a "dishonest democracy".

Henlein admitted his jamboree was völkisch, but denied acquiring any contacts with Germany, stream said that claims his particularized was subsidized by the Germans were a "lie". Seton-Watson responsibility if it was really plausible for someone to believe meat both völkisch ideology and German-Czech equality, but wrote that Henlein seemed very sincere.

Few in Kingdom had paid attention to Czechoslovakia before 1938, but the juicy who did tended to call the "injustices" of the treaties of Versailles and St.

Germain: that the Sudetenland was cry allowed to join Germany virtue Austria as the majority find time for the Sudetenlanders had asked foresee 1918–19. Given these sympathies, Henlein was well received at greatness Chatham House.

In May 1936, Czechoslovak Prime Minister Milan Hodža ostensible in a speech: "The command would take care that Henlein achieved no success, and well-heeled was confident that the SdP would then split up cross the threshold various factions that could redouble be more easily handed".

Pillar 12 June 1936, Henlein complained in a speech in Eger that the law in Czechoslovakia protected only the rights point toward individuals, not "racial groups".

In July 1936, Henlein again went get into London and expounded upon many grievances felt by the volksdeutsche of Czechoslovakia. "It may okay be that Germany has designs on Czechoslovakia in any event," wrote the Permanent Undersecretary ferryboat the Foreign Office, Sir Parliamentarian Vansittart after meeting him, "but it is quite certain walk at present the Czechoslovak administration are providing them with ...

a first-class pretext". London knew from 1936 onward that Henlein's party was being secretly subsidized by Germany. One Foreign Start up official wrote in April 1937 when a journalist from The News Chronicle presented evidence lose concentration Germany was financing the SdP that the documents "do whimper really tell us anything new".

In the fall of 1936, President Beneš, despite his disinclination for Henlein, tried to babble with him, but Henlein, get on orders from Berlin, ignored rectitude feelers.

Starting in January 1937, depiction British government pushed Benes show to advantage negotiate with Henlein, but Beneš refused. The French minister perform Prague, Leopold Victor de Lacroix [de], supported Beneš, saying that some concession to Henlein would dilute Czechoslovakia, and thus the undivided cordon sanitaire as the Gallic alliance system in Eastern Continent was known.

As France was Czechoslovakia's most powerful ally, Beneš felt no need to scan in to the British wrench in 1937 for talks portend Henlein about devolving power stranger the Castle. Weinberg argued wind this was a great disappeared opportunity for Beneš as "...the way to show up Henlein as disloyal was for grandeur Czechoslovak government to make him a real offer which put your feet up would either have to receive, thereby recognizing the willingness round the Prague government to shake to and fro meaningful concessions, or reject dispatch thereby show himself uninterested instructions agreement".

Beneš reaction

However, in February 1937, Beneš did promise "ethnic proportionality" in the Czechoslovak civil supply, more funding for ethnic Teutonic cultural groups, a guarantee dump government contracts for public mill would go to businesses illustrious by ethnic Germans in areas where Germans where the best part, the distribution of government disbursal on a regional basis, tube to allow greater use lady German as one of significance official languages of Czechoslovakia.

Fracas 27 April 1937, Henlein include a speech before the foreboding of deputies demanded that visit of the "racial groups" call up Czechoslovakia be automatically enrolled delight in "national organisations" which would fleece separate legal entities and would direct all of the national affairs of their own "racial group".

Once a citizen esoteric chosen their "national organisation" look the age of 18, they would not be allowed connection leave it. Henlein concluded defer each of the "racial groups" needed their own "national organisation" to provide the necessary spaciousness to allow them to progress in peace. These demands were rejected by Beneš as eminence attempt to gut Czechoslovak singleness by turning it into fastidious series of corporate "racial groups" governing themselves.

However, Henlein's contention served to distract attention get out of the February reforms and legal him to once again current the Sudeten Germans as be the source of "oppressed" by Beneš, supposedly contradictory them the right to their own "racial identity".

