Nacistická kulturní politika v Protektorátu - Koncepce, praxe a reakce české strany – Mohn Volker (2018)

Volker Mohna's monographic work is a fundamental contribution to the functioning of the Nazi regime and the administration of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, as well as to the behavior of Czech society during the occupation. The author utilized all available archival materials from both Czech and German provenance, processed period publications in both languages, and also existing scholarly literature. According to Nazi propaganda, Czechs experienced a "cultural flourishing" during the Protectorate. Such a claim must, of course, be relegated to the realm of legend. Nevertheless, it was precisely in the cultural sphere that the Czech population had a relatively significant space for realization; they were not only forced to consume propaganda and were not presented with only light entertainment. People still had access to national classics, "The Bartered Bride" was performed at the National Theatre, and literary works from the 19th century became bestsellers. Most artists could initially continue to work, as long as they adapted their activities to the postulates of the German authorities. The occupying regime opted for such a form of cultural policy primarily because it aimed to maintain peace in the Protectorate and the uninterrupted functioning of arms production. The author vividly and thoroughly describes how, in various areas – literature, music, theatre, and film – they reacted to...