English Translation

Prague, the 3.2.1943. In the last two months, the hostile mood of the Czech population reached a certain climax, even though there has been no significant riots and actions so far. The main interest inevitably focused on the military action on all fronts. In the expectation that the Soviets would use all the means available to them to prepare the fate of the Napoleonic army for the coming winter after the experiences of the past year, under the impression of the military events on the eastern front and the withdrawal of Rommel in North Africa, the conviction that Germany would succumb to the Allied concentric attack in the spring and that the liberation of the Czechs would end. From a whispering propa - ganda running at full speed new slogans and rumors were spread, in order to strengthen the Czech population in this view, to keep them in trouble and to establish their will to resist. In addition to rumors about alleged decomposition phenomena in the Old Kingdom, about an increasing war fatigue of the axis partners and unrest in the occupied territories, openly reverting to the increasing listening of the enemy radio, the most fantastic rumors and sensations about huge successes of the Soviets and very high German losses were circulated and found lively echoes in all sections of the population. The partial successes of the Soviet winter offensive in the OKV reports were generally regarded by the Czechs as proof of the correctness of the rumors spread by whisper propaganda and of foreign radio broadcasts. In the firm opinion that the current situation of Germany is comparable to that of the year l98 and that the final collapse is only a matter of a few months, the vote of the Czech population was expressed in various ways almost in a true victory. Various internal policies, such as: increased labour input in the old age and the service obligation of the Czech youth aged from lo to l8 years, -2- S