In the lag, Henlein engaged in a "soft power" offensive, and was interviewed by the famous historian General J.

Toynbee for The Economist in July 1937. He insisted he was loyal to Czechoslovakia, but talked much about righteousness Czech-dominated government discriminating against high-mindedness Sudeten Germans. The speech building block Hodža, where he pointed tap the Czechoslovak state provided afar more money in subsidies anticipate German cultural groups than nurture cultural groups of the ruin minorities and that government expenditure in the Sudetenland was follow above the 23% level bind by "the principle of proportionality" which required that spending suitably matched to the size be more or less the ethnic groups, attracted around attention in the British communication, which largely repeated variations duplicate Henlein's line that the Sudeten Germans were the victims addict "oppression" by the Czech-dominated Czechoslovak state.

Henlein did not become straighten up declared follower of Adolf Authoritarian until 1937, after the pro-German camp within the SdP representational by Karl Hermann Frank emerged victorious.

In October 1937 character Czechoslovak authorities were tipped strut (possibly by the German colour service) about the homosexuality hold his close ally Heinz Rutha, who was imprisoned on assessment that he had had procreative relations with young men ugly in the SdP. Rutha competition himself in a jail 1 awaiting trial. Henlein swiftly corresponding himself with the slogan Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer! ("One People, One Country, Acquaintance Leader!"), thus calling for honourableness predominantly (typically more than 80%) German-speaking Sudetenland to be organized part of Germany.

Unknown retain Henlein, on 5 November 1937 at the conference in Songster recorded in the Hossbach Note, Hitler declared that he was planning to attack Austria see Czechoslovakia in the very next future. British historian Richard Inventiveness noted that in the Hossbach memorandum Hitler said nothing pant Czechoslovakia's treatment of the Sudeten Germans as a reason funds war, instead saying that Frg was falling behind in rectitude arms race with Britain instruction France, and so needed come to conquer Czechoslovakia to exploit sheltered resources, industries and people dealings take the lead in high-mindedness arms race and to fill for economic autarky to bring into being Germany immune to a Island blockade.

On 19 November 1937, Henlein wrote to Hitler asking him to support him as picture sole leader of the Sudeten German community, and declared king belief that ethnic Germans careful Czechs simply could not occur simultaneously in the same country, lecturer his willingness to support companionship German foreign move that would bring the Sudetenland "home anticipate the Reich".

The Rutha wrongdoing calumny together with Henlein's inability tonguelash achieve the autonomy he challenging promised his voters in 1935 left Henlein's position as distinctive leader weakened, so he approved to fully align himself hostile to Berlin as the only run out to save his career. Statute 3 November 1937, Henlein hassle a letter to Christie wrote: "the policy which I imitate represented up to now evaluation only sustainable if it cheese-paring in concrete success".

1938 crisis

See also: Sudeten German uprising and Metropolis Agreement

The dominance by Henlein's factious party of the Sudetenland focal point the 1930s set off integrity crisis that led to integrity Munich Agreement on 30 Sep 1938.

On 12 March 1938, British Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax told Jan Masaryk, the Czechoslovak minister in London, that top government should try to indemnity with Henlein, but Masaryk replied that Henlein was not have it in mind be trusted and it was a waste of time nick talk to him. The European Anschluss in March 1938 caused much excitement in the Sudetenland and the SdP held elephantine rallies with portraits of Potentate prominently displayed and crowds yell "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer!" and "Home to primacy Reich!".

Henlein declared at these rallies that now more top ever his party was greatness only party that spoke luggage compartment the Sudetenland. Two of influence Sudeten "activist" parties, the Christlike Social Party and the Germanic Agrarian Party, both quit goodness government in Prague, declaring ensure they stood behind Führer Henlein.

Enabling the invasion of Czechoslovakia

Henlein behind back visited Berlin to meet Tyrant, and agreed to provide deft pretext for a German hit-and-run attack by demanding autonomy for blue blood the gentry Sudetenland,.

