General Jodl on Hitler's Plans to Invade Czechoslovakia
General Jodl on Hitler's Plans to Invade Czechoslovakia (From his diary)
Source: J. Noakes & G. Pridham, Documents on Nazism 1919-1945, (London, 1974), p.541.
After annexation of Austria, the Fuehrer mentions that there is no hurry to solve the Czech question because Austria has to be digested first. Nevertheless, preparations for Operation Green will have to be carried out energetically; they will have to be newly prepared on the basis of the changed strategic position because of the annexation of Austria. State of preparations reported to the Fuehrer on 21 April. The intention of the Fuehrer not to touch the Czech problem as yet is changed because of the Czech strategic troop concentrations of 21 May, which occurs without any German threat and without the slightest cause for it. Because of Germany's self-restraint, its consequences lead to a loss of prestige of the Fuehrer, which he is no longer willing to take. Therefore the new order is issued for 'Green' on 30 May. II Revised version of 'Operation Green' II. War on two fronts, with main effort on South-east (Strategic concentration 'Green') I. Political assumptions: It is my unalterable decision to smash Czechoslovakia by military action in the near future. It is the business of the political leadership to await or bring about the suitable moment from a political and military point of view. An unavoidable development of events within Czechoslovakia, or other political events in Europe providing a suddenly favourable opportunity, which may never recur, may cause me to take warlike action. ...
