Germany lends Czech Republic original of Munich Agreement

Sep 25, 2008, 14:01 GMT

Prague - Germany allowed its original of the so-called Munich Agreement, under which European powers gave Hitler parts of then-Czechoslovakia 70 years ago, to be shown in Prague for the first time, officials confirmed Thursday.

The document will be on display at Prague's National Museum between October 28 and March 15 as part of a sweeping exhibit commemorating 90 years of the Czech Republic's history of independence, museum historian Marek Junek said.

'The German original has never crossed the borders of Germany,' Junek said.

The talks to bring the document to Prague began a year ago, he said.

'Our colleagues feared that we could misrepresent the agreement, show it in a negative light,' Junek explained, adding that German archivists also worried that the pact could be damaged.

Czechs have seen the deal signed by Britain, Germany, Italy and France on September 30, 1938 as a betrayal by Western European allies who failed to honour military obligations to the young Central European republic.

The trauma shapes the Czech national psyche to this day. 'Munich has cemented' the view of Czechs as 'victims of world powers who have no influence,' said political scientist Jiri Pehe.

The museum also plans to show the British original and hopes to bring the Italian and French versions, the latter of which has been lost since World War II.

'French colleagues promised that they will look for it but do not guarantee that they will find it,' Junek said.