Description:

(KONSTANTIN VON NEURATH) NAZI OCCUPATION OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA POSTER, AUGUST 26, 1939
An original poster from the early days of the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, 1p. folio (36 x 25 in.), printed on pink paper in German and Czech and titled ‘Order of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia Against Acts of Sabotage', Prague, Aug. 26, 1939. Four months after the Nazis seized power at Prague Castle, the poster – headed by an ominous Nazi eagle – cautions citizens about committing ‘acts of sabotage', in part: ‘…On the basis of Article 5 of the Decree of the Fuhrer and Reich Protector of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia on the right to [live] in the Protectorate of Bohemia…Acts of Sabotage are defined as all disruptions to public life and the economy...for example…attacks on people…damage to vital facilities such as railways, telecommunications systems, [and] waterworks…The Wehrmacht courts…are responsible for investigating and deciding on acts of sabotage…The German law applies…'. Signed in print by Konstantin von Neurath, Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia. Beneath this is a ‘Supplement' to the decree, Berlin, August 26, 1939, stating that: ‘…The Wehrmacht Courts proceed according to the decree on military criminal proceedings in Ariege [France] and in special operations of August 17, 1938…'. Signed in print by Wilhelm Keitel, Hitler's right-hand military man and chief of the Fuhrer's personal military staff. The ‘special operations' mentioned refers to a secret decree in which Hitler declared the Nazi combat troops SS-Verfugungstruppe to be separated from the police and armed forces, and become an independent military force at the Fuhrer's personal disposal. Hitler had been covetous of the territory of Czechoslovakia, and especially of its modern and industrialized economy, in the early 1930s. On March 16, 1939, his dream of annexing the country came to fruition, and the occupation began in full force. von Neurath, the former German foreign minister, served as Reich Protector from March 1939 until he was stripped of day-to-today powers in 1941 due to his perceived ‘leniency' toward the Czech population and resistance movement. During his tenure, von Neurath established martial law, as evidenced in this poster, abolished Czech political parties and trade unions, instituted racial laws, and made the Czechoslovakian industry work for the German war effort. He would be replaced in 1941 by Reinhard Heydrich, whose reign of terror made von Neurath's appear mild by comparison. At the time of this poster, Wilhelm Keitel was serving as Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW), overseeing Germany's military forces but in reality having little command authority in his own right. Hitler soon after assumed command of the armed forces over the reviled ‘yes-man' Keitel. Folds, light wear, overall very good condition.

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January 26, 2023 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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