Arms production in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia: The example of Škoda Works

The aim of the thesis is to analyse the development of the arms industry in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia on the example of Škoda Works, including an illustration of its importance for the German war economy. Within the framework of a comprehensive approach to the issue, the thesis proceeds from the definition of arms production and the specific position of the arms industry in the economy, through the key aspects of the defence policy of interwar Czechoslovakia, influencing the shape of the industry at the beginning of the German occupation, the characteristics of the management during the war, to a concrete illustration of the development of the industry on the example of Škoda Works. The analysis shows the important role of Czechoslovak economic mobilisation measures in the takeover and subsequent management of the industry by the German administration. In the first phase, the latter concentrated on the reorganisation of production in accordance with German needs, on rationalisation as the war progressed, and at the end of the war on the total use of all resources for war production. Arms production at the Škoda Works grew during the examined period, and its importance within the German war economy increased as the war progressed and the German production potential was destroyed. The thesis also has important overlaps with the current security situation, where individual states are taking steps to increase national and collective security, using some of the measures that were also seen in the thesis during the examined period.