Word: gottwald
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...Comrade Gottwald made his way to the rostrum and told the crowd what had just happened in Hradcany Castle. "The decision," said Gottwald, "was not an easy one for President Benes...
Then his will broke; he signed the document accepting Gottwald's cabinet, while burly Communist Deputy Premier Antonin Zopotocky looked on (see cut). Said Benes: "This government will only have evil results...
Dusk began to shroud the castle and the city below. In St. Wenceslaus Square, Prague's Communist Mayor Vaclav Vacek was addressing the crowd. Suddenly he spotted Gottwald's familiar Russian Zis limousine speeding into the square between its motorized police escort. "And there they come now on their shiny red motorcycles with the blue headlights!" he shouted. "They are guarding Comrade Gottwald who is bringing us new and joyful tidings...
...most men left their offices without protest. People who had bitterly denounced the action committees a few days before were now happy if they were allowed to join them. Throughout the country there was an unseemly rush.to join the Communist Party; district party workers labored over piles of applications. (Gottwald announced that party membership had risen to 1,400,000 from 1,250,000.) There was no resistance because there was no hope. The people might have resisted had Benes moved; Benes might have resisted, had the people moved...
...Fifth Day. At the Hradcany, attendants rolled out the red carpet (literally). Premier Gottwald called to present the new members of his cabinet to the President. Said Gottwald: "I request you to accept my assurance that we are truly grateful for the fact that you have aided this victory of the people and of democracy." President Benes still wore the garments of diplomatic dignity-morning coat and striped trousers. Said he: "You want to conduct affairs of state in the new way. . . . For you and the nation I wish that this way may prove a happy...