The Communist Subversion of Czechoslovakia, 1938-1948 : The Failure of Co-existence

From the fateful days of the Munich crisis in September 1938 to the final coup in February 1948, the Communists gradually infiltrated Czechoslovakia. This is the record of that tragic conquest, written by the former head of Jan Masaryk's Cabinet in the Czechoslovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Korbel reveals the gradual erosion of all areas of the nation’s life-political, economic, cultural, military, social-by Communist techniques. He traces the hopeless attempts at coexistence on the part of such democratic statesmen as Edvard Benes and Jan Masaryk, as they tried to negotiate with such Communists as Klement Gottwald and Stalin himself. The campaign of infiltration followed a preconceived plan, first capturing the mind through persuasion and protestations of nationalism, freedom, democracy; then moving inexorably from the local to the national level, in labor unions, political organizations, channels of communication, the police, the army, the government. This is a moving and objective record of an important event in modern history, and a revealing case study of the Communist capture of a country. Mr. Korbel has based his account on interviews with participants, on unpublished memoirs and documents, on Communist materials published after their seizure of power, and on his own firsthand knowledge and experience. Originally published in 1959. The **Princeton Legacy Library** uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905. From the fateful days of the Munich crisis in September 1938 to the final coup in February 1948, the Communists gradually infiltrated Czechoslovakia. This is the record of that tragic conquest, written by the former head of Jan Masaryk's Cabinet in the Czechoslovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Korbel reveals the gradual erosion of all areas of the nation's life-political, economic, cultural, military, social-by Communist techniques. He traces the hopeless attempts at coexistence on the part of such democratic statesmen as Edvard Benes and Jan Masaryk, as they tried to negotiate with such Communists as Klement Gottwald and Stalin himself. The campaign of infiltration followed a preconceived plan, first capturing the mind through persuasion and protestations of nationalism, freedom, democracy; then moving inexorably from the local to the national level, in labor unions, political organizations, channels of communication, the police, the army, the government. This is a moving and objective record of an important event in modern history, and a revealing case study of the Communist capture of a country. Mr. Korbel has based his account on interviews with participants, on unpublished memoirs and documents, on Communist materials published after their seizure of power, and on his own firsthand knowledge and experience. Originally published in 1959. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905 CONTENTS PREFACE 1. EPILOGUE 2. LOOKING BACK Politics Economics and Social Welfare 3. THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA A Period of Confusion Foundation of the Party A Period of Growth and Failure 4. FROM MUNICH TO SUPER-MUNICH A Shrewd Maneuver The Time of Darkness Against Their Own Country 5. IN THE GUISE OF PATRIOTS In the Name of Independence and Democracy On the Main Front The Gruesome Story A Cloud over the Slovak Uprising Without a Mask Cooperation Abroad Relations with the Soviet Government 6. A FATEFUL JOURNEY Negotiations with Stalin Negotiations with Communists 7. THE STRUGGLE BEGINS From Rose to Gray From Gray to Dark Home via Moscow 8. IN THE "LIBERATED" HOMELAND Kosice, the Temporary Capital In the Countryside 9. INFILTRATION IN WIDTH AND DEPTH Capturing the Mind Instruments of Persuasion On the Local Level On the National Level In the National Assembly In Mass Organizations In Agriculture In Industry In the Army In the Police The Gruesome Story Continues 10. A MUTUAL OFFENSIVE An International Setback Toward a Showdown Krcmán A Staged Plot 11. THE CRUSH 12. THE LONG NIGHT BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX