Chapter 98 Chapter 16 Returning to Hometown (4)

At 2 o'clock in the morning on March 11, the revised invasion plan, still code-named "Battle of Otto", was sent out.Hitler took personal control of the campaign. "If other measures are unsuccessful," the plan reads, "I intend to invade Austria armed to create constitutional conditions to prevent further violence against German-friendly residents." The relevant troops need to be ready around noon on the 12th. "I reserve the right to determine the timing of the actual invasion. The actions of the troops must give the impression that we have no intention of waging war against our Austrian brothers."

At 5:30 in the morning, Schuschnigg's bedside phone rang.The call was from the police chief, reporting that the German frontier at Salzburg had been closed and all rail traffic had come to a standstill.He hastened to the Chancellery at Ballhausplatz, where he learned that the German divisions in the Munich area had been mobilized and were supposedly destined for Austria.The telegrams in the German newspapers were equally astonishing: they declared, for example, that the Communist flag had been flown over Vienna and that the mob was chanting "Long live Moscow!" "Long live Schuschnigg!"

At 10 o'clock in the morning, Schuschnigg's irrelevant minister, Greiser-Hostnau, came to Ballhausplatz with written instructions from Hitler and Goering.With him was Seth Inquart (who met him at the Aspen airport).Shocked, Seyss-Inquart reported Berlin's demands: Schuschnigg had to resign, and the referendum had to be postponed for two weeks until a "legal vote" similar to the Saarland referendum could be established.If Göring did not get a call back around noon, he assumed that Seth-Inquart was prevented from calling, and Göring took "corresponding action."It was already 11:30, and Seth-Inquart, being a reasonable man, extended the deadline to 2:00 pm in the name of the Führer.

Schuschnigg used this time to weigh the possibility of revolt.He called the police chief, who told him that Vienna remained calm.He had erected a cordon in the inner city - as far "as far as possible" - but, with many Nazi policemen reinstated, the government could no longer rely on the police.In this desperate situation, he convened a meeting of the "cabinet", his closest advisers, to discuss emergency measures.He proposed three options: reject the ultimatum and immediately appeal to world opinion; accept the ultimatum and immediately resign himself; compromise and accept Hitler's request to change the technical aspects of the referendum, but reject everything else.They decided to compromise.

It was almost 2 o'clock in the afternoon.A moment later, the two messengers of doom, Seth-Inquart and Grace-Hostnau, returned.They do not accept compromise.Schuschnigg was thus left with an unpleasant choice between total submission and resistance.He hastily consulted with President Miklas and decided to cancel the referendum.After returning to office, he informed the "Cabinet" of the decision.For a moment, everyone was speechless.In the silence, loudspeakers on trucks were heard announcing the referendum, followed by "O you, my Austria!" A few moments later, Chancellor Schuschnigg told Seyss-Inquart and Greiser-Hostnau that Hitler's request for a postponement of the referendum had been granted.At the same time, they had to adopt extensive security measures such as an 8 pm curfew.The two emissaries expressed concern, stepped back and called Goering to deliver a message. (The records of this call, as well as those of calls between Berlin and capitals in the following days, were discovered by the Allied authorities at the Reich Chancellery.)

"These measures by Chancellor Schuschniger are completely unsatisfactory," Göring replied.As soon as he finished speaking, he put down the phone and went to think about the problem by himself. He should have consulted with Hitler—who, according to Papen, was almost "in a state of hysteria" by this time—but he did not, and went on his own.A little after 3 p.m., he was on the phone with Seth-Inquart again. "Berlin can never agree with the decisions made by Chancellor Schuschniger," he said.The insidious Goering, beneath the cheerful exterior, demanded the immediate resignation of Schuschnigg and his cabinet.He also repeated the request: send a telegram to Berlin asking for German aid.

