English Translation

33 Prague, 17 January 1940 Mr. Ministerial Councillor Dr.Bertsch is instructed to present the following report (three times) on the current situation of coal supply, broken down by the three main consumer groups Railway, Industry and House Fire. In the case of the transport group, the fuel reserves of the protectorate railways reach an average of 40 days and are thus considerably higher than in the old Reich, where the situation in the individual directorate districts, e.g. Dresden, can be described as catastrophic. In the industrial sector, apart from individual cases, it has so far been possible to meet the needs of the Verke satisfactory. In the case of utilities (electricity and gas plants) sufficient stocks are available throughout for a few weeks. The complaints made at the turn of the year by individual industrial plants in the supply of fuels are mainly based on the varietal problem and could be placed individually (see in particular the regulation made in Böhn.-Budweis). The picture in Hausbrand is much less favourable. After October 1 939 deliveries were still to be described as painful for the season and the tense traffic situation iamerhin, there was a sharp drop in November (traffic difficulties, sugar beet canopy). Dicse difficulties could only be overcome by the fact that the protectorate railways dispensed with the supply of considerable quantities, which were caused by the house fire, but only met the most urgent needs there. The partial improvement in traffic which occurred in December did not have the same effect for the house burn. In the case of lignite, the reserves of the railway had to be replenished on one side and on the other hand, the railway was allowed to rise (Christmas and holiday traffic, weather), taking into account that the railway in lignites needed almost exclusively house fires.