ADSS 1.3 Cesare Orsenigo, Germany to Cardinal Maglione: report on Czechoslovakia

ADSS 1.3 Orsenigo, Germany to Maglione, Sec State.

Reference: Report 26,724 (AES 1283/39)

Location and date: Berlin, 18.03.1939

Summary statement: Details regarding the occupation of Czechoslovakia and public reaction in Germany.

Language: Italian

Text:

Further to my telegram number 316 of 15.03.1939 (1) I send the following details obtained confidentially from colleagues.

1. From many small sings, which now, in the light accomplished fact take form and gain clarity, it would be possible to say that not only the occupation of the Czech nation but also the method in which it was carried out, that is utilising German elements cleverly placed beforehand in the territory to be occupied, were planned a long time ahead.  In this light even the fact of having countermanded the transfer of the German Theological Faculty to Reichenberg (German Sudeten territory) and of keeping it instead in Prague alongside the Czech faculty, would be explained.

2. The conversation during the night between Mr Hácha (2), President of Czechoslovakia, and the Führer must have been very brief and consisted in posing the tragic dilemma: “Either the Czech nation entrusts itself into the hands of Germany or I will march into Prague.”

3. The instantaneous occupation of the airfields and of the frontiers and exit points from Bohemia seems to have been primarily for police reasons, to prevent the escape of the hated refugees, both German and Jewish, who for many years had spoken and written against the Third Reich and its Führer.

4. The Berlin diplomats, including those of the nations who had signed the Munich Treaty or were present when it was signed, were kept in the dark about every move: it is said that even the Italian Government was informed about this action only during the night of the 15^th. (3) Someone, such as the Polish ambassador, had tried on Monday and Tuesday to make inquiries at the Berlin Foreign Office but without results; all high officials were reported absent on Monday and Tuesday. (4)

5. The French Ambassador (5), who called at the Foreign Ministry after the occupation expected to receive some explanation.  When he said “You have violated the spirit of the Munich Treaty” he was rebuffed with the ferocious accusation that France:

a) had started an armament race just after the signing of the Munich Treaty;

b) had given money to Czechoslovakia – of which the Germans pretended to have proofs – for purposes not consonant with the spirit of the Munich pact.

6. One of the most effective “subversive” elements at the disposal of Germany was represented by the Slovak peasants who had been working in Germany.  When these rural workers were returned to their country and saw the state of misery which it was in and for which Prague was accused of being responsible they started to extol the well-being of German people to the point that in a few months the country became completely anti-Czech and pro-German.  The Fuhrer took advantage of this psychological situation to bring pressure to bear on the unfortunate Monsignor Tiso, President of Slovakia, who had not the foresight to resign in time. (6)

7. The last step taken by the Slovak Government, that is to ask again for German protection, nay lead to a so-called “protectorate” also for Slovakia.

8. Mr Mastny, the Czechoslovakian Minister in Berlin (7), who should have left his post, has been restrained from doing so by the German government, probably to give the impression, if need be, that Prague still has a diplomatic representative in Berlin.

9. It is said that all Czechoslovak Legations abroad have been ordered to deliver their archives intact to the German diplomatic representatives in the respective capitals.  Likewise the Foreign Ministry archive in Prague was one of the first offices occupied by the German police.  It is easy to imagine the nature and number of documents now under investigating Germany eyes.

10.  The reaction of the Berlin population is varied.  The Catholic people are silence; outwardly they are in unison with the rest of the population but feel the moral guilt for the aggressive practices and violation of treaties by their own Government.  The Protestants seem less sensitive in general to moral considerations and to approve more readily of political success; let us hope that their Pastors at least are less superficial.  The young people, members of the National Socialist or not, of all denominations, are exultant at the results of this action, which they praise for having been bloodless, but they feel no sympathy for the tears and humiliation of the entire Czech population, neither do they worry about the moral issue caused by the violation of treaties.  This is the result of the nationalist fanaticism of the new generation, erected a supreme standard for the life of the peoples.

11. It has been reported that in the plan elaborated between Berlin and Slovakia a coup d’etat to take place in Slovakia on 15 March was anticipated, when this state would have immediately declared its independence from Prague.  This plan came to the knowledge of the Czechs and caused the precipitate intervention of the Central Government in Prague who immediately deposed the Slovak Government presided over by Monsignor Tiso.  Germany took immediate advantage of this action by siding openly with Slovakia, maintaining that the only constitutional government was the one under Dr Tiso.  The Prague Government, frightened by the course of events, sought salvation by appealing to Berlin for help, and this was the trap into which they fell, because even as the President of Czechoslovakia was travelling towards Berlin to ask for help, steps had been taken here for the imminent occupation of Czechoslovakia.

Notes: 

(1) ADSS 1.2

(2) Emil Hácha (1872-1945), President of Czechoslovakia 1938-39.

(3) The Italian Foreign Minister, Galeazzo Ciano (1903-1944), claimed he was informed only on 15.03.1939 in a personal message from the Prince William of Hesse (1905-1942). (Ciano, Diaries, Volume 1, p 55).

(4) Józef Lipski (1894-1958), Polish Ambassador to Germany 1934-39.

(5) See DGFP D, IV, number 233, pp 238-39.  Note of the Secretary of State on his conversation with French Ambassador Robert Coulondre(1885-1959).

(6) Jozef Tiso (1887-1947), Catholic priest and President of Slovakia 1939-45.

(7) Vojtech Mastny (1874-1954) Czechoslovakian minister to Germany 1938-39

ADSS 9.176 Sec State to Slovak Legation on Anti-Jewish actions

In the previous post Cardinal Maglione wrote to the Apostolic Delegate in Turkey, Angelo Roncalli with news that Vatican protests were having some effect in Slovakia.  The following day, the Secretariat made a formal protest to the Slovakian Legation in Rome about ongoing anti-Jewish measures.  In many cases the Vatican's interventions were directed at breaches of Catholic teaching, especially in regard to "mixed" marriages and the status of converts to Catholicism.  Here the Secretariat makes the concerns of the Holy See for all Jews - converted or not - very clear.  It is also worth noting that the Vatican took a much stronger and more direct approach with Slovakia than with any other German-allied government.  I believe this was not because of the priest-president, Tiso, but because Rome sensed a significant part of the government, and more importantly, the bishops, were opposed to the deportations.