The two ministers solemnly returned to their offices.The ministers had gathered in the big office and waited. Seth Inquart, "pale and nervous," opened his notebook and delivered Goering's ultimatum.Then, everyone asked him questions in a rush, leaving him nowhere to hide. "Don't ask me," he replied bitterly, "I'm just a parrot, a female telephone operator." He added that within two hours, if he himself was not named chancellor, the German army would start into Austria. In Vienna, it was business as usual and nothing seemed to be happening.Planes circled the city, dropping leaflets urging citizens to vote "yes" on Sunday.In the streets, people shouted patriotic slogans and waved handkerchiefs as the convoy of trucks from the "Father Front" passed.Even strangers greet each other with "Austria".For a time, the whole country was united.All of a sudden, the happy waltzes and patriotic marches on the radio stations all stopped.Instead, an order was announced: All unmarried reservists born in 1915 should immediately report for enlistment.Soon after, soldiers in steel helmets drove towards the German border like flowing water in trucks.

In desperation, Schuschnigg turned to London for help.After explaining to London how he had bowed to Hitler's demands so as not to risk bloodshed, he demanded that "the British government tell him at once how he should proceed".Ironically, Chamberlain was hosting a luncheon for the Ribbentrops at 10 Downing Street when this telegram was delivered to him.Chamberlain coldly invited Ribbentrop into his study, saying that he and the new foreign secretary, Lord Halifax, "have a private conversation". "The discussion," Ribbentrop reported to Hitler, "was conducted in a tense atmosphere. The usually calm Lord Halifax was even more tense than Chamberlain, who was at least superficially appeared poised and level-headed." After the British Prime Minister read the telegram from Vienna, Ribbentrop "claimed that he knew nothing about the situation" and expressed doubts about the veracity of the reports.If true, a "peaceful solution" might be best, he added.

These words were enough to soothe a Chamberlain who was determined to get along well with Hitler.Even though his foreign minister angrily charged that Schuschnigg was "threatened with invasion," Chamberlain agreed with Ribbentrop that there was no immediate evidence of German military action.Chamberlain then asked Lord Halifax to send a telegram to the Austrian government—a telegram that must have made him cringe: “It is not the duty of the British Government to advise Your Excellency the Prime Minister of any action which would expose his country to danger; Nor can the government guarantee protection (Austria) from danger."

Schuschnigg was under no illusions that he did not count on British or Italian assistance.He tendered his resignation at about 4 pm.President Miklas reluctantly accepted his resignation, but flatly refused to carry out the order to appoint Seth-Inquart as Prime Minister.He picked the police chief to be prime minister, but was rejected.The governor-general of the armed forces and the prime minister of the former Christian Socialist government also politely declined.Since no one was willing to take up the post, President Miklas persuaded Schuschnigg to reconsider.He declined, stating that he would not be involved in "Cain's preparations, either directly or indirectly, to kill his brother Abel again." (According to the "Bible", Cain and Abel are the eldest sons and second sons of Adam and Eve - translation notes) However, when Miklas replied in surprise, "I understand that everyone has abandoned me", he reluctantly agreed as an abdication. The Prime Minister remains in office until a new Head of Government is appointed.After speaking, he returned to the office and began to tidy up the desk.

