Książka niniejsza stanowi kontynuację monografii "Edvard Benes kontra gen. Władysław Sikorski. Polityka władz czechosłowackich na emigracji wobec rządu polskiego na uchodźstwie 1939-1943". W 1943r. Nastąpił przełom i władze czechosłowackie z prezydentem Benesem na czele zupełnie świadomie, ostatecznie opowiedziały sie po stronie sowieckiej. Zrezygnował nawet z pozorów współdziałania z legalnym rządem polskim na uchodźstwie na rzecz powołania po wojnie konfederacji polsko-czechosłowackiej, która stanowiłaby w Europie Środkowo-Wschodniej barierę utrudniającą Sowietom ekspansję w kierunku zachodnim...
Czechoslovakia faced with the hostile attitudes of Germany and Italy in 1938Adolph Hitler's Germany and Benito Mussolini's Italy were both professed enemies of the Czechoslovak state. Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda of the Third Reich, did not try to conceal his negative attitude towards Czechoslovakia any more than the Italian Foreign Minister, Galeazzo Ciano. The diaries of Goebbels and Ciano shed interesting light on foreign policy of Germany and Italy. Neither of the authors did try to conceal his aversion to the policy of Czechoslovakia, when analysing the chain of events on the political scene which, in their view, confirmed their opinion on the weakness of Prague.Goebbels paid attention to show trials in Russia and to the policy of Poland towards Lithuania, and declared that nothing would save Czechoslovakia. "This state has to disappear – he wrote – the sooner, the better". Ciano, on the other hand, noted Benito Mussolini's remarks, who – after the annexation of Austria into Germany – indicated Czechoslovakia, Switzerland and Belgium as the weak points to be erased from the map of Europe. He stressed that Italy was not interested in the fate of Prague. Highly symbolic was the order given by Ciano to the Italian ambassador in Berlin, Bernardo Attolico, to go to Ribbentrop and ask him about precise information on the plans of the Third Reich towards Czechoslovakia to allow Italy to make preparations for mobilisation so as not to be taken unawares. Чехословакия перед лицом враждебной позиции Германии и Италии в 1938 годуЯрыми врагами чехословацкого государства были Германия Адольфа Гитлера и Италия Бенито Муссолини. Министр пропаганды Третьего Рейха Йозеф Геббельс не таил своего отрицательного отношения к Чехословакии. Подобным образом поступал итальянский министр иностранных дел Галеаццо Чиано. Дневники Геббельса, а также дневники Чиано бросают интересный свет на иностранную политику Германии и Италии. Оба автора не скрывали отвращения к чехословацкой политике, анализируя цепь событий на политической сцене, которые, согласно их мнению, подтверждали тезис о слабости Праги. Геббельс обращал внимание на показательные процессы в России, а также на политику Польши по отношению к Литве и отмечал, что уже ничто не сможет спасти Чехословакию. Это государство должно исчезнуть – писал он – чем скорее тем лучше. Чиано записал замечания Бенито Муссолини, который после аншлюса Австрии Третим Рейхом, указал, как на сомнительные точки, которые следует удалить с карты Европы – Чехословакию, Швейцарию и Бельгию. Он подчеркивал, что Италия не заинтересована в судьбе Праги. Символическим моментом являлось распоряжение Чиано, отданное итальянскому послу в Берлине Бернардо Аттолико, отправиться к Риббентропу и попросить его о точной информации о намерениях правительства Рейха по отношению к Чехословакии, чтобы предпринять возможные мобилизационные шаги.
The issue of the lands inhabited by the Sudeten Germans within the Czechoslovak state became the reason for the fall of Czechoslovakia in 1938. The German minority had the right to demand the creation of an independent state under the principle of self-determination. In 1921, there was a substantial German minority of 23.4 percent in Czechoslovakia, making it the second largest nationality in the republic. When defining the new borders, the victorious Entente powers could have prevented an unnecessary conflict, due to which Europe suddenly found itself in 1938 on the threshold of another world war. However, they failed to do so, lacking political imagination; and Czechoslovakia has paid the price. Проблема земель, населенных немцами в Чехословацком государстве, то есть т. н. Судетских немцев, стала причиной поражения Чехословакии в 1938 г. Немцы имели правотребовать создать собственное государство, согласно принципу самоопределения наций. В 1921 г. немцы составляли 23,4 % населения страны и были вторым по численности народом республики. Устанавливая межгосударственные границы, победившие державы Антанты были властны предотвратить ненужный конфликт, который стал причиной того, что Европа вдруг в 1938 г. оказалась на пороге очередной мировой войны. Однако они не сделали этого, так как им не хватило политического воображения. За все это поплатилась Чехословакия.
