Very strong criticism of Benes' politics is the work of a university professor of Czech origin, Josef Kalvoda, "The role of Czecho-Slovakia in Soviet strategy". According to this author from Washington, DC, Benes was an intentional agent of Communism. Another critical work founded on documents was written by Miloslav J. Broucek, "Czechoslovak Tragedy", how Czechoslovakia was bolshevisized. Many specialists who studied the penetration of Soviets into Central Europe, were convinced that the sovietization of Czechoslovakia after 1945 was thoroughly planned. Very clear proof for these views was the leading role of Czech Communist Party in the years 1945 - 48. Before Benes' conclusion of a treaty with Stalin in December 1943, the Czech Communists settled in Moscow, and forced Benes to give the Communists four key ministries in the future government of Czecho-Slovakia (Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior and Education).
Very well known American journalist, Dorothy Thompson, wrote in 1955 a series of articles in which she severely criticized Benes' politics, especially construction of so-called bridge between the East and West. She said, it was not a serious planning or responsible talk of a diplomat, but building of castles in the air. She compared the position of Czecho-Slovakia with Finland. The situation of Finnish nation in direct neighbourhood of Soviet Union in 1945 was very critical. Finland has lost two wars with the Soviets (1939 and 1944), but when the Finnish Communists tried to introduce Communist system in a coup d'etat, the Finnish president had them arrested. By acting decidedly and without fear, he saved the situation in favour of democracy.
In 1935 Benes concluded an agreement with Soviet Union with regard to mutual help. He tried to convince also other European governments to recognize the Soviet Communist State. In September 1938 the crisis between Germany and Czecho-Slovakia reached the point of war on account of the Sudeten territories. Against the wishes of England and France, in September Benes declared general mobilization in the hope and being convinced that the Soviets would come to his aid. From the military headquarters in Hana, Moravia, numerous telegrams were sent to Moscow with the request for help in case of war. However, there was no reply from the Soviets. Dr. Ladislav Feierabend in his memoirs called "Benes Between Washington and Moscow", mentions the discussion of Ivan Herben (Czech literary figure) with Benes. It took place in Hostisov in region Tabor where Benes visited Herben's family. After discussing his visit of White House and conversations with President Roosevelt, he tried to convince the President that Stalin is turning into a democrat and the Soviets, in general, getting closer to the West, and after the war they would loyally cooperate with the Western Democracies.
The second topic of the discussion between Benes and Herben was the case of Munich Agreement. The Four Powers' decision forced Czecho-Slovakia to give up Sudeten territories in favour of Third Reich. On this occasion Benes became very angry and started to shout that he had a diplomatic document about the fact that the Soviets betray Czecho-Slovakia equally like Daladier and Chamberlain. According to him, the Soviets had not the slightest intention to assist his country in case of war with Germany. Soviet promises were just an ordinary Communist trick. He said with raised hands over his head: "I am going to prove it! I am going to reveal the fraud of Soviet diplomacy and legend of Czech Communists." Benes was upset and angry to such an extent that he could get a heart attack because he suffered from sclerosis. Herben asked him a direct question: "Mr. President, why don't you publish this betrayal since you have the diplomatic documents?" Benes hesitated for a while and then using his cool, colourless voice answered him: "You, know, dear colleague, this is an absolute truth. But the political truth is different. That's why I cannot do it at the present." Herben was completely shocked by Benes' statement. He asked himself: "Is it possible that a president who has a slogan written on his standard 'The Truth is Victorious', and who considers himself as Masaryk's disciple and follower, differentiates two kinds of truths, according to what the political situation brings about?"
Second question which bothered Herben's mind was: "Is there any hope that this sick man can win victorious battle for democracy with a robust and inconsiderate Gottwald and apparatus of Communist Party supported by Moscow?"
