English Translation

165 In the background of all the measures there was an effort to ensure sufficient protectorate agricultural production not only for the population of occupied Bohemia and Moravia, but also for export to the Empire. At the end of the summer of 1942, the Government Decree No. 294/1942 Coll. on the Organisation of Agriculture and Forestry in the Czech Republic and Morava of 22 August (445) was founded by the Association of Agriculture & Forestry. This organization forcefully bringing together all holders of agricultural and forestry land as well as other operators active in agricultural production, as defined in the MZAL Implementing Decree No. 375/1942 Coll. of 5 November, became the main instrument of the Nazis to extract all protectorate maintenance reserves. (446) 2.3.4.5 Concentration of production, closing of enterprises Government Decree No.133/1942 Coll. on the adaptation of industrial, commercial and trade conditions to war conditions from 25.3.1942 (447) allowed far-reaching halting or reduction of the operation of enterprises with production known as unnecessary for the conduct of war, possibly merging operations and releasing workers for war production. At the same time, work was intensified and working conditions associated with intimidation of people deteriorated. The execution of the government regulation was entrusted to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labour. The decision to suspend, restrict or merge production could not be appealed to the Supreme Administrative Court and the infringement was sanctioned by a high fine of up to 1 million K or a penalty on freedom within 6 months. the concentration of the economy was suspended, according to the report by the Minister of Economy and Labour W.Bertsche to State President E.Hácha from 15.5.1942, production in 2895 protectorate enterprises with 49 018 employees, of which 33 500 could be expected to release them. (448)