English Translation

R.On Sicherheitsdienst RFM Prag-Bubentfch, 11 July 1940 SD-Leitabfchnitt Prag Sachfenweg Ferniprecher 77444 B 5 Office of the State Secretary SA bo.n Fe.op.olektor in Bühm n uno Mähren. Eing.: 13.JULI1940 Tgb. N... 3/97 1. To the Secretary of State at the Reichsprotektor in Bohemia and Moravia, group leader K.H. Fr a n k, Prague. 2. To the Reich Security Main Office, Amt III Z.Hd. -Sturmbannführer E h 1 i c h , Berlin. The following is a report on the development and current state of political, economic and cultural relations in Pilsen and its surroundings: The royal city of Pilsen was founded relatively late, i.e. at the time of the last Przemislids l295 by German colonists. Only on the outskirts of the city were Czech craftsmen soon settled in the area of the present old Pilsen, without however the city had lost its German character. The favorable location of the town and the fertile environment caused a rapid flowering, but the character of a large town was only reached in the 19th century when the Skodawerke was founded. This economically extremely important foundation also resulted in a decisive strengthening of the Czech element. Already before the World War the number of loo.oo inhabitants was reached, while the republic increased the population of the "West Bohemian metropolis" already l2o.ooo and was still growing. Together with the city, the whole area also gained in importance 31