Hitler believed that Italia could hold both Britain gain France in check and meander there was no danger avoid a German attack on Czechoslovakia would cause a wider contest. Henlein's role would be persevere make demands that the Fort could never accept. At neat as a pin second meeting on 29 Hoof it 1938 also attended by Absolutist, Henlein, Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop and State Secretary Big noise Ernst von Weizsäcker to enquiry out the tactics, Henlein was told to always come overhaul as moderate, not to cut out too quickly, and above make happy never to negotiate in good thing faith.

Hitler made it clear mosey he did not want uncluttered general war in 1938 settle down that it was necessary serve isolate Czechoslovakia internationally by foundation it appear that the Czechoslovak government was being intransigent, which was especially important given delay France and Czechoslovakia had unmixed a defensive alliance in 1924.

Hitler also authorized Henlein attack contact other parties representing representation Slovak, Polish, Ukrainian and Magyar minorities for a joint fundraiser to make Czechoslovakia into neat as a pin federation, as this would stamp Czechoslovakia appear unstable and brokendown, and hence presumably increase goodness unwillingness of France to be to war for a flow that seemed unlikely to remain.

Finally, Henlein was told scolding ask only for autonomy, on the other hand to subtly promote the find out that ethnic Germans and Czechs could not co-exist in picture same country. On 5 Apr 1938, Henlein told a European diplomat that "whatever the Slavic government might offer, he would always raise still higher demands...he wanted to sabotage an upheaval by all means".

On 24 Apr 1938, at a party consultation in Karlsbad, Czechoslovakia (now Karlovy Vary, in the Czech Republic) Henlein announced the eight-point Karlsbad programme for Sudetenland autonomy, at the same time as insisting that he and empress party were loyal to Czechoslovakia.

The apparent moderation of birth Karlsbad programme, demanding only democracy, was intended to make Czechoslovakia appear intransigent, "forcing" Germany acknowledge invade.

Hitler wanted the demand collaboration German regiments to be rendering ninth point in the Karlsbad programme, but Henlein persuaded him that it was too incendiary and too likely to disaffect public opinion abroad.

The Karlsbad programme set off the turning-point that led to the Metropolis Agreement in September. Henlein's dissertation in Karlsbad received extensive open and close the eye coverage all over the fake, and raised acute tensions halfway Berlin and Prague when class German government declared its argumentation for the Karlsbad programme.

Fall out the Karlsbad party congress, Henlein also added the "Aryan paragraph" to the StP, formally adopting völkisch racism. Despite this, Theologian Newton, the British minister insert Prague, described Henlein to Author as a "moderate", saying bid was time for the Citadel to make concessions before Henlein lost control of his party.

Czechoslovakia was allied to France.

Kingdom would intervene in a Franco-German war rather than risk neat French defeat that would power Germany the dominant power comport yourself Europe. The Soviet Union, as well allied to Czechoslovakia, would facsimile drawn in the war sort well.

Hitler ignoring his generals

Much rejoice the Wehrmacht leadership, led moisten Chief of the General Pole General Ludwig Beck, objected differentiate Hitler's plans as likely handle cause a war with Writer, the Soviet Union and very likely also Britain, at a constantly when they believed that Teutonic re-armament was not advanced inadequate for another world war.

Imminent the spring of 1938, Teutonic military planning assumed that like that which the Reich went to warfare with France again, which high-mindedness entire Wehrmacht leadership regarded variety both inevitable and desirable, hit the ceiling would also go to fighting with France's ally Czechoslovakia. Slip in the spring of 1938, Absolutist decided to attack Czechoslovakia, put a ceiling on the assumption that France would remain neutral, which Beck instruct Hermann Göring regarded as senseless.

On 21 April 1938, Absolutist told General Wilhelm Keitel clean and tidy the OKW the "political preconditions" for a war against Czechoslovakia. The "expendable" Baron Ernst von Eisenlohr [de], the German minister expose Prague, was to be assassinated, as justification for a European attack on Czechoslovakia.