Benes' biggest blunder and a real crime was the conclusion of Treaty with Stalin in December 1943 which was to last five years. Without any consultations with his exiled government in London, or any foreign governments, Benes changed the duration from five to twenty years. Dr. Feierabend found out about this fatal blunder from English diplomats who stated frankly that Benes was risking the independence of future Czecho-SIovakia which was a completely irresponsible action on his part. (Dr. Ladislav Feierabend, Benes mezi Washingtonem a Moskvou - Priloha c.l Ivan Herben pages 133-135) [Benes Between Washington and Moscow], Another example of Benes' insincerity was his treatment of delegation consisting of three members of Slovak National Council sent to London (Ursiny, Novomesky and Vessel). Ursiny represented the Democratic Party, Novomesky the Communists, and Vessel the Slovak army. Their mission was to notify Dr. Benes that the new political leaders in Slovakia repudiate the idea of Czechoslovak nation and insist that the Slovak nation be treated as equal partner with the Czechs. Identity of the Slovak nation must be recognized and respected. Since none of these delegates spoke English, Benes' Czech assistants organized the meetings with the Press in such a way that the reports which appeared in the newspapers spoke of complete unity between the Czechs and Slovaks, and even these three delegates supporting President Benes. The reality was completely different. The serious business and discussions with Benes' exile government turned out in front of the English public as a farce.
Very shocking experience for all the nations where the Soviet Red Army came and passed through was the inhuman treatment of population, whether they belonged to friendly or opposing nations. There was no difference in this respect. They plundered, burned, killed, raped, terrorized and robbed helpless civilians.
Members of Benes' government tried to cover up all these inhumanities. Uncritical admiration of everything Soviet which in the Czech circles in London was getting more conspicuous, aroused among British politicians increasing indignation which, after the signing of the Czechoslovak Soviet pact in December 1943, changed into disappointment and resistance. A reflection of this deep British disgust over the Czech servitude is an episode concerning the British Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anthony Eden. For domestic consumption and increase of political prestige abroad, the Czechs often used British parliament as their propaganda tribune. They arranged it in such a way, that some member of British parliament made an agreement with Prime Minister Churchill or some other influential minister that he would be asked in parliament a question which would offer an opportunity to praise Benes, his politics and high democratic standard of his liberating action. Minister Anthony Eden agreed at first, but then he changed his mind and wrote down: "I don't like this and I think you would get some pretty nasty supplementaries. Czecho-SIovakia is not popular in any quarter of the House just now and Dr. Benes is much distrusted. All this may be unjust, but it is a consequence of what is regarded as Dr. Benes' overeagerness to obey Moscow's behests. Unfriendly people describe Dr. Benes as 'Stalin's jackal'. Personally I should prefer to leave it entirely alone, for I don't want to be fulsome to Dr. Benes and his government just now. I don't consider that they have done anything to deserve compliments from us. (Professor Frantisek Vnuk, Rebelanti a Suplikanti, pages 180-181, 1989).
Benes' stubbornness and inconsiderate political system of centralism brought the First Republic to a disaster on account of his ignoring the rights of minorities. Trickery in his approach of dealing with them is very well explained in the report of Lord Runciman, an English politician, who mediated between Hitler and Benes, "too many promises, procrastination and no tangible results". Consequently, it was not the Hlinka Party, nor any other minority responsible for the dismemberment of Czecho-SIovakia, but the senseless nationality policy of Masaryk and Benes, practised with arrogance between the two World Wars.
In 1950, two years after the Czech Communists have taken over Czechoslovakia completely, Gabriel Puaux, a French political writer, characterized Benes, the 'President-builder': "Mr. Eduard Benes, believing to serve his country, has twice conducted it into bondage."
The Second Czecho-Slovak Republic ended up in even bigger tragedy of Communist inhuman totality, religious persecutions of Catholic Church, confiscation of possessions, farms, forming of state kolkhoz cooperatives, nationalizing of schools and many other cultural institutions, dictatorial and centralist rule of the Communist Party, closing of monasteries, placing the priests into concentration camps and religious sisters in manual work, forbidding teaching of religion, atheization, all symptoms of slavish imitation of Soviet Communist system. Benes claiming to be a Democrat, naively believing that Stalin and his followers are turning into Democrats was a clear proof that he has lost common sense, was tricked and duped by Stalin by accepting this most horrible tyranny that human kind has ever seen and experienced during its long history.
Sandorfi, R.: History of Slovakia. (Survey). Toronto-Bratislava : Zahraničná Matica slovenská, 1996. s. 226-230.