Figure 1.--This is an example of the images appearing in the German and foreign press. We are not sure who took the phoyograph, but the American caption was, "Sudeten Refugess Watch Crisis News: Safely across the border frim the danger zone, these Sudeten German boy refugees rest up in a German campset up at Neukoellen [a Berlin neighborhood], Sept. 16, and read Berlin newspapers foir the latest crisis news. The boys have been quartered in the 'House of Youth'." We have now way of knoiwing if they were really Sudeten Germans or just regulkar Germans posing for the photograph. It is likely, however, that they ar Sudetens that had staged the September 13 SDP incident and then crossed the German border to escape arrest. Notice how they are dressed. They are clearly not bedraggled refugees.

Hitler through Goebels Propaganda Ministry has persistently portrayed himself as a man of peace in the German media. And many Germans bought into the message. The German people were impressed by Hitler's achievements, but the great majority remembering World War I did not want war. Thus a big incident was needed which could be used by Goebbels propaganda machine to justify aggressive action. Following Hitler's speech at the Nuremberg NAZI Party rally (Septemnber 12), the SDP helped organize the needed incident. SDP agitators including older Hitler Youth boys and Sudeten German Party (SDP) members seized control of important facilities such as train stations, post office and telegraph instalations, and police stations (September 13). Some had small arms. They phyically attacked Jews and seized Jewish-owned shops. A number of people were killed. The Czech Government declared marial law. Troops and police put down the SDP action and made arrests. Some of the SDP youths and young men fled across the border to avois arrest. German newspapers published hysterical reports of Germans being abused. Hitler threatened to intervene. At the British and French had guaranteed Czech independence this meant for the first time the real possibility of war. It was this incident and crisis manufactured by Hitler that brought about the Munich Conference. British Primeminister Chanberlain, horrified that Germany and Britain were headed toward war, called Hitler and asked for a personal meeting.

Created: 7:59 AM 8/13/2015
Last updated: 7:59 AM 8/13/2015