English Translation

52 by Frank. Several rotations of the leaders of the Reich's power and administration in the Protectorate (88), their frequent long-term absence and persistent personal ambitions led Frank to Hitler's suppression of the importance of the Imperial Protector's function and the creation of a new office. On August 1943, his special decree was established by the German Ministry of State for Bohemia and Moravia, headed by State Minister K.H.Frank. (89) As Göring later remarked: "It became increasingly clear that the Führer was turning to the representatives of the most gross force." (90) The majority of the agenda of the Reich Protector, including the issue of legislation, was passed to the State Minister's office. Although the protector remained representative of Hitler in the Protectorate, he lost his role as agent of the Reich government. His tasks were limited only to external representation. According to the new regulation, which was based mostly on Frank's proposals, the Reich Protector was to represent Hitler's representative in his qualities as head of the empire and to fulfil the associated representation functions, but all his other tasks in the field of administration and standard creations, along with personal guarantee for compliance with Hitler guidelines concerning the political line, were taken over by the State Minister. (91) As mentioned in the Circular of the Reich Chancellorship in connection with the arrival of the new Reich Protector W.Frick, who took up office on 23 August 1943, with this appointment of a leader, he changed his position, duties and authority. The Protector was entrusted only with the confirmation of the members of the Protectorate Government, the appointment and dismissal of German officials in the protectorate, including their transfer to retirement. (92) Furthermore, he exercised the right of grace and pain, with the exception of matters falling within the jurisdiction of the courts of the military, the SS and the police. On the contrary, government duties involving the protection of empire interests in the Protectorate along with tasks in the sense of the Fuhrer's decree of 16. March 1939 and other related provisions belonging to the Reich Protector and their respective competencies were to be performed by the German State Minister for Bohemia and Moravia, whose duty was to report on all important matters. Frank achieved his goal and became the first man of the occupation administration. He openly admitted it in a secret speech to the Nazi officials in Karlovy Vary in April 1944, when he evaluated this change.