Chapter 83 Chapter Thirteen The Triumph of the Will (5)

Hitler was really lucky.Because of Benito Mussolini's follies, the world's attention was suddenly diverted from Hitler's latest attacks on the Jews and his illegal military expansion. On October 3, Italy invaded Ethiopia.The world is outraged.How can a civilized country force primitive tribes to fight fighter jets and tanks on horseback?The Anglo-Americans, who were forgetful about their pacification plans, were particularly vocal.Britain took the lead in imposing limited economic sanctions on Italy in the League of Nations.Although there were many voices in Germany, and there were many people who opposed Italy and sympathized with Ethiopia, Hitler still publicly refused to support Emperor Haile Selassie, and secretly gave military aid.At the same time, Hitler was sending Mussolini raw materials in an attempt to drag Italy (and Britain) down and give Germany more freedom of action.His aid to Mussolini was also to test how Britain would respond to Germany's defiance of the League of Nations.It soon became clear that Britain would refrain from retaliating.This must have strengthened Hitler's belief that the British were ready to make a deal with him.

In order to regain control of the situation and himself, Hitler reclusive.For the last four weeks of the fall, he has not been seen in public.Rosenberg thought the Führer was ill, but it was possible that the pre-Christmas gloom had returned.What's more, he also faced a crucial and unpleasant decision, which in turn had to do with the future of the Nazi Party and the course of National Socialism.Hitler had reached a point where he was almost at the point where he was about to die.Although he and his party controlled all aspects of German social life, the "Brown Revolution" stalled.He has left everything domestic at the expense of foreign policy.He is not initiating, but in reaction.As a result, public interest in the party is extremely low.Fewer people apply to join the party, and party members are not as active in party activities as before.

On January 3, 1936, Hitler called a conference of local and Reich governors, expecting them to be content with what had happened.In his speech, he fully revealed his plan to rearm Germany and hinted at the bright future of Germany in his mind.Then, with a look of desperation reminiscent of the party's disintegration in previous years, he begged his audience to understand that unless the party leadership "forms a unity and is loyal to him," these are the challenges to be achieved. impossible.Just after the pleading, he used his emotions again and demanded absolute loyalty.These he succeeded, by - as in 1932 - the threat of suicide.The audience was dumbfounded.Hess, the chairman of the assembly, hastened to assure him that, wherever he went, everyone in the room would follow him with unquestioned loyalty.

The spirit of the Führer was immediately revived. In mid-February, he was ready to take the next step—occupying the Rhineland Demilitarized Zone.This area included German territory west of the Rhine and a longer stretch of thirty miles east of the Rhine, including the cities of Cologne, Dusseldorf, and Bonn. On the evening of January 20, King George V of England passed away.The death of the monarch made him even more ambitious.After George's death, he was succeeded by Edward VIII, Prince of Wales.The man was a man of character, independent and sympathetic to many of Germany's demands.In his first radio address as the incoming king, he made it clear that there would be no change.This was confirmed the next day by reports from Washington City.Hans Luther called Wilhelmstrasse to say that the chief of Western European affairs at the U.S. State Department had learned in a "very frank" conversation with the new king that he "did not agree with the revival of friendly relations in France and the chaining of England to the French cart." Efforts made..." He further objected to France's attempts to force Germany under its knees and declared his deep sympathy for Germany's plight.During Edward's first month on the throne, the Duke of Coburg spoke to him three times and heard King Edward's assurances with his own ears. "I ask a question: Would it be beneficial for future German-British relations if Baldwin (Prime Minister) had talks with Adolf Hitler?" Be king? Baldwin or me? I want to talk to Hitler myself, here or in Germany. Please pass this on to him.'”

Such British encouragement, coupled with the half-hearted and feeble measures taken by the League of Nations against Italian aggression, strengthened the Führer's determination to occupy the Rhineland.Since Britain did not work together to stop Mussolini, if he followed Mussolini's footsteps, the British inflation would be nothing more than a public protest. On February 12, he summoned the chargé d'affaires in Paris to discuss how France would respond to the re-transformation of the Rhineland into a military zone.In the afternoon of the same day he spoke to General von Fritsch about military operations.The Army Chief of Staff was not at all enthusiastic about it.Why not negotiate?Hitler argued that negotiations would take weeks.He also said that he only wanted to make a symbolic move.How long will it take to drive 9 infantry battalions and some artillery into the Rhineland?Two days, said Fletcher; but warned that no action should be taken if there was even the slightest danger of war.

Hitler agreed in principle, but recalled the ambassador to Italy, Marrich Hesse, and said that he was currently "considering a question of far-reaching significance."Should Germany condemn the Locarno Pact on the grounds of Paris' ratification of the Franco-Soviet Treaty and garrison troops in the Rhineland?At this time, according to Hesse's official memorandum, the Fuehrer revealed that he had long considered the spring of 1937 to be the right moment to occupy the Rhineland.But political developments made him wonder whether the psychological moment had come. “He was asking himself whether he should go to Mussolini and advise him to denounce the Locarno Convention on the pretext that it had been violated, and then he followed suit.”

Whatever the case, Hitler was now making up his mind to act, but assured the French of his peaceful intentions. "Isn't it clearly in the interests of both countries to maintain friendship?" he told journalist Bertrand de Youfner on February 21. The possibility of German aggression is grotesque." The French, who were quiet after hearing this, should have paid attention to the Führer's reply to Jufner's criticism of the book later: "You want me to revise this book, as if I'm a writer ready to reprint my own work. I'm not a writer. I'm a statesman... I'm going to revise in the great book of history!"

