English Translation

73 Absehrift The Imperial Protector Prague IV, 4 April 1942 in Bohemia and Moravia Telephone connections: Prague 60141, 31945, 60951, 64456 m.d.F.D.G.b. Nr.I.V..54111. Subject: Deutsche Oper und Operette It is requested to indicate this trade mark and the ed u object bel worlder Schrelben. 98,500 and Girokonto bel dor Nationalbank für Böhmen und Mähren in Prag. Eiltsehr! Head of Division: W-Stubaf.Wolf Group Leader : Senior Counsellor Dr.Danzmann Speaker : Reg.Rat Dr.Oehmke. lyou. I. Note. B9L The need of the German population in Prague for a German opera and operetta is becoming increasingly urgent and has recently become particularly clear on the occasion of the guest performance of the Moravian Ostrauer Operette in Prague, on which almost all tickets were sold already during the first pre-sale days. In particular, the new district head of the NSDAP in Prague also decided for the earliest establishment of a German opera and operetta in Prague. The particular political significance of this demand does not need to be explained in any more detail here; it should only be pointed out that the Reichsminister Dr. Goebbels, who initially opposed this plan, recognised the necessity of a permanent opera in Prague as early as August 1941. In spite of the instructions of the Reichsminister "which in principle the establishment of a permanent opera in Prague is to be urgently sought with all the forces", the Reich's propaganda ministry has not until now succeeded in asserting itself on this issue contrary to the Reich Financestinisterium, as the following private communication of the Upper Council Sehwebel from the Reich Propaganda Ministry to the its theatre officer Dr. Cehmke of 1o.3.42 proves: "The Reichsfinanzministerium has not yet been able to agree to the establishment in Prague of the Deutsche Oper. The gentlemen are particularly persistent this year, they refer to the Führer's decree to approve only new expenditures for war-important things, but to which they do not count the Prague Opera. Dr. Schlösser therefore considers it expedient that the Lord Reichsprotector, if he insists on the establishment of the Prague opera in this situation beb 242t10A to TVO-142(42 117