The issue of the lands inhabited by the Sudeten Germans within the Czechoslovak state became the reason for the fall of Czechoslovakia in 1938. The German minority had the right to demand the creation of an independent state under the principle of self-determination. In 1921, there was a substantial German minority of 23.4 percent in Czechoslovakia, making it the second largest nationality in the republic. When defining the new borders, the victorious Entente powers could have prevented an unnecessary conflict, due to which Europe suddenly found itself in 1938 on the threshold of another world war. However, they failed to do so, lacking political imagination; and Czechoslovakia has paid the price. Проблема земель, населенных немцами в Чехословацком государстве, то есть т. н. Судетских немцев, стала причиной поражения Чехословакии в 1938 г. Немцы имели правотребовать создать собственное государство, согласно принципу самоопределения наций. В 1921 г. немцы составляли 23,4 % населения страны и были вторым по численности народом республики. Устанавливая межгосударственные границы, победившие державы Антанты были властны предотвратить ненужный конфликт, который стал причиной того, что Европа вдруг в 1938 г. оказалась на пороге очередной мировой войны. Однако они не сделали этого, так как им не хватило политического воображения. За все это поплатилась Чехословакия.
Poland under the Pressure of the Western Powers (January–July 1938)The year 1938 was a forecast of events leading up to the outbreak of the Second World War. From the Polish point of view it was essential that Poland had found herself facing developments decisive for a certain configuration of forces on the international arena. The prime ally – France – wished at all cost to force Poland to consent to a written commitment, namely, that the Polish side would not attack Czechoslovakia once the German threat became a fact. The French and the British were dissatisfied with suitable verbal assurances. Bolesław Wieniawa-Długoszowski, the Polish Ambassador in Italy, aptly expressed the very heart of the matter: "We do not wish to incur harm upon the Czechs, but in the face of their notorious ill will towards us we have neither the duty nor the willingness to help them". The pressure exerted by the Western powers, which did not hasten to assume the sort of obligations that they wished to impose upon Poland, lasted uninterruptedly until July 1938. French diplomacy applied a double standard regarding France and the Polish ally. This did not bid well for future cooperation in the case of an outbreak of a world war.
Poland under the Pressure of the Western Powers (January–July 1938)The year 1938 was a forecast of events leading up to the outbreak of the Second World War. From the Polish point of view it was essential that Poland had found herself facing developments decisive for a certain configuration of forces on the international arena. The prime ally – France – wished at all cost to force Poland to consent to a written commitment, namely, that the Polish side would not attack Czechoslovakia once the German threat became a fact. The French and the British were dissatisfied with suitable verbal assurances. Bolesław Wieniawa-Długoszowski, the Polish Ambassador in Italy, aptly expressed the very heart of the matter: "We do not wish to incur harm upon the Czechs, but in the face of their notorious ill will towards us we have neither the duty nor the willingness to help them". The pressure exerted by the Western powers, which did not hasten to assume the sort of obligations that they wished to impose upon Poland, lasted uninterruptedly until July 1938. French diplomacy applied a double standard regarding France and the Polish ally. This did not bid well for future cooperation in the case of an outbreak of a world war.
The situation of Czechoslovakia in 1938 was lamentable. Standing alone,Czechoslovakia tried to retain its sovereignty at all cost. Germans and Italians, however, moreand more certain that no other country would stand up for Prague, were showing themselvesincreasingly hostile towards Czechoslovakia. The diaries of Joseph Goebbels and GaleazzoCiano make it possible for us to follow the opinions about the future of the Czechoslovak state. ; p. 171-177 ; Summary in English and Russian. ; The situation of Czechoslovakia in 1938 was lamentable. Standing alone,Czechoslovakia tried to retain its sovereignty at all cost. Germans and Italians, however, moreand more certain that no other country would stand up for Prague, were showing themselvesincreasingly hostile towards Czechoslovakia. The diaries of Joseph Goebbels and GaleazzoCiano make it possible for us to follow the opinions about the future of the Czechoslovak state. ; s. 171-177 ; Streszcz. ang., ros.
The problem of lands inhabited by German populations within the Czechoslovak state, called the Sudeten Germans, caused the fall of Czechoslovakia in 1938. The Germans had the right to demand ‒ under the principle of self-determination‒ the creation of an independent state. In 1921 there was in Czechoslovakia a substantial German minority of 23.4 percent, making it the second largest nationality in the republic. When determining new borderlines, the victorious powers of the Entente were able to prevent an unnecessary conflict which pushed Europe in 1938 on the threshold of a new world war. But they missed the opportunity for the lack of their political imagination. And it was Czechoslovakia who paid dearly for it. ; Summary in English. ; p. 197-204 ; Text eng. ; The problem of lands inhabited by German populations within the Czechoslovak state, called the Sudeten Germans, caused the fall of Czechoslovakia in 1938. The Germans had the right to demand ‒ under the principle of self-determination‒ the creation of an independent state. In 1921 there was in Czechoslovakia a substantial German minority of 23.4 percent, making it the second largest nationality in the republic. When determining new borderlines, the victorious powers of the Entente were able to prevent an unnecessary conflict which pushed Europe in 1938 on the threshold of a new world war. But they missed the opportunity for the lack of their political imagination. And it was Czechoslovakia who paid dearly for it. ; s. 197-204 ; Tekst ang. ; Stresz. ang.