It was not until the next day that Ambassador Hesse conveyed to Mussolini Hitler's serious concerns about the possible ratification of the Franco-Soviet treaty.Mussolini replied that he did not agree with the treaty, but that it had no direct relation to Italy.This at least suggested that Mussolini would stand by if Germany condemned the Locarno Pact.Thus, the Führer ordered the start of "Operation Winter Training". On March 2, Blomberg issued a preparation order to the Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armed Forces to move troops into the Rhineland Demilitarized Zone on "Z-Day". Three days later, Blomberg set "Z-Day" as Saturday, March 7.The stage was set, but for some reason Hitler lost his nerve and asked his military adjutant, Colonel Friedrich Hossbach, whether the date of operation could still be postponed.The answer is yes.What Hitler went on to say was even more interesting: what was the closest date to be found to cancel Operation Winter Training.

That afternoon, British Foreign Secretary Eden returned to London.That night he reported to the cabinet that the French intended to appeal to their power over the Rhineland. "It was a dubious cause for the British people," he commented in his memoirs. .” True enough, it was France, not Britain, that expressed concern for the Führer, who "was up all night" that night. "I kept asking myself," he later confided privately to Hoffmann, "the same question: What would France do? Would it oppose the advance of my small battalions? If I were French, I would know what to do: I will beat them hard and not let a single German soldier cross the Rhine."

On Friday, the day before "Z-Day", relevant persons announced that Congress would hold a session at noon the next day.The Berlin diplomatic community speculated that something must be happening right now.That night, the writers and photographers of major German newspapers were invited to a meeting in the Propaganda Department. The reporters were scratching their heads.Goebbels informed them that since they were leaving secretly the next day, they had to be detained until dawn.The head of state couldn't sleep for another night, tossing and turning on the simple iron bed, constantly thinking about how France would react.England did not trouble him; he had chosen Saturday because no official was on duty on it. "They don't go to work until Monday," he told Weidmann. "By then the excitement will be a thing of the past!"

Early Saturday morning, a special advance team headed for Tamberhof Airport.There is already a "Junker" transport plane waiting.After the aircraft took off, the reporters still didn't know where they were flying, and even the pilot didn't know where the destination was.The driver will open the kit at the specified time, and only then does he know where the destination is. At 10 am, the German ambassador called on Eden.After discussing another Anglo-German agreement for a while, Horch suddenly said: "I want to tell you a piece of extremely important news. The first part of the news may not suit your taste, but the latter part is more important than what has been mentioned in recent years." More advice is better." He read out a memorandum attacking the Franco-Soviet treaty as a violation of the Locarno Pact.Therefore, Germany decided to take back the Rhineland Demilitarized Zone.Horch went on to read that Hitler proposed separate non-aggression pacts with East and West.He would also like to return to the League of Nations. Eden deeply regretted the Rhineland operation, but said he would seriously consider Germany's proposal.He said that Germany's attitude towards the League of Nations is the most important thing.At this time, Horch said that Germany returned to the League of Nations without any additional conditions.Then, he said nonchalantly, "As for the Rhineland, Germany just sent a few small advance teams there. As soon as Horch left, Aiden summoned the French ambassador to express his deep regret for Germany's actions. Aiden said , the denunciation of the Locarno Pact is "deplorable", but this needs to be considered by the British cabinet. Since most of the cabinet is at the country house, the matter will have to wait until Monday. After brief meetings with diplomatic representatives from Italy and Belgium, Eden called Prime Minister Baldwin and immediately reported to him at the prime minister's residence. "Although he was personally friendly to France," Eden recalled, "he knew in his heart that if France took military action, Britain would not support it. I could only agree. I told him that on the Locarno issue, Hitler spoke to me in good faith. I can no longer trust him." "Baldwin also no longer believed in Hitler, but he agreed to wait and see how the French would react." At about 11:30 in the morning, half an hour after the "Junker" carrying the advance team landed in Cologne, the reporters stood with thousands of German patriots on the Hohenzollern Bridge across the Rhine. Eighteen years ago, the disarmed German army retreated from France and walked here dejectedly.Suddenly, the crowd heard footsteps, the rumble of iron wheels, and the clatter of horses' hooves.As the first German troops made their way onto the bridge, cheers erupted from the crowd.Under the cover of several aircraft, other troops also crossed the Rhine from at least five bridges. "Operation Winter Training" had a total of 19 battalions, but only 3 battalions crossed the Rhine.Even so, the enthusiasm (for the Germans) and fear (for the French) of this small force was enormous. Inside the Kroll Theatre, Hitler is addressing the Reichstag.He was greeted with rapturous applause (except at the diplomatic table).When he spoke, the audience was silent.United Press reporter and recent Williams College graduate Richard Helms watched Hitler "like a hawk."The Führer's speech slowed down after a long discourse on how unequal the Treaty of Versailles was.He looked nervous and changed the towel in his hand behind the podium.He was pale and unnatural, as if he couldn't bear it.After that, he said slowly and in a suppressed tone: "At this moment, the German army is advancing." The theater suddenly became a madhouse. In fact, the three battalions of German troops had already crossed the Rhine—but there were orders to fight back if challenged by the French.