„Vec: Československo.“ Neznáma správa Wernera Göttscha o okolnostiach vzniku Slovenského štátu
“Subject: Czechoslovakia”. An unknown report by Werner Göttsch on the circumstances of the origin of the Slovak state

Summary/Abstract: Part of the historical community and the lay public generally regard the circumstances of the origin of the Slovak state as a well-researched and closed theme. Our research over several years into German sources in foreign archives shows that this is not true. Documents are constantly found that disturb the familiar stereotypes or even overturn them. They undoubtedly include the hitherto practically unknown report of Werner Göttsch, a member of the Führer’s Security Service (Sicherheitsdienst – SD ). It is not only interesting for the fact that it originated two weeks after the turbulent events, but especially for its content. Its author presents some entirely new facts, which shed some new light on the circumstances of the origin of the Slovak state in March 1939. In particular, he deals with the role of Vojtech Tuka in the plans of the SD foreign intelligence and the Berlin Foreign Ministry, a view of the Slovak political spectrum from the point of view of the intelligence bodies of the Reich, the activities of the SD in the autonomous Slovak region and the role of the leadership of the German minority during the March events of 1939. It also gives the researcher a picture of the relations between the individual components of the Nazi apparatus, which had Slovakia in their job description, and the rivalry between the two components of the SD – domestic and foreign. The hitherto unknown aspects of the role of V. Tuka in the political game surrounding Slovak independence are also a promising stimulus for further discussion in Slovak historiography.

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