ADSS 9.176 

Secretariat of State to the Slovak Legation

Reference: AES 2731/43

Location and date:  Vatican, 05.05.1943

Summary statement: Protest of the Holy See against antisemitic measures of the Slovak government

Language: Italian

The Secretary of State of His Holiness believes it is their duty to submit for the consideration of the Legation of the Republic of Slovakia to the Holy See the following:

With reference to note 8355/41 of 12.11.1941 (1), the Secretary of State brought to the attention of the Slovak Legation the deep regret of the Holy See over the publication by the Slovak Government of an “Ordinance” (2) which established a special “racial” law which contains numerous provisions which are in sharp contrast to Catholic principles, and it expressed confidence that as long as the aforementioned Ordinance had not been withdrawn or appropriately altered, the cited rules would be interpreted and applied in such a way to make as little detrimental impact as possible on Catholic consciences.

The Holy See, then, nurtured hopes that the Slovak government would take into account the feeling of its people, who are almost entirely Catholic, and would not have proceeded to expel by force people belonging to the so-called “Jewish race”.

With great sorrow, the Holy See has learned that transfers of this kind have been made from the territory of the Republic.

This sorrow is increasing because, according to news received from various parts, it would seem that the Slovak government intends to proceed with the transfer of all Jews in Slovakia, not excluding women and children, or those who profess the Catholic religion. 

A confirmation of this could be seen in the speech that the Minister of the Interior made on 7 February 1943 in Ruzenberok, where he said that “having proceeded to eliminate 80% of the Jews, the remaining 20,000 Jews in Slovakia must be transferred”. (3)

This is a grave danger that the Secretary of State feels bound to draw to the attention of the Legation of Slovakia considering the matter shown in the previously mentioned note, in which, among other things, it is pointed out that the Catholic Church welcomes people of any race into her womb, such is her maternal solicitude to arouse and develop feelings of brotherhood and love, among all people, according to the teaching of the Gospel.

Therefore the Holy See would fail in its divine mandate if it did not deplore those provisions and measures that seriously affect the natural rights of men, simply because they belonged to a particular race.

Above all, the Catholic Church cannot remain indifferent to the plight of her children who are removed, often violently, from their homes, and placed in particular pitiable circumstances and sometimes even without necessary religious assistance, thus bring some people’s faith into grave danger.

The pain of the Holy See is more acute, when it considers that such measures are implemented in a nation so deeply Catholic in its traditions, and a government that claims to follow and safeguard these traditions. 

Nevertheless, the Holy See does not want to abandon hope that the Slovak government intends to properly review and appropriately amend the “racial” provisions, removing any inconsistencies with natural and divine law, and, in the meantime, suspending the above mentioned transfers. (4)

Note of Cardinal Maglione: (5)

Nota Bene: Last Saturday – 01.03.1943 – I explained verbally to the Slovak Minister (6) the ideas contained in this draft note, and adding that I had also written on the matter.  The Minister said he would discuss this with his government in the next few days, since he was returning home.  Meanwhile, I wanted to make sure that the measures threatened by the Minister of the Interior would not be translated into action. 03.05.1943.

Cross references: 

(1)  See ADSS 8.199

(2)  See ADSS 8.153

(3)  See ADSS 9.85

(4)  See ADSS 9.206

(5)  These notes were included in a separate file.

(6)  Karol Sidor, Slovak minister to the Holy See.

ADSS 9.172 Maglione to Roncalli on Slovak Jews

The active intervention of the Pope through the charge d'affaires, Giuseppe Burzio, in Bratislava was having some effect.  Fears of the resumption of deportations was never far away, but there was hope that continued pressure applied to the Slovak government would give them cause for pausing.  In May 1943 the final outcome of the war was still uncertain, but the set backs on the Eastern Front were dimming hopes for a quick German victory.  Memories of Stalingrad were still very fresh and raw, but the Russian front was a long way from Slovakia.

The divisions within the Slovak government, between Tiso who appeared to have some residual sensitivity towards his priestly state and some sense of obedience to the pope, and his more antisemitic ministers, especially Adalbert Tuka and Alexander Mach, were showing.  Tiso still had sufficient authority and support within the government to exercise influence over the application of the anti-Jewish policies.  This document points to a widespread knowledge of the Slovak situation and an indication that similar strategies would be used with Hungary should a similar need arise.

At the bottom of the document is Maglione's note that Pius had approved the strategy.  The words "Seen / Approved by the Holy Father" appear often.  

ADSS 9.172 

Secretary of State, Cardinal Maglione to Angelo Roncalli, Apostolic Delegate, Turkey

Reference:  Telegram 153 (AES 2794/43)

Location and date:  Vatican, 04.05.1943

Summary statement: Steps taken by the Holy See for Slovakian Jews.

Language: Italian

I refer to your telegram number 99 and report number 4180. (1)

The Holy See has repeatedly made representations to the Slovak Government with special concern for non-Aryan young people. (2)

Because of the interest taken by [the Holy See] all transfer of Jewish residents in Slovakia is suspended.

Concerning the children you reported, the Holy See is prepared to intervene with the Hungarian Government when circumstances so require. (3)

Your Excellency will keep me informed.

Note of Cardinal Maglione:

Approved by the Holy Father.

Cross references: 

(1)  See ADSS 9.95 and 96.

(2)  See ADSS 9.81, 87, 176.

