“Question 4: How much time would be required to achieve the state of readiness of October 1st?” (388-PS, Item 48)
Whereupon, in the same telegram, Keitel reported to Hitler the considered answers of the OKH and the Luftwaffe.
On 21 October, the same day on which the administration of the Sudetenland was handed over to the civilian authorities, a directive outlining plans for the conquest of the remainder of Czechoslovakia was signed by Hitler and initialed by Keitel. In this Top Secret Order, of which 10 copies were made, the Nazi conspirators, only three weeks after the winning of the Sudetenland, were already looking forward to new conquests:
“The future tasks for the Armed Forces and the preparations for the conduct of war resulting from these tasks will be laid down by me in a later Directive.
“Until this Directive comes into force the Armed Forces must be prepared at all times for the following eventualities:
“1. The securing of the frontiers of Germany and the protection against surprise air attacks.
“2. The liquidation of the remainder of Czechoslovakia.
“3. The occupation of the Memelland.”
* * * * * *
“It must be possible to smash at any time the remainder of Czechoslovakia if her policy should become hostile towards Germany.