In the afternoon, as the sky gradually darkened, the emotional pressure in the Chancellery became almost unbearable.The pressure in Berlin, especially from Goering (who was at home in his own right), was mounting.At 5:00 p.m., the Field Marshal yelled on the phone to an underground Nazi leader, Odilo Globoznik, that a new cabinet must be formed by 7:30.Goering said that at 7:30 in the evening, Seth-Inquart had to call the Führer to say that a new cabinet had been formed.He then dictated a list of cabinet ministers, including his brother-in-law.Minutes later, Seth-Inquart spoke to Goering himself, saying that Miklas had accepted Schuschniger's resignation, but insisted that a former chancellor should replace him.Göring snarled, telling Miklas to accept Germany's demands immediately, or else "the German army, already armed across the border, will advance and Austria will cease to exist... Tell him we're not joking! If we will learn that you have been appointed Chancellor by 7:30, the march will cease and the Germans will remain on our side." Meanwhile, Seth-Inquart should send the National Socialists across the country on the march. street.He finally said: "If Miklas cannot understand the situation within 4 hours, I will let him understand within 4 minutes!" "Well, all right!" said Seth-Inquart suspiciously. Goering got the report before 7:30.Within an hour, Göring was informed that Miklas still refused to appoint Seth-Inquart as chancellor. "Listen," Goering called to Seth-Inquart, "I'd like to wait a few more minutes. I'll wait for your call, and you can use the consulate's priority number. But you have to hurry. I can't bear the responsibility. In fact, I was not allowed to wait another minute." He gave the impression that he was following orders.But, more likely, he was doing his own thing, because at this time Hitler was not in a hurry to do it. "If he doesn't appoint you by then, you'll seize power by force, okay?" Heeding Berlin's call, the Nazis are taking the streets.A group of partisans rushing towards the inner city shouted "Heil Hitler! Long live Victory! Hang Schuschnigg!" and other slogans.Schuschnigg, who was in the Chancellery, not only heard these slogans, but also heard the sound of advancing footsteps.He decided that this was the prelude to the invasion, and rushed to the President's office to make one last request to the President.But Miklas strongly disagreed, stubbornly refusing to appoint a Nazi as chancellor.When Schuschnigg insisted again and again, the president said: "You abandon me now, everyone!" Schuschniger still couldn't find a more suitable candidate for Seuss-Inquart.Seth-Inquart, he said, was a Catholic and had a reputation of being faithful.He then proposed that he would immediately address the Austrian people on the radio. Soon, Schuschnigg entered the "corner room" next to the stairs of the building (on the first floor of the Chancellery). A microphone stands in the center of the "corner room", less than five steps away from where Dollface was murdered by the Nazis.At 7:50 p.m., Schuschnigg went to the microphone—and there was a booing in the room.He spoke of the German ultimatum.All over Austria, people listened intently to the radio.William Shearer described the speech as the most moving speech he had ever heard in his life. "President Miklas has asked me to convey to the entire Austrian people that we have surrendered before force. Since, under any circumstances, even at this last moment, we should have no intention of shedding Germanic blood, we have instructed our Army If there is an invasion, they will retreat without fighting and continue to stand by." Sheila felt that Schuschnigg's voice would turn into a sob, but he controlled his emotions. "In this way," he concluded his speech, "I bid farewell to the Austrian people in the Germanic way of farewell, which is also a way of expressing my heartfelt wishes: 'God save Austria!'." The room was silent.The Governor of Cultural Propaganda, a man named Hammerstein-Eqwart, which is the name of an old Germanic nobleman, leaned forward leaning on a cane, and shouted into the microphone: "Long live Austria! I am ashamed to do it today. A German!" A few technicians then played a pre-recorded national anthem—by Haydn, almost identical to "Germany Above All." Seth-Inquart must have run out of the "corner room" because at 7:57 he spoke to Goering. "The government here has just announced its resignation!" he reported.The Austrians are retreating from the frontier. "The princes here decided to wait for the invasion." When Goering heard that Seth-Inquart had not yet been appointed prime minister, he immediately became angry: "Okay then! You must be in charge, it's all up to you. Quickly convey what I'm telling you now to the responsible persons : Whoever rebels against the Germans, whoever organizes a rebellion, will be judged by our court." Seth-Inquart retorted half-heartedly, but was suppressed by Goering's shout: "Okay, that's it, You have our official orders." About 100,000 patriots gathered outside the Prime Minister's Office.The male and female supporters of the Nazis shouted the name of the Führer rhythmically while cheering under the torchlight.This made the Patriots team also clamor.In the inner city, some Nazi supporters were even more unscrupulous, singing and shouting: "Down with the Jews! Long live Hitler! Long live Victory! Kill the Jews! Hang Schuschnigg! Long live Seth-Inquart!" In between two ultimatums to Vienna to force the situation, Goering had been urging Hitler to invade Austria, no