ADSS 9.86, 87, 89, 95, 96: the remnant 20,000 Slovak Jews

The belief that the remainder of the Slovak Jews, about 20,000, were in imminent danger of deportation, prompted a number of telegrams and reports sent to and from Bratislava, Istanbul and Budapest to Rome.  What is of particular interest is the level of knowledge the Vatican possessed at this point - March 1943.  Reading the documents one notices that it is accepted or presumed knowledge that hundreds of thousands of Jews, especially Polish Jews, are dead at the hands of the Germans.  It is also presumed knowledge that "deportation" would mean eventual and certain death.


The situation in Slovakia had raised hopes among Jewish organisations as well as some active Catholics that the Vatican could influence Tiso's government through direct appeal.  The Holy See knew from Giuseppe Burzio's earlier report (ADSS 9.85) of 07.03.1943 that a significant number of clergy were opposed to the government's anti-Jewish laws and actions and one bishop at least had called for Tiso to be removed from the priesthood.  Over the next week pressure continued to build.


ADSS 9.86  Margit Slachta, the Hungarian foundress of the Sisters of Social Service came to Rome to plead for the Slovakian Jews in the first week of March before going to Switzerland to appeal to the Red Cross.  Her visit on 08.03.1943 was met with the standard response that the Vatican was doing all it could, even though in the notes taken the writer observed that Sister Margit did not appear satisfied.  Slachta worked tirelessly for the rest of the war working to save Jews.


ADSS 9.87  Cardinal Maglione wrote to the charge d'affaires in Bratislava on 09.03.1943, Giuseppe Burzio urging him to take all necessary steps to prevent the deportations should the rumours prove true.


ADSS 9.89 Burzio wrote to Maglione on 11.03.1943 that the deportations would most likely still go ahead but not at the moment.  More information was not possible because government officials were "evasive" in their answers to Burzio's questions.


ADSS 9.95-96  On 13.03.1943 Angelo Roncalli, Apostolic Delegate in Turkey wrote on behalf of Eliezer Kaplan, from the Jewish Agency for Palestine appealing for the help of the pope to get two thousand Jewish children out of Slovakia and on their way to Palestine via Hungary and Turkey.  Roncalli had been assured that the Agency possessed British approved certificates for Palestine.  Confirmation of British permission for Jewish children to go to Palestine had been telegraphed to Rome less than an hour before Roncalli's first message arrived. (See ADSS 9.94)


The outcome of the appeals from the Vatican were mixed.  Deportations were suspended indefinitely, but appeals for Jewish children came to nought.  Cardinal Maglione cabled Roncalli on 04.05.1943 to say that the Holy See had intervened several times, especially for Jewish children.


However, there was another problem emerging.  Making appeals to governments to stop the deportation and murder of Jews was one thing; supporting the emigration of Jews to Palestine even if that would clearly save lives, was another.  Even in the middle of the Holocaust, concerns that supporting Jewish emigration to Palestine would eventually create new problems with regard to access to the Christian holy places were not far from the surface.  I shall return to this later.(See ADSS 9.136)


I will post the documents in the next several posts.

ADSS 9.85 Burzio to Maglione: renewed threats of deportations from Slovakia

Although deportations from Slovakia were halted in the autumn of 1942, rumours persisted that a resumption would occur.  Deportations were not resumed until September 1944 after the failed partisan-led revolt.  Nonetheless, Giuseppe Burzio's report to Cardinal Maglione reflects the deep-seated anxiety of the remaining Jews.  The Slovak bishops had sent another protest to Tiso's government on behalf of the baptised Jews using strong and forceful language.  The footnotes of the document are very revealing.  Burzio attached several documents to his report and the notes give a lot of information on the contents of the attachments. 


Note 1 contains the Slovak bishops' protest for baptised Jews.


Note 2 is a Latin appeal made to Burzio asking for the intervention of the Holy See on behalf of all Jews, baptised or not, and comments making it clear that the Catholic clergy "hate" the Jewish Code.  Further, Bishop Paul Pierre Gojdic, argues that the response of the Holy See has been muted because it does not fully understand the gravity of the situation.


Note 3 is an unsigned letter from a parish priest in Bratislava who tells in plain language that Jews are being murdered by gas and guns in Poland.  He also writes of the oft-cited rumour that Jewish corpses were being manufactured into soap.  

ADSS 9.85 Charge d’affaires Bratislava, Giuseppe Burzio to Cardinal Maglione

Reference: Report number 1517 (AES 2754/43)

Location and date: Presburg (Bratislava), 07.03.1943

Summary statement:  Information on the situation of the Jews in Slovakia; intervention of Burzio and the bishops in their favour.

Language: Italian

There are insistent rumours that measures are in preparation for the complete deportation of the Jews still left in Slovakia.  These voices were raised because of a speech by the Minister of the Interior (See attachment 1) (1).  The inhumane deportations of the past year have raised fears that the Minister’s statements are not empty threats.  However, it is not possible to know if there is such a project and the competent authorities show absolute reserve in this respect. 

The President of the Republic (2) to whom I mentioned the great anxiety caused by the speech of the Minister of the Interior told me that we should not take those statements too literally, but I thought he spoke without conviction.  The attitude of the President of the Republic towards the Jewish question is unclear.  It is hoped that by virtue of his powers he would free the baptised Jews from the unjust provisions of the Jewish code, however the granting of exemptions are relatively few. (3)  We talked a lot about corruption in the granting of exemptions from the entourage of the President of the Republic, and of course the Jews are willing to pay any amount to avoid deportation, which means death.

The episcopate has already appealed to the Government (See attachment 2) (4).  In these last days one gets the impression that deportations are not imminent.  I ask your Eminence for instructions for steps to take with the government. 

Attachment 3 is a letter from the Ruthenian Bishop of Presov (5) and Attachment 4 is from a parish priest in Bratislava. (6)

References:

(1)  Alexander Mach, address not published.  Deportations were suspended in the autumn of 1942 and did not resume until September 1944 after the failed partisan-led uprising.

