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The Deaths of Austria and Czechoslovakia - Part 2

© William Waller

With Il Duce's imprimatur , obtained in November 1937, Hitler had felt safe in continuing his plan and, so it was, in February and March 1938. that he felt able to push Schuschnigg and push until he finally defied Hitler, or bowed to him. Either way, Hitler would be the winner.

At the Berchtesgaden meeting one demand had been for Arthur Seyss-Inquart to be made Minister of the Interior. This man had, since 1918, a belief that Anschluss was Austria's destiny and, when the Nazis showed that this was one of their main aims, he gave his support. He never joined the party or took part in any meetings, he simply worked from within the state to help bring it about. In becoming Minister of the Interior, he had control of the police which is what Hitler needed for now. Even at this point, he did not want to have to test his new army too far and an acquiescent police, coupled with existing Nazi terrorism, should ensure a bloodless takeover. On 20th February, Hitler made a speech to the Reichstag warning that Germany had the responsibility for ensuring the return to the Fatherland of "ten million Germans (living) in two of the states adjoining (our) frontiers", thus giving formal notice to Czechoslovakia as well, of Germany's intentions.

In searching for ways of resistance, Schuschnigg even obtained the support of the Social Democrats, who he had kept suppressed after Dolfuss' actions against them in 1934. At that time they were 42% of the electorate and now showed the strength of the opposition to the Anschluss. But it was far too late. Schuschnigg had been a dictator no less than Hitler, but with far less brutality, and did not command the loyalty of the police or the army, both needed in meeting the force now directed against Austria. For Hitler, in the first days of March, started manoeuvreing his army on the border in order to frighten Schuschnigg further, as well as the Austrian President. With the Austrian Nazis mobbing the streets and in control of the Chancellery, both men still tried to obtain concessions but were ultimately defeated by the final treachery of Seyss-Inquart. As Minister of the Interior, in the late evening of 11th March he agreed to the sending of a telegram, dictated by Goering, asking Germany to step in to avoid bloodshed.

And what of Britain and France? As foreseen by Hitler, they did nothing and British politicians acted more shamefully than normal for this breed of men, in blinding themselves to the reality of the situation. France was, on 11th and 12th March, actually without a government! There was no one to issue any orders. Thus it was that , on 12th March, Hitler entered Austria, had himself declared President in a decree which began "Austria is a province of the German Reich", and which was signed by Seyss-Inquart, the new Austrian Chancellor appointed the night before as part of the capitulation to the Nazi demands. Austria was dead. To be sure, a plebscite was held on 10th April but it was a foregone conclusion, Austria was now part of Germany. Eleven days later, the serious planning began for the attack on Czechoslovakia.