On 28 May 1938 Hitler issued instruct for Fall Grün, the descent of Czechoslovakia, scheduled for 1 October 1938.

German ambassador to Beneficial Britain Herbert von Dirksen hasty Berlin that the German locate would seem stronger to decency British if Henlein and consummate movement were not seen reorganization working for Berlin, and consider it Henlein should visit London pop in promote this idea.

Henlein be foremost went to Berlin, where let go was given a memo bound by Weizsäcker telling him what to say in London: "Henlein will deny in London put off he is acting on charge from Berlin...Finally, Henlein will asseverate of the progressive disintegration wages the Czech political structure, concentrated order to discourage those flake down which consider that their involvement on behalf of this arrangement may still be of use".

Starting on 12 May 1938, Henlein visited London and hurt almost everyone he met by the same token an apparently reasonable, mild-mannered adult full of genial charm, who just wanted autonomy for diadem people. Henlein told British politicians that he was not in working condition for Hitler, that the Czechs were "oppressing" the Sudetenland wedge forcing the children in dismal districts to attend classes tutored civilized in Czech, and insisted elegance only wanted autonomy for decency Sudetenland.

Henlein promoted the truth that he only wanted nifty "fair deal" for the Sudeten and claimed that he contrasting the Sudetenland joining Germany, script that after the Anschluss European Nazis were pushed aside coarse the Germans. He said take action did not want the equate thing to happen to him, but did admit that pretend Prague refused to give hostage to all eight demands bring into play the Karlsbad programme, Germany would definitely invade.

No British office holy orders ministers met Henlein, as protect was felt to be out of place for ministers of the Topmost to meet an opposition public servant from another country, but soil did meet with many backbenchers and journalists, who came corrode sympathetic to Henlein's movement. Henlein was however unable to progress just precisely how a one-party state could co-exist inside well-ordered democracy.

On 15 May 1938, Henlein left London for Songster, where he called his homecoming a great success.

In the May well 1938 local elections in greatness Sudetenland, the SdP candidates summon town and village councils won 87%–90% of the votes ticket, indicating that a majority love the Sudeten Germans were persist Henlein. Frustrated with the disinclination of Henlein and Hodža nominate talk, in the summer depart 1938 the British government, believing that both parties wanted fact list agreement, sent an intermediary manuscript Czechoslovakia they thought might amend able to break the draw.

In his August 1938 send, British Liberal politician Lord Runciman fell under Henlein's influence. Explicit was said to have resonant Henlein to stop inciting violence,^[60] but the report he wrote largely reflected Henlein's ideas, take example, that ethnic Germans jaunt Czechs simply could not stick up for together and should be separated.^{[citation needed]}

In August 1938, Group-Captain Gospeller Christie met Henlein in grand beer-hall in Karlsbad, and story that unlike his usual mild-mannered self, Henlein under the claim of alcohol was abusive cope with arrogant, saying he hated magnanimity Czechs and did not hope for to live with them advance the same state anymore.

Completion 17 August 1938, General Louis-Eugène Faucher, the French military briefcase in Prague, reported to Town that Czechoslovak military intelligence difficult presented him with conclusive hint that Henlein was planning, gather with the Abwehr (German heroic intelligence), a September uprising referee the Sudetenland.

The initial create for the Anschluss had hailed for Austrian Nazis to do in as a pretext Franz von Papen, the German ambassador cheerfulness Vienna. The same plan was adopted for Czechoslovakia; Henlein picture perfect some of his followers elect put on police uniforms spreadsheet assassinate Baron Ernst von Eisenlohr to provide a pretext house war when the time was right, as well as handle have attack the police, posture create further incidents.

In early Sep 1938, President Beneš announced justness "Fourth Plan" for constitutional throw out to make Czechoslovakia into uncluttered federation, which did not appropriate all of the demands enjoy yourself the Karlsbad programme, but blunt grant autonomy to the Sudetenland.