(2)  Jozef Tiso.  See ADSS 8, page 40.

(3)  See ADSS 8.153

(4)Burzio sent an Italian translation of the letter dated 17.02.1943 (No: 403/I/1943, AES 2754/43):

“The Catholic Bishops of Slovakia have repeatedly appealed to the supreme government, that the anti-Jewish measures not be applied to baptised Jews.  In the last communication, Number 628/42, made last August, I requested the government, on behalf of the bishops, that baptised Jews were not to be deported from Slovakia regardless of the date of their baptism.  According to newspaper reports, (e.g. Gardista, 11.09.1943), the Jews “whether baptised or not, whether they hold cards or not, will all follow the same direction.  Whether it will be March or April, transports will be resumed”.

The bishops of Slovakia consider it their duty to intervene for the baptised Jews and reiterate their repeated appeal because baptised Jews may not be deported. At the same time they also restate their motives, which are as follows: 

1.  Baptised Jews are members of the Catholic Church since the Church accepted them in her bosom, according them the same rights and duties as all other members.  The Church does not distinguish among its members just because they are of different nationalities and races.  This is confirmed by the Apostle, St Paul who wrote: “There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him”. (Romans 10.12)

2.  The Catholic people of Slovakia, who truly feel in a Catholic way, can not tolerate a Christian government that casts out of a Christian Slovakia, Christian-Catholics.  The Catholic people of Slovakia, seeing these things, have turned to us with these words: “We give to the Missions, which spreads the work of Christ to distant lands, and in a Christian country we will deport Christian-Catholics.  It is difficult to understand and painful to put up with”.

3.  The Catholic Church does not administer baptism to an adult without complete preparation.  In the same way the Slovak bishops only admitted to Holy Baptism those people who were serious about becoming Catholic, who recognised the Catholic truth and severed all ties with Judaism.  There are cases were some people had to wait one or two years for baptism.

4.  During this time the missionary work was successfully spread throughout the world.  It would create an unfavourable impression on our situation, if in this era of great missionary development Catholics were forced to abandon a Christian state.  Future Slovak generations will try with great pain, when studying world history at home and abroad to try and understand that Christians, duly received into the Church, were expelled from our country”.

(5) Paul Pierre Gojdic, (1888-1960), bishop of Prešov (1940-1960), wrote in Latin to Burzio on 16.05.1942: (The translation is "rough" - if a reader can provide a more accurate translation I would be very happy to replace this one!)

“The great sorrow and horror inflicted in the east of Slovakia in the transportation of the Jews by the so-called ‘Hlinka Guard’ who carried out the decree to transport the unhappy Jewish people has taken place.

The barbarism in this miserable place has eclipsed in the memories of us all the brutal history of Bolshevik-Communist Russia, Spain and Mexico. 

All of this is more deplorable when in neighbouring states, where there is also National Socialist influence, such barbarism is not committed.  And in Hungary and Germany, where the instruments of public power, moved by the atrocities mentioned above, abstained from the evacuation of the Jews.

Not withstanding the sad state of these recorded conditions, when one sees the horrors intended in Slovakia, which are common to all the demonstrated expectations, that these are not as bad as the horrors in Hungary where the government is held by Protestants, and less so in Germany which is ruled only by men in public life who belong to the National Socialists, but only in Slovakia where the government is ruled by a Catholic priest, and where the power is in the hands of the clerical party named for the deceased Monsignor Hlinka.  When on the one hand the greater part of the people are moved with sorrow for these souls but on the other they infer that it is a grave thing to injure the Catholic church, since there are here, not a few, who think that the Apostolic See is not sufficiently informed and therefore does not raise its voice against the barbaric cruelties inflicted on the unfortunate.

Therefore I approached the Nuncio with discretion, relating that most of the Catholic clergy who are loyal to the Holy See, with the utmost sincerity and hard work find this subject hateful,  and humbly beseeching that the Apostolic See kindly intercede to move his Excellency the President of our Republic, a Catholic priest, that the above mentioned cruelties to the Jews be lifted  and injuries sustained in so far as it is possible be made good.  And the baptized Jews, who are fully members of the Church, still reside in the Republic of Slovakia, be granted full immunity and restitution of their human rights, and those who have remained Jews who were deported in a spirit contrary to Christianity, be spared.

If it is impossible, and if it please the Holy See, then his Excellency the President should be urged to renounce his office and hand it over to civil authorities, and to discontinue the hated ordinances of the “Jewish Code” which is enacted with great hatred by the Catholic clergy and through the whole Catholic Church.  But if the circumstances and wishes of the Church warrant it, then his Excellency, Dr Tiso, who for the good of the Church and avoiding even greater evils, could be permitted, in lieu of retaining the Presidency, to be reduced to the lay state, so that in this way is would be seen that the Church in no way consents or approves the governments above mentioned actions towards the Jews”.

(6) The letter carried no date or signature.

“Some Jews managed to escape from Poland and are hiding in here in the town.  German officers and SS men unanimously claim that these Jews (I have heard this from several independent sources) deported to Poland are massacred and their bodies sent to a soap factory.  There are stories:   a German officer confirmed this coldly and cynically in the presence of a person I know.  Jews are killed with poison gas or guns or other means.  The girls and women, after suffering every kind of humiliation and violence are stripped and coldly murdered.  Soap is made from the corpses.  A Jew has described his trip to Poland, his experiences there and his escape.  His report was sent to the President of the Republic.

Among the Jews, and of course even among the baptized, there reigns great anxiety, because Minister Mach threatens more deportations.  I have appealed to the bishop of Tirnavia to take to heart the cause of this poor people.  The bishop sent me a copy of the memorandum of the bishops to the government in defense of the baptized.  But even the unbaptised are also men and they too wish to live.

Please, I beg your Excellency to do everything possible for these poor people.

