Chapter 113: Austria

In July 1933, the Austrian government finally understood its predicament. To encourage Germany’s “eastward push,” the British and the Western European powers had ultimately abandoned them. The French, struggling to escape the quagmire of the economic crisis and the bottomless pit of the Maginot Line’s construction, were temporarily unable to concern themselves with a distant Austria. From the very beginning, the Soviets had been secretly colluding with Germany, selling out Austria and the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia to the Germans. The only country that had somewhat opposed the German annexation of Austria, Italy, had changed its mind after Mussolini’s visit to Berlin and had actually begun to support the German plan. After some debate in Congress, the American conservatives overpowered the more hawkish President Roosevelt and chose to support Germany’s “peaceful” rise.

The desperate Austrian government had no choice but to play what it considered its wisest card: public opinion. It hoped to rely on the will of the nation’s people to prevent itself from being annexed by a powerful Germany. Having made its decision, the Austrian government announced that a national plebiscite would be held in September 1933 for the people to choose whether to join Germany or remain independent.

However, they were soon forced by immense international pressure and the aggressive bullying of German diplomats to sign a compromise transitional treaty. This “Austro-German Agreement” stipulated that “the Austrian government must act on the principle of acknowledging itself as a Germanic state.”

Austria hoped that such an agreement would ease relations between the two countries, postpone the timeline for German annexation, and buy time for observation. Once the international situation changed and the Western powers emerged from the economic crisis, they could naturally step in to block Germany’s expansionist ambitions.

Unfortunately, Akado had no intention of giving the Austrian government such an opportunity. After securing promises from several major countries, he began to press ahead with the work of annexing Austria.

On the clear morning of August 25, 1933, the officer and several soldiers on duty at an Austrian border checkpoint saw a massive army approaching from within Germany.

On the highway were military trucks, one after another. Alongside the road were large numbers of military horses and cavalry. Behind the truck convoy, the silhouettes of tanks and armored cars could be faintly seen.

A convertible Mercedes military car swayed to a stop just a few dozen centimeters from the border line. A door was opened, and a Wehrmacht major stepped out. Removing his gloves, he walked with two guards carrying submachine guns to the entrance of the Austrian checkpoint.

“Good morning. I am Major Hofmann of the 25th Panzer Division’s Independent Armored Training Battalion. I am under orders to take control of this position and advance toward Vienna,” the major said as he walked into the checkpoint and found a chair to sit down. “Do not engage in pointless resistance. That will only lead to more bloodshed among our fellow Germanic people.”

“Major, I have received no order allowing you entry!” the Austrian officer said with a frown. “This is an invasion.”

“This morning, Vienna was besieged by communists and formally submitted a request for protection to the German government,” Major Hofmann said casually. “There is no longer a country called Austria, only the German Eastern Province.”

“I’m sorry! I have not received any information regarding this! If you insist on entering Austrian territory, we will fire back!” the Austrian officer said, his hand moving toward the pistol at his waist.

The two German guards had already aimed their submachine guns at him, but Major Hofmann seemed unconcerned. He waved his hand. “Don’t be so nervous. I just got up a little early today. In a few more minutes, you will receive the order to grant us passage. So you’d better wait before making a decision, lest you lose your life over it.”

As he spoke, he pointed to the force of no fewer than 300 men outside, and the tanks behind them. “You see, if we were to attack directly, you would have no chance to fight back. The fact that we have not opened fire directly is because we want to protect our fellow countrymen of the Germanic race. Isn’t such sincerity enough to make the point?”

The Austrian officer nodded, and his hand moved away from his pistol. He pulled over a chair and sat down next to the telephone, tapping his fingers on the desk while watching Major Hofmann. He had to admit, the uniforms of the German armored troops were damn handsome.

“Ring, ring, ring.” As expected, the telephone rang not long after. The Austrian officer snatched the receiver. “This is the border checkpoint! We have German troops here wanting to pass. What is going on?”

“Let them pass! They are not the enemy!” The voice on the other end was silent for a few seconds, then said slowly, its tone filled with helplessness and resentment, “Vienna is in chaos right now. Many conflicting orders are being issued everywhere.”

“My God, what on earth is happening?” The Austrian officer’s hand holding the receiver trembled slightly.

“The government has just issued an order to allow German armed forces to enter Austria to avoid further bloodshed among the Germanic people. However, he has once again reiterated that the September plebiscite will not be canceled,” the person on the other end said with a sigh, then hung up.

Listening to the dial tone, the Austrian officer did not turn around. Instead, he pulled out his pistol and, in front of everyone, slammed it down next to the telephone with a loud thud.

“Lay down your weapons! Hand this place over to them!” After speaking, the Austrian officer walked out. Behind him, his few Austrian soldiers also surrendered their rifles and ammunition and walked helplessly out of the border checkpoint where they had been on duty.

A corner of Major Hofmann’s mouth lifted. He issued an order to his adjutant who had just entered. “Take your men and advance east. Seize control of all facilities, factories, and military barracks you encounter! Take over command of these places. Go.”

The adjutant nodded, took a few soldiers, and walked out of the checkpoint. The trucks on the highway started their engines, kicking up a cloud of dust. The cavalrymen spurred their horses forward. The entire border checkpoint was bustling once more as tanks and armored cars drove one by one across the former border line and into Austrian territory.

“Sign it,” a German diplomat said, pressing the document in front of the Austrian leader, Schuschnigg, his face a mask of arrogant triumph. “Believe me! You have no other better options! The world has already recognized Austria’s return to Germany! No one will oppose Germany for Austria’s sake!”

“I will not sign any document without a plebiscite! I cannot betray my conscience!” Schuschnigg said, shaking his head.

The German diplomat snorted coldly. “So you won’t shed a tear until you see the coffin? Chancellor Akado has already ordered that the Austrian national plebiscite will be held tomorrow, ahead of schedule. All German people have the right to vote on the ownership of Austria.”

