Copy of document 3571-PS

Report of U.S. Military Attache, Berlin
From: M.A., Berlin
                                          Date: May 24, 1939
                                               Report 16,682
G-2 Report
                      GERMANY (Combat)

Subject: Occupation of Bohemia and Moravia

              (Supplement to Report No. 16,520)

The following translated extract of an article which
appeared in the “Wehrmacht” of March 29, on the occupation
of Bohemia and Moravia by German troops on March 15, it is
believed will be of some interest in throwing further light
on the operation of the German army at the time:

"From Silesia, Saxony and Northern Bavaria and the East
Mark, seven Army Corps moved on the morning of March 15 past
the former Czech border. On the evening of March 14 parts of
the VIII Army Corps and the SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler,
under the command of the Commanding General of the VIII
A.C., had already occupied the industrial centers of
Witkowitz and Maehrisch Ostrau.

The troops of Army Group 3 under the command of General of
Infantry Blaskowitz were to take Bohemia under their
protection, while the troops of Army Group 5 under General
of Inf. List were given the same mission for Moravia.

For this purpose parts of the Air Force (particularly
reconnaissance planes and anti-aircraft artillery) as well
as parts of the SS Verfuegungstruppen were placed at the
disposal of the two army groups.

On the evening of March 14, the march order was received by
the troops. On March 15 at 6 A.M. the columns moved past the
border and then moved on with utmost precision. In spite of
the snow and ice the most important cities of Bohemia and
Moravia were in German hands on the evening of March 15, and
the Fuehrer and Supreme Commander of the armed forces

                                                  [Page 265]

was able to set up his headquarters in Prague under the
protection of German troops.

He himself expressed his appreciation to the troops for
their bearing on this march through snow and ice. Anyone who
has himself been a soldier, will know what it means to march
through snow and ice, particularly when the snow at times is
up to a meter high, or to drive in column in such weather.
Furthermore the fact must be taken into consideration that
the troops were called in without previous mobilization and
that the recruits had only received four months training.

On March 15 the Air Force also had to suffer from the bad
weather conditions. The contemplated employment of large air
units had to be waived in consideration of the snow storms
prevailing. In spite of these weather conditions, however,
the reconnaissance planes fulfilled their missions. As soon
as the weather cleared up a little, on March 16, strong Air
units of Air Fleet 1 (Commanding General; Lt. General Loehr)
fulfilled their mission over Bohemia and Moravia, so that
the strength of the German Air Force was also demonstrated
in practice to the Czech nation.

On March 16 the first air squadrons landed on the Czech
airfields which had previously been occupied by the army.”

                                             Percy G. Black,
                                                 Major, F.A.
Acting Military Attache.