In Slovakia there are about 20,000 people of Jewish nationality.  Of these approximately 12,000 are more or less protected by law.  The remaining have no protection”.

See ADSS 9.147

ADSS 5.140 Burzio's meeting with Tiso on the Povazcsa speech

Following from the last post, this is the account of Giuseppe Burzio's interview with Jozef Tiso where the priest-president gave his version of the speech he made at the consecration of the church in Povazcsa Bystrica.  At the heart of Tiso's ex tempore comments was the statement that Catholic social teaching and the social practice of National Socialism were compatible.  Burzio reported the conversation to Rome with the final observation that despite various interpretations of what Tiso may or may not have said and the appeal made by Bishop Michael Buzalka, the final outcome was not a happy one.

ADSS 5.140 Giuseppe Burzio to Cardinal Maglione

Reference: Report number 646 (AES 477/42)

Location and date: Bratislava, 12.11.1942

Summary statement: Regrettable comments made in an address of Jozef Tiso.

Language: Italian

Text:

In response to your dispatch number 7868/41 of 21 October 1941 (1) I have the honour to report to your Eminence the following:  President Tiso gave an address in Povazcsa Bystrica, in the diocese of Nitra, on Sunday, 7 September 1941 on the occasion of the consecration of the new parish church.

As is his custom, he spoke without having prepared a speech in writing.  The text was published by newspapers issued by the unofficial Slovak Agency which are sent in a separate envelope. I have added a literal translation of the offending part of the speech.

On 10 September, during an audience in relation with the promulgation of the Jewish Code, President Tiso pointed to the passage in his speech in Povazska Bystrica and said: “Today, newspapers highlighted my recent speech with appropriate comments that I had nearly decided to support that the principles contained in the encyclicals and the principles of National Socialism are identical.  I have only spoken of the social aspects of National Socialism and its practical application and, as regards the encyclicals, it is clear that I have referred only to the social aspects.  In short, I wanted to say the National Socialism has, in the social field, put into practice many of the principles contained in the encyclicals: it is only in this sense that I have spoken of an identity between them.  Moreover, Slovak National Socialism intends to implement social reforms in the spirit of the teachings of papal encyclicals”.

Faced with this explanation is the text published by the unofficial Slovak Agency, the genuineness of which cannot be reasonably doubted, since the speech was pronounced through the microphone and played back on film.

The day after the audience, I had the opportunity to read the whole speech of President Tiso and found another no less astonishing statement: “The encyclicals of the pope are just dogmatic or moral teachings which have supreme principals that the Pope leaves the application to the leadership of an individual nation according to the conditions of life of each of them”.

I spoke once with the Auxiliary Bishop of Tirnavia (2) who like many others who had noticed the statement.  He went immediately to the President of the Republic, and told him the sentence was incomplete, and told him that he remembered very well that he had said: “the encyclicals of the pope are not just dogmatic and moral etc.”(3)

This explanation can be accepted since it is common knowledge that reproductions on film can often have gaps.  Even so, the corrected phrase is not a happy one.

Cross references: 

(1) See ADSS 5.123.

(2) Michael Buzalka (1885-1961), auxiliary bishop of Trnava (Tirnavia); Paul Janatausch (1870-1947), Apostolic Administrator of Trnava (1922-1947) ADSS printed both names – I am not sure why.

(3) Emphasis added.

ADSS 5.123 Tardini and Vatican displeasure with Tiso in Slovakia

Priest-President Jozef Tiso had long been a source of embarrassment for the Vatican.  His clerico-fascism was contrary to the well-known positions on clergy involvement in politics.  In all the concordats signed between the Holy See and European states in the inter-war period, agreement was reached whereby the Church would not permit clerics to have any public political role.  Tiso was a glaring exception.


In September 1941 Slovakia promulgated the Jewish Code, a raft of anti-Jewish laws designed to accelerate the exclusion of Slovakian Jews from the economic, social and cultural life of the nation.  At the same time Tiso gave an address at the consecration of the renovated parish church in the northern town of Považscá Bystrica where he was alleged to have said that Catholicism and Nazism were compatible. These remarks were confirmed in a meeting 0n 21 October 1941 between the Slovak minister to the Holy See, Charles Sidor and Domenico Tardini of the Secretariat of State.  


Tardini immediately sent a message to Giuseppe Burzio, the Vatican's charge d'affaires in Bratislava, to verify the comments.  Burzio replied on 12 November 1941 effectively confirming the truth of the report (ADSS 5.140).  In note on Tardini's report written on 23 October, Giovanni Battista Montini wrote that Cardinal Maglione said that the Pope thought Tiso's name should be taken off the list of Monsignors.  It was about the extent of what the Vatican could do to show its displeasure at Tiso's "heresies".

ADSS 5.123 Notes of Domenico Tardini

Reference: AES 7883/41

Location and date: Vatican, 21, 23,10.1941

Summary statement: The Slovakian minister, Karol Sidor, denounces Nazi influence in Slovakia.

Language: Italian

1. 21.10.1941.  The Slovakian Minister:

a) confirmed to me that Monsignor Tiso has, in a recent address, said that Catholic social doctrine is compatible with Nazism. (2)  The minister said he would send me the text.  I added that these appear to be heresies and I do not understand how Monsignor Tiso, a professor of theology, can say these things and expect people to believe it.

b) expressed wonder at my surprise at the attitude of Dr Tuka (3), the “super” Catholic and pro-Nazi.  The minister [Sidor] does not see how these two things (Catholicism and Nazism) are able to coexist.

c) admitted that the new measures against the Jews (4) are contrary to Catholic principles and recognises that this does not represent the sentiment of the population, but are the result of German impositions.

I added that the Holy See can only regret at what has happened.

