The Nazi Occupation and the End of Czechoslovakia – Frýdek-Místek
Fact of the Czech figure „Munich Agreement”
Part of the „The myth of national disaster” topic
On 15 March 1939, German troops invaded the Czech lands, resulting in the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. In the collective memory of the Czechs, symbols of resignation and humiliation are typically associated with this moment. An exception to this is the incident related to the Czajanek barracks in the Silesian town Místek (now Frýdek-Místek), which, conversely, became a symbol of resistance to aggression.
A local military unit confronted the first succession of German occupation troops with weapons in hand. The soldiers withstood several German attacks and the firefight resulted in casualties on both sides. After half an hour of combat, however, they were ordered to surrender due to the overwhelming numbers. The order not to resist was given to the army by Czechoslovak President Emil Hácha in response to Göring’s direct threat to have Prague bombed in the war.
The event in Místek represents the sole positive reminder of the tragedy in March 1939. Commemoration of the demise of Czechoslovakia is typically marked by a photograph of Hitler in the windows of Prague Castle with the Nazi flag flying, symbolising the inception of the six-year Nazi rule in the Czech lands.
