Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia

The Protectorate was formed when Nazi Germany concluded its annexation of Czechoslovakia. In the course of the annexation the Sudetenland was absorbed by Germany, while Slovakia obtained nominal independence as a German puppet state. Bohemia and Moravia were majority ethnically Czech territories and administered directly by the Germans as occupied territory beginning on March 15, 1939. The Czech industry and people were turned quickly towards Germany's war production needs.

The occupation of Czechoslovakia was initially relatively benign, except for among Jews and other persecuted groups. However in the fall of 1939 Czechs under occupation demonstrated against their occupation. The Germans quickly moved to suppress this action. After the death of one of the protesters two weeks later demonstrations broke out anew. Germany cracked down immediately and arrested an estimated 1800 people. Public institutions, such as universities were closed. Leaders of the demonstrations were executed. Hundreds of supporters were sent to concentration camps.

On September 27, 1941 SS Officer Reinhard Heydrich was appointed to govern the territory. Even harsher repression began immediately. Mass arrests and executions became more common and a ghetto was established for the Jews of the territory. On June 4, 1942 Heydrich was assassinated, which resulted in reprisals. The crackdown was relatively effective and the populace remained quiet for nearly the rest of the war.

Czech losses resulting from political persecution and deaths in concentration camps totaled between 36,000 and 55,000. The Jewish population of Bohemia and Moravia (118,000 according to the 1930 census) was virtually annihilated. Many Jews emigrated after 1939; more than 70,000 were killed; 8,000 survived at Terezín. Several thousand Jews managed to live in freedom or in hiding throughout the occupation.