2. 23.10.1941

After an audience with Cardinal Maglione, Giovanni Battista Montini wrote:

If it turns out that Monsignor Tiso is reported to have said is true (that Catholic doctrine and social teaching is compatible with the social theories of Nazism) (5), the Holy Father thinks Tiso’s name should be removed from the list of prelates with the title “monsignor”. (6)

Cross references: 

(1)  Josef Tiso, priest-president of Slovakia made the comments in an address on 07.09.1941 in Považscá Bystrica at the consecration of the renovated parish church of Our Lady of the Visitation.  Giuseppe Burzio, charge d’affaires in Bratislava, confirmed the remarks on 12.11.1941.  See ADSS 5.140.

(2)  Charles Sidor, Slovak minister to the Holy See (1939-1945)

(3)  Adalbert Tuka (1880-1946), President of the Council of Ministers 1939-1944.

(4)  The Jewish Code was published on 09.09.1941.

(5)  On the same day, 21.10.1941, a request for clarification of Tiso’s comments was sent to Giuseppe Burzio in Bratislava.(AES 7868/41).  He replied on 12.11.1941, report number 646; see note 1.

(6)   Tiso was named “papal chamberlain” on 21.11.1921 (Benedict XV) and he appeared with this title in the Annuario Pontificio 1922 (p 608).  The title must be reconfirmed at the accession of a new pope.  There was no confirmation either by Pius XI or Pius XII even though his name appeared in other editions of the Annuario, and he was accorded the title “monsignor”.  Tardini pointed this out to the Pope (AES 477/43).  I have not found any further indication that Tiso was stripped of his papal title.

ADSS 8.492 Notes from the Italian Embassy

In late September 1942, the Italian embassy to the Holy See passed on a report that it had received from the Italian embassy in Bratislava, Slovakia.  The report set out news on the deportation of the Slovakian Jews, but in particular focused on the anger in Catholic clerical circles towards priest-president Tiso's use of religious celebrations to make speeches on the anti-Jewish laws.  The Italian report summed up the reaction as - Tiso's speeches create confusion; who do Catholics believe - their pastors or the president?  That such as question was asked at all suggests that the answer may well have been that many Catholics were listening to Tiso.  


The report also refers to the Calvinist pastor of Nitra, László Sedivy, who had been arrested for continuing to baptise Jews despite formal warnings to stop the practice.  Tiso had said publicly that he did not believe in the sincerity of Jewish conversions or baptisms citing his experience as parish priest of Banovce (1924-1945) where he had not baptised one Jew, although he had the pleasure of receiving 18 Protestants into the Catholic Church.


Francesco Babuscio Rizzo, counsellor of the Italian embassy to the Holy See in Rome, passed on the report to the Secretariat of State.  At the end of the report is a note from Domenico Tardini with the words "See by the Holy Father".

ADSS 8.492 Notes of the Italian Embassy

Reference: No number, (AES 7165/42)

Location and date: Rome, 26.09.1942

Summary statement: Information on persecution of Jews in Slovakia, antisemitic speech of Tiso, provoked opposition among Catholic clergy.

Language: Italian

Text:

During the summer months the forced exodus of Slovakian Jews was held as planned by the Government and occurred without giving rise to unrest. (1)  From 25 March to mid-August about 70,000 people were deported.  Between 16,000 to 20,000 Jews remain in the country.  The number is comprised in large part of Jews exempted from the Law of 15 May of this year, namely that those baptised before 14 March 1939; who were married to a person belonging to the Aryan race before September 1941; and who are (temporarily) indispensable because of their occupations, have been granted exemption from deportation by the President of the Republic. […] (2)

Ecclesiastical circles have not welcomed the presidential statements.  They find it incomprehensible that Monsignor Tiso (3) could say that love itself is a divine commandment.  We are quite used to hearing praise of love of neighbour from the mouths of Catholic priests.  They criticise the President’s use of religious celebrations where people in large numbers are gathered to make political speeches and declarations of the kind, which they create confusion in the souls of the listeners, who do not know to give greater credence to their pastors or statements of the President.  Monsignor Tiso does not believe in the sincerity of the conversions of the Jews.  From his time as a parish priest in Banovce at the beginning of the antisemitic agitation, that is a period of eighteen years, there has not been one Jew who asked to be baptised, while he had the satisfaction of converting eighteen Protestants to Catholicism. Today there are many Jews from Banovce who ask for Baptism (4).  In recent times there have been mass conversions of Jews to Calvinism in Nitra.  Pastor [László] Sedivy was warned to stop the baptisms which he administered without subjecting the newcomers to any religious training and only for reasons of profit.  In the face of his refusal (717 baptism had been administered), he was expelled and taken into custody.

Since he was asked what would qualify a person to pursue the objective by the Jews with the transition to Christianity since that this was not enough to discriminate against them, he answered that it was made out of pure speculation, that is, in the hope that the quality of baptism could be an element in the contribution towards a Presidential exemption.  […] (5)

Note of Domenico Tardini:

29.09.1942. From Commendatore [Francesco] Babuscio. (Counsellor of Italian Embassy to the Holy See)

Seen by the Holy Father.

Cross references: 

(1) See ADSS 8.298, 334, 343, 360, 382.

(2) Passages on Slovakian antisemitic propaganda and the 15.08.1942 speech of Tiso defending the racial laws has been omitted.

(3) Concerning the use of the title “Monsignor” and Tiso, see ADSS 5.123.

(4) Tiso was parish priest of Banovce from 1924 to 1945.

(5) Passages on “discrimination” omitted.

 

ADSS 8.426 Note by Domenico Tardini on Slovakia

In the ultra-careful world of Vatican diplomacy even the private notes between members of the Secretariat of State were couched in restrained language.  In this note penned by Domenico Tardini, we come as close as possible to an expression of controlled anger at the seemingly impossible situation in which the Vatican found itself.  Without any ambiguity, Tardini wrote that the world would understand that the Holy See had no way of controlling Hitler; but how could it understand that Rome could not control a priest.  And herein lay the great weakness of the Roman system: the Pope was as strong and powerful as the Catholic world in its global diversity allowed him to be.  If a priest, in this case Jozef Tiso, would not accept the authority of the Pope and be obedient, and if the local bishop to whom this priest had promised "respect and obedience" could not rein him in, there was not much anyone else in the hierarchy or Curia could do.



