A crisis erupted in Czechoslovakia in the middle of March, and with the Germans' encouragement, Jozef Tiso, Prime Minister of autonomous Slovakia, proclaimed his country's independence. Germany occupied the Czech zone the next day (March 15), thus liquidating the second Czechoslovak Republic, which had lasted for only a few months. The first Czech Republic had been established after World War One, after the disintegration of the Ausrtro-Hungarian monarchy. The second Czech Republic was created in the wake of the Munich Conference (September 28-29, 1938).
On March 16, Hitler proclaimed a German "protectorate" in the Czech region. Practically speaking, this area became part of the Reich. Baron Konstantin von Neurath was appointed Reich Protector; Karl Hermann Frank, leader of the Sudeten German Party was named Secretary of State; and all major governmental posts were staffed with Reich appointees. Only in the formal sense did the government of the "autonomous" Czech zone remain intact.
An operation code-named Aktion Gitter, launched immediately after the onset of the occupation, led to the arrest of emigrants from Germany and Czech and Jewish public figures. Anti-Jewish incitement and persecution became vocal. Anti-Jewish actions began; synagogues were torched and Jews were assaulted in the streets. The lead was taken in this "operation" by the most extreme of fascist organisations, Vlajka (The Flag), which was especially active in Moravia.
