It turns out that Jan Bata was enemy No. 1 of the German National Socialists. It is also clear that the German regime wanted to stop Bata. But even the Germans couldn't stop Bata.
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I recommend a study: Bata Foreign Office January 2011 + Foreign Office 21.10.1931 + German Intelligence Office DNB 19.7.1938 + Letter from Gerhard Keiper to John Nash 23.3.2011
First document - page 8
German Foreign Office memorandum of November 8, 1938 with attached memo explaining the reasons why the Nazi regime ordered the closing of all Bata's approximately 500 stores in the Sudetenland: "The reason for this order is the political stance taken by the Bata managing directorate during the political events leading to the handing over of the Sudetenland, and the conviction that the preservation of the extraordinarily networked system of Bata affiliates in the Sudeten-German region is not consistent from an economic-political standpoint with the principles of National Socialist governance of the economy. The efforts of the Reich Commissar are directed to having Bata completely liquidate his affiliates and transfer them into other hands."
Pages 16-17:
Nazi Economics Ministry memorandum states:
"The struggle against Bata has been one of the central points of the Sudeten-German Party's political program. Bata was not only the head representative of Czech chauvinism and a pioneering fighter for the Czech-ization policy in the Sudetenland, but also his economic, social and political system has been bitterly combatted by the Sudeten-German Party as the antithesis of National Socialism... Under these circumstances it was decided that the complete dissolution of the Bata shoe organization should be demanded and implemented."
Second document - page 16:
Memorandum for the file, by a Nazi regime official, summarizing his two-hour discussion with Czechoslovak Minister of Commerce Sadek on January 30, 1939:
"I read him the well-known news item from the Bata weekly paper 'Zlin,' in which Bata proposed to build numerous new factories. Sadek said he was familiar with this notice. Bata was counseled and warned over this notice. He personally rejected six applications from Bata to build new factories. I told Minister Sadek he may also warn Bata in our name. The German Government would in all events not be pleased that Bata is pursuing intentions that are opposite to the industrial policy of both governments. If the Czechoslovak Government does not find the means to stop him, then we would apply the necessary means. If he doesn't stop rabble-rousing against us and working economically against us, he is risking that one day we will blockade all Bata products from transport through Germany, including those for his foreign affiliates. Hungary would surely join in this effort if we requested that of Hungary. Then Bata can see if his international business can circumvent our power. Sadek was impressed by this threat and said he would make the necessary overtures to Bata."
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Misunderstanding or deliberate, subliminal damage to Baťa?
JŠ
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