ADSS 8.426

Reference: AES 5085/42

Location and date: Vatican 13.07.1942

Summary statement: Steps taken by the Holy See for the Jews of Slovakia.

Language: Italian

Text:

I can send the memo to the English Minister [D’Arcy Osborne] to you. (1) It would be good to also recognise the action of the Slovak bishops who protested [against the deportations].

NB: The trouble is that the President of Slovakia is a priest. Everyone understands that the Holy See can not put Hitler in his place. But who can understand that it can’t restrain a priest?

Attachment: From the Secretariat of State to the British Legation.

With reference to the notes 39/2/42 (2) and 39/6/42 (3), respectively on 25 March and 6 July [1942] the Secretary of State of His Holiness is pleased to inform His Britannic Majesty’s Legation that it did not fail to make repeated representations to the Slovak government in favour of non-Aryans who lived there, seeking to support the action taken in this direction by the bishops of Slovakia.

The Secretary of State had the honour of giving verbal notice to the Legation of these steps and has also reported them to the Apostolic Delegate in London.(4)

References:
(1) Follows.
(2) ADSS 8.328
(3) Not published. 06.07.1942 Osborne asked for information on the activities of the Holy See reported in an article in the Basler Nachrichten (Basel News) on Alexander Mach.
Cf ADSS 8.334.
(4) ADSS 8.345, note 1.

Dave Masko: Holocaust's final solution now viewed as a "European Project" from HULIQ

Dave Masko's thought provoking piece was published on HULIQ, an independent news media based in North Carolina.  Much of the article is not unfamiliar to historians of the Holocaust, but I was "hooked" by the references to Slovakia and Priest-President Tiso, about whom I have posted of late.
 
The editor, Armen Hareyan, kindly gave permission for me to publish the opening paragraphs of the article here.  I am more than happy to support independent media and encourage readers to do the same.   Masko's comments about Tiso are drawn from Dan Stone's book Histories of the Holocaust. - which is now added to my reading list for the Australian summer.  Stone is Professor of Modern History at Royal Holloway, University of London.



SEAL ROCK, Ore. – Claudia remembers bone-numbing cold and a heaven full of gray scud when “most of the adults were gassed on arrival at the Auschwitz extermination camp;” in turn, the Holocaust’s “final solution” began in earnest 70 years ago this month when the Auschwitz gas chambers became fully operational.



The preliminary stage of the “Final Solution” began in October and November 1941 when the gas chambers became operational at Auschwitz.” Also, on “October 23, 1941 – some 70 years ago – Catholic priest Jozef Tiso visited Hitler’s headquarters and requested Himmler’s assistance in deporting the Jews from Slovakia to concentration camps,” states a recent history of the Holocaust, while also noting that Father Tiso “justified his regime’s actions to the Holy See (the Pope) until the very end of the war – ‘Holy Father, we shall remain faithful to our program’ – it is clear that the Holocaust in Slovakia was far more than a German project, even if it was carried out in the context of a ‘puppet’ state,” writes author Dan Stone in the new book “Histories of the Holocaust” that’s an Oxford University Press publication recently sent out to colleges, universities and libraries worldwide.

To read the rest of the article and support independent news media, click here.






Dan Stone



ADSS 8.360 Burzio to Maglione. The Slovak bishops' statement

In ADSS 8.343, Giuseppe Burzio informed Cardinal Maglione that the Slovak Catholic bishops were preparing a joint statement as a response to the deportation of the Slovak Jews.  A statement by the bishops was published on 26 April 1942, and a copy sent to Rome the following day.  Burzio informed Maglione that the bishops had some difficulty getting their statement approved by the Government.  It took the personal intervention of priest-president Tiso to get the bishops' letter executed.  The Interior Minister, Alexander Mach wanted the bishops to align their statement with government policy, becoming an endorsement of the regime's policy.  This the bishops refused to do. 

Reading the statement would have been cold comfort for Jews who had not converted to Catholicism.  There is barely a word of consolation.  Rather there is a regurgitation of traditional Catholic anti-Judaism based on the ancient teaching of contempt and supercessionism mixed with an acceptance of late-nineteenth century pseudo-racial theories of Jewish proclivities to domination in economics and their negative impact on the public life of a Christian state.  At no point do the bishops condemn deportation as a way of solving "the Jewish Question".

My reading of the statement leads me to suggest that it was a case of an episcopate that was concerned to exercise some pastoral care for converted Jews, but were not passionate about helping the vast majority of Slovakian Jewry.

This document makes for heavy and hard reading.  What Pius XII thought of it when Maglione most assuredly passed it on can only be imagined.  From what we know of the man, it would have likely been a sense of great disappointment.

ADSS 8.360

Reference: Report number 890 (AES 3617/42, original)

Location and date: Pressburg (Bratislava) 27.04.1942

Summary statement: Joint letter of the Slovak bishops against the race laws and indicates two sections deleted by the government.

Language: Italian

Text:

With respect to my report number 862 of 9 March 1942 (1) I have the honour to report to Your Eminence that Their Excellencies, the bishops of Slovakia have prepared a joint letter to illuminate the faithful on the attitude of ecclesiastical authorities towards the Jewish question and the measures taken by the government against the Jews.