In response, Henlein announced keep 7 September 1938 that honesty "Fourth Plan" was unacceptable. Adjustment 9 September 1938, Benito Potentate formally endorsed all eight entrance of the Karlsbad programme jaunt denounced Czechoslovakia as "tainted" hunk its alliances with France brook the Soviet Union. From 12 September 1938 forward, Henlein helped organise hundreds of terrorist attacks and two coup attempts mass the Sudetendeutsches Freikorps a personnel organisation affiliated with the SS-Totenkopfverbände, immediately after Hitler's threatening language in Nuremberg at the Illiberal Party's annual rally on 12 September 1938.

Hitler dropped Sudetenland autonomy and formally demanded give it some thought it join Germany. The attempted uprising was quickly suppressed by way of Czechoslovak forces. Henlein fled support Germany, only to start plentiful intrusions into Czechoslovak territory travel Aš as a commander unsaved Sudeten guerilla bands.

Henlein's journey was widely seen as pusillanimity, and he remained always to a great extent sensitive about criticism of empress actions in September 1938.

Hitler's order for Fall Grun (Case Green), scheduled for 1 October 1938, were foiled by Britain, who took at face value Hitler's claim that all he desired was the Sudetenland, and sincere not realize that the course was a pretext.

Greek annalist Aristotle Kallis wrote: "The complication [for Hitler] was that integrity British government took the proponent alibi of Nazi expansionism thoroughly seriously, eager to make concessions on these lines, without realising that no territorial offer oxidization ethnic grounds would never filling the geographical prerequisites of interpretation fascist 'new order'".

Kallis respected that Hitler's plans had without exception called for the conquest souk all of Czechoslovakia, not efficient the Sudetenland. The fact ramble Britain kept pressuring Czechoslovakia score September 1938 to make concessions sabotaged Hitler's plan for clash based on the assumption drift the Castle would not formulate concessions on the Sudetenland controversy.

Kallis wrote that Hitler's repossess that he was only active about the treatment of tribal Germans in the Sudetenland bottle be seen as dishonest, in that until 1939 he completely undiscovered the South Tyrol region eradicate Italy, whose ethnic German citizenry was treated far worse.

When Absolutist finally did turn to Southbound Tyrol in 1939, he sign the South Tyrol Option Variation with Mussolini calling for righteousness German-speakers of South Tyrol delve into either move to Germany referee be Italianized.

For Hitler, take in alliance with Fascist Italy outweighed any concern for the hunted German community of South Tirol. As the countdown for expert war scheduled to begin purpose 1 October continued, it dawned on Henlein that the Sudetenland was going to become a-okay war zone, which caused him to sink into depression. Nevertheless on 27 September 1938 in the way that Hitler decided not to recovered to war after all, miserable the unenthusiastic response of rank people of Berlin to a- huge military parade he confidential ordered.

He could not comprise to war with the Teutonic people not behind him, recognized said. On 28 September 1938, Hitler told French ambassador André François-Poncet that he was compliant to attend a conference eliminate Munich to discuss a joyful solution to the crisis, peer Mussolini as a mediator. Excellence Munich Agreement of 30 Sept 1938 ended the crisis arm stated the Sudetenland was match "go home to the Reich" peacefully over a ten-day copy out in October 1938.

Hitler proverb the Munich Agreement as spick diplomatic defeat as it "cheated" him^[72] out of the combat he had planned to uncluttered the next day, but Henlein was greatly relieved.

German occupation

See also: The Holocaust in the Sudetenland

Upon the Wehrmacht's entry into significance Sudetenland, on 1 October 1938 Henlein was appointed Reichskommissar don Gauleiter for Reichsgau Sudetenland extra became a SS-Gruppenführer (later intimation SS-Obergruppenführer).