matter what happened. The head of state hesitated until 8:15.Later, when he was walking with Goering, a police officer saw him pat him on the thigh. "Now, act!" he shouted.Half an hour later, Hitler signed the "Second Order" for the "Battle of Otto", announcing that the German army would enter Austria at dawn the next day "to stop the bloodshed in the cities of Austria." Three minutes after Hitler signed the order, Goering issued another order to the economic expert Keppler on the phone in the Winter Garden.Seth-Inquart must use the name of the Austrian provincial government to generate electricity and send troops to Austria quickly to help Austria restore law and order.Seth-Inquart had to deal with it immediately. "He doesn't have to send a telegram, just say he did. See what I mean?" Niu Wright happened to overhear this sentence, and told the news to everyone in the living room. "For heaven's sake," Papen couldn't help exclaiming, "be careful not to make it the second Eames telegram!" Traveling on the Ems River. This telegram was condensed and published by Bismarck. The abridged telegram made the French request insulting and hastened the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War.) Papen was very concerned, and turned to Captain Weidmann: "To What can the Austrian march prove? It can only turn the whole world against us. One police action is enough." Weidmann agreed, but New Wright chided them for making things so sad.For years, he said, Hitler had dreamed of sending his best divisions into Austria, "Why not make him happy!" According to Göring's dictation, the telegram sent in the name of the Austrian Provisional Government requesting Germany to send troops to Austria immediately was what made Hitler happy.This is another example of "cutting first and playing later".It gave Hitler the opportunity to disguise his troops as liberators.He cheered up and had his troops march into Austria with great fanfare.Only one thing was lacking: Mussolini's assurances. At 10:25, Philipp von Hessen made a long-distance call. "I have just returned from the Palazzo Venesia," he told Hitler—his heart must have been beating violently. Solini's guaranteed.In fact, the Austrian question no longer interested him. Hitler was ecstatic and shouted: "Please tell Mussolini that I will never forget this." Words of gratitude were poured out, "Never, never, never! No matter what happens!" He never Can't control myself. "Listen—he can sign any agreement he wants. We're not in the dire situation we were a moment ago. I mean, militarily, in case we're going to come into conflict with someone. You can tell him again: I thank him most from the bottom of my heart. I will never forget him!" Once he started, he couldn't stop saying: "If he needs help or is in danger, I will be with him in life and death - no matter what happens, Even if the whole world turns against him, I will, I will..." In Vienna, the new chancellor's first major act was to ask Kepler to teach Hitler to cancel his invasion order.Seth-Inquart then turned his attention to Schuschnigg.He thanked his predecessor for his contribution to Austria.As the streets were filled with festive Nazis, he offered to ride home with him. "Do you want to go to some embassy? Or to the Hungarian embassy on the other side of the street?" Schuschnigg wanted to return to the apartment.As he approached the stairs of the building on the first floor of the Chancellery, he saw two rows of civilians wearing swastikas.At this time, he first realized that the Chancellery had been taken.People gave him the Nazi salute, but he ignored it and continued downstairs.Downstairs, the soldiers also saluted him.After saying a word or two of thanks and farewell to them, he climbed into Seth-Inquart's car.As the car slowly moved forward, young Nazis jumped on the pedals to protect the former chancellor as he drove past the rowdy crowd, just in case something happened. In Berlin, Seth-Inquart's request to contain the Germans was telephoned to the Foreign Office.Then Keppler made a similar request.His request was passed on to the Army Command and the Chancellery.In this way, the three-party telephone debate began.Vienna asked to stop the invasion, do you have a realistic basis for your request?Do you want to pass this request on to Hitler? — he returned to the Chancellery after speaking to Rome two hours ago and is still in a state of excitement. At 2:30 in the morning, Hitler was woken up.After pondering for a moment, he pushed back the suggestion and returned to bed.However, the generals, who were made restless by the monster of the invasion, were still thinking about it.At about 4 o'clock in the morning, General von Verbahn, the second chief of the general staff of the General Staff, called General Keitel and begged him to do "Hitler's work and tell him to give up the march to Austria."Keitel agreed to do so, but when he called back a few moments later (he had not called Hitler), the Fuehrer again refused to do so. "The Führer has no idea of ​​this at all." Keitel later admitted "if he knew, he would have a bad opinion of the army generals. I don't want to upset both sides". Army Chief of Staff Brauchitsch and Verbahn called and begged from time to time, making Keitel's "hell night" that night.Brauchitsch himself was very depressed; Verbahn was restless, praying aloud, saying that disaster was imminent, and then saying nothing.Jodl told him to control himself, and he locked himself in the room, grabbed the ink bottle and threw it at the door, threatening to shoot anyone who came in.