This letter, or rather statement, appeared in the newspaper “Katolicke Noviny” of 26 April 1942, and I have attached a translation. (2)

At first, permission to publish the letter was refused, but following an intervention by the President of the Republic, the Minister of the Interior, Alexander Mach, informed the bishops that the prohibition to publish had been withdrawn provided that they made some changes to the text of the statement. (See Attachment 2 at the dotted spaces) “… and we will not cease to insist that because they are dispensed from the requirements of the Jewish Code they are not deported from Slovakia” (3) and “it is therefore, not possible to approve, so we have raised a warning voice against those who violate the provisions of private property honestly acquired and who violently destroy the relationships of the family” (4) or to follow on with the following conclusion: “This is not to say that we will not affirm that existing laws do not violate natural or divine law. Likewise we do not intend to assert that we have violated the private property of the Jews honestly acquired, since it is well known that Jews are rich. Since the bonds of family are not broken indefinitely, there is nothing to object in the measures which have arisen in the Jewish question among us”.

This statement is so blatantly contrary to the truth that the bishops could not accept it as an alternative, and preferred to publish their statements, by removing the text of the two phrases highlighted. (5)


References for the first part:
(1) ADSS 8.343
(2) Follows the cover note from Burzio.
(3) The original place in the attached statement is marked “A”
(4) This passage was inserted into the original text at “B”
(5) Burzio added to his report two letters to representatives of the Holy See, Spain and Italy in Bratislava. The letters contained detailed information on the persecution of the Jews and urged a collective approach.

Attachment: The Bishops of Slovakia to the Catholic Faithful 26.04.1942

In recent times, the attitude of Catholic ecclesiastical authority to the anti-Jewish measures has been noted in newspapers, on radio and in public opinion.

There have been attacks on church authorities with accusations that they have allowed Jews to be baptised and have intervened with the government for the Jews themselves. On the other hand, instead, it was stated that the attitude of Catholic circles was identified with the action of the government and supported the elimination of Jews from public life and their expulsion from Slovakia. When the Government began transporting the Jews, and as the improbable news spread widely, people wondered who the bishops and priests could allow the carrying out of such barbaric acts.

These various and conflicting voices have prompted the Catholic authorities to calm Catholic public opinion and declare the following:


1. Jews were not baptised en masse by Catholic priests. Some Jews, under the influence of contingencies, have asked for acceptance into the Church, renouncing what they had been before, to them were given precise explanations and the imposition of conditions for their acceptance in the Church itself.

The Church, in principle, can not refuse anyone, when baptism is honestly required. Christ founded the Church for all nations and all peoples. The Church of Christ is catholic and universal and it is therefore necessary to preach to all the truth of Christ. Of course the sacrament of baptism can only be granted to those with sinless thought and the inner conviction to become a member of the Church. To have the opportunity to obtain this conviction, a long period of preparation, called the catechumenate, which under the usual arrangements should last several months (3-10), according to the intelligence and religiosity of the catechumens. After this preparation the Church can administer baptism, but always with the special permission of the bishop. The bishops always remind the clergy, who request permission to administer baptism to Jews, fulfilling their responsibility before God, if indeed the Jew is perfectly prepared, if he has the appropriate religious disposition and he is not acting to acquire temporary political or material benefit.

We must emphasise that only the Church is authorised to decide whether or not to grant the administration of the sacrament of baptism. This exclusive right of the Church has been defended in difficult times in the past and does not allow limitations even in the future.

When the Catholic Church welcomes anyone into its ranks, it signals not only all the duties of a Catholic-Christian, but guarantees that they enjoy the same rights as other members of the Church, simultaneously requesting that these rights be recognised by all.

2. This is our opinion and understanding of the baptism of the Jews.

Some Jews when they were baptised drew no advantage, but were persecuted from other Jews, often with excommunication and expulsion. These baptised Jews, sever all ties with an ancient tradition and intended to become a genuine part of the Christian community. They live a Christian life and fulfil their religious duties.

These Jews are regarded by us as believers, like all others, and it is our duty to take up their defence. It is in the interests of those baptised, who have taken up their religious duties, we have intervened. [A] (6)

3. Our attitude towards the other Jews and the measures taken against them is summed up on these principles:

The tragedy of the Jewish nation is that of not recognising the Redeemer and of having prepared a terrible and infamous death on the cross. The Redeemer himself, shedding tears at the lack of faith of the Jewish people, predicted as punishment their dispersal throughout the world. After the fall of Jerusalem, the prediction of Christ came to pass. For nearly two millennia the Jews have lived in larger of smaller groups among the nations of the world. In all this time never, never have they merged with other nations, living as a foreign element. Their attitude of hatred of Christianity did not change, and lately in the bloody persecution of Christians in Russia and in Spain, the Jews had an important part. Add to this that nations sometimes showed their discontent and their anger against the Jews in a too harsh and brutal way, that conflicted with Christian principles.

Even we have witnessed the pernicious influence of the Jews. In a short time they have controlled almost all the economic and financial life of the country to the detriment of our people. Not only economically, but also in the cultural and moral fields, they have damaged our people. The Church cannot be opposed if the state with its legal provisions impedes the harmful influence of the Jews.

In old Hungary, in the years 1848 to 1896, the laws dealing with political ecclesiastical matters also accepted the law on hospitality to Jews. Ecclesiastical groups protested against the law, since they feared the harmful influences of the Jews on public life. Government circles at the time and a greater part of public opinion accused the Church of being backward. The facts, however, have proved the Church right.

In resolving this difficult issue it can not be forgotten that Jews are men, and that they must be treated humanely. Care must be taken firstly that the legal order is not violated nor the laws of God. It is the natural right of every individual to be formed with honest work, to use private property according to Christian teaching. It is also the right of everyone to have their own family. If one decides for family life they must fulfil all their duties arising from this state and enjoy all the rights according to Christian principles. [B]

We have considered it necessary to declare the above so that the Catholic public was aware of the point of view of Catholic circles and so that our believers have a clear view of the attitude of the Catholic Church on the Jewish question, after the various, and not always beneficial, voices that have been heard.

References for the second part:
(6) Refer to note 4.
(7) Refer to note 5.


Deportation of Slovak Jews (from Yad Vashem)