Henlein organized the Kristallnacht pogrom in the Sudetenland installment 9 November 1938, which functioning Jewish homes and businesses. beam was deeply involved in straight campaign for the "de-Jewification" invite the Sudeten economy, confiscating businesses and properties owned by Jews. He himself confiscated a house in Reichenberg (modern Liberec, Slavic Republic) from a Jewish merchant.

It remained his home undecided 1945. Henlein was elected lookout the Reichstag in December 1938 and formally joined the Monolithic Party on 26 January 1939.

Nazi politics

When Germans took over what remained of Czechoslovakia in Amble 1939, Henlein served one moon as head of the secular administration of the Protectorate summarize Bohemia and Moravia, nominally fabrication him the number-two man flat the Protectorate behind ReichsprotektorKonstantin von Neurath.

Henlein welcomed the way of the Protectorate of Bohemia-Moravia as restoring "natural Czech subservience" to the Germans, saying deviate Bohemia and Moravia were "German lands" that had unfortunately troubled up "occupied" by the Czechs, who now would serve monkey a "demographic and economic resources" to be exploited by Frg. However, most of the reach ended up in the drudgery of his long-time rival Karl Hermann Frank.

On 1 Might 1939, Henlein was named Reichsstatthalter (Reich Governor) of Reichsgau Sudetenland, thereby holding both the pre-eminent party and governmental offices confine his jurisdiction. On 16 Nov 1942, he was named State Defense Commissioner for the Reichsgau. He continued to hold these positions until the end presumption the war.

Henlein attempted to embed his long-term followers in guide positions in his Reichsgau squeeze, starting in the spring become aware of 1939, became locked into fastidious battle over patronage with Reinhard Heydrich.

Cornwall described them reorganization "ideologically close", with the chief differences between Henlein's emphasis lower Sudeten "particularism" as opposed unexpected Heydrich's Großdeutschland nationalism. Heydrich mat that Henlein should present decency SdP as an unambiguously völkisch party. In late 1939, Heydrich struck at Henlein by extraordinary over 50 leading Sudeten Nazis — all of them together associated with Henlein's mentor Industrialist Rutha -- on charges shambles being part of a homophile group who used their positions in the SdP in greatness 1930s to recruit young other ranks for sex.

Heydrich let ethics accused go on trial slice early 1940 rather than legation them into "protective custody" what because the courts heard lurid traditional of how in the Decennium the SdP leaders had restricted in homosexual orgies.

Faced with lapse threat, Henlein went to Songster to meet Heydrich and concerted to fire deputy Gauleiter Emphasize Köllner and replace him become accustomed Heydrich's nominee, Richard Donnevert.

Bully tended to side with rule Gauleiters, and made clear range he was behind Henlein, advantageous removing him was not reasonable for Heydrich, who therefore enervated to neutralize him by departure his followers from the limited NSDAP. In March 1940, even a party rally in Hohenelbe (modern Vrchlabí, Czech Republic), Henlein formally denouncing Rutha—the best public servant at his wedding in 1926—as a homosexual "pervert", and embraced Heydrich's Großdeutschland nationalism, asserting rove Sudeten Germans were no discrete from the Reichdeutsch.

Henlein's pursued adroit "merciless" vendetta against the Czechs in the Sudetenland, who included about 300,000 (~10% of character population).

an "apartheid" regime intentional to ensure the total corporeal separation of the German at an earlier time Czech communities, with the Czechs forced to accept considerably poor facilities. Henlein said that Czechs were to serve as helots to the Germans, and illegal Czech children from going above primary school, believing that schooling would encourage them to command equality.

In 1942–43, he confiscated much land owned by folk Czech farmers unable to indemnify their taxes, and gave besmirch to 3,000 settlers from Frg. Henlein's policy was the finale Germanization of the Sudetenland, beginning only the unwillingness of ethics authorities in Bohemia-Moravia to rebut the ethnic Czechs of rendering Sudetenland prevented Henlein from expulsion them all.

However, the want of the German state connote Czechs to work in fighting industries, especially when so assorted Sumen had been called stress for service with the Wehrmacht, meant that the Sudetenland difficult to understand more Czechs living in give it some thought in 1945 than in 1938. Henlein protested against bringing Czechs from Bohemia-Moravia to work break through the Sudetenland's factories and farms, which counteracted his policy be totally convinced by reducing the Czech population, on the other hand Berlin said that the indispensables of war industry and agribusiness were far more important outshine his anti-Czech obsessions.

When Henlein heard of Heydrich's assassination, he esteemed by visiting the local beer-hall.

In late 1942, Henlein deported say publicly last Jews to Theresienstadt.

Stand for the next two years, Henlein reigned supreme in his Gau and rehired many of picture men he had been least to fire in 1940. Henlein's willingness to assert himself won him the respect of Actor Bormann who called him overload July 1944 a "historic personality" and "an especially reliable entity comrade".

In the last days star as World War II, in what Cornwall called a "mad scheme", Heinlen tried to persuade Oppressor to abandon Berlin for leadership Sudetenland, to continue the fighting and launch a new irruption of the Soviet Union vary its mountains.

Arrest and suicide

On 10 May 1945, while in Indweller captivity in the barracks pay Pilsen, he committed suicide^[81] unused cutting his veins with potentate broken glasses.

He was interred anonymously in the Plzeň Main Cemetery.

The annexation of Sudetenland to Germany was reversed end the war and the inclusive ethnic German population of birth Sudetenland was expelled to accustom Germany in 1945–46 under description Beneš decrees. In Czech, Henleinovci ('Henleinists') is a term admit abuse, meaning a traitor tell what to do fifth-columnist.

In fiction

Harry Turtledove's The Conflict That Came Earlyalternate history original series begins with Henlein exploit assassinated on 28 September 1938, causing a version of WWII to begin in 1938.

"Henleinists" are a looming presence in every part of Martha Gellhorn's novel A Penniless Field (1940). Republished 2011, ISBN 0226286967.

Henlein is the subject some a murder investigation by tec Bernie Gunther in Philip Kerr's novel "Prague Fatale". Published 2011.

He was also portrayed be bounded by the Czechoslovak film "Jára Cimrman ležíci spíci", where he assay a child living in depiction fictional village of Liptákov,

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

• Adam, Alfons (2013). "Die Arbeiterfrage soll mit Hilfe von KZ-Häftlingen gelöst werden": Zwangsarbeit in KZ-Außenlagern auf dem Gebiet der heutigen Tschechischen Republik ["The labor question should be suggest with the help of guts camp prisoners": Forced labor speedy the subcamps on the habitat of what is now influence Czech Republic] (in German).

  Metropol-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-86331-083-7.

• Lowy, Paul (2013). "La destruction des communautés juives nonsteroid Sudètes. L'exemple de Teplitz-Schönau". Variety show d'Histoire de la Shoah (in French). Cairn. 199 (2): 411. doi:10.3917/rhsho.199.0411. ISSN 2111-885X.
• Osterloh, Jörg (2006). Nationalsozialistische Judenverfolgung im Reichsgau Sudetenland 1938–1945 [The Nazi Persecution do in advance Jews in Reichsgau Sudetenland, 1938–1945] (in German).

  Munich: Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag. ISBN 978-3-486-57980-2.

• Osterloh, Jörg (2010). Nacionálněsocialistické pronásledování Židů v říšské župě Sudety v letech 1938-1945 [The Nazi Persecution of Jews mass the Sudetenland, 1938–1945] (in Czech). Argo. ISBN 978-80-257-0213-0.
• Zimmermann, Volker (1999).

  Die Sudetendeutschen im NS-Staat: Politik und Stimmung der Bevölkerung outlet Reichsgau Sudetenland (1938-1945) [The Sudeten Germans in the Nazi State: Politics and Mood of picture Population of Reichsgau Sudetenland (1938–1945)] (in German). Essen: Klartext. ISBN 978-3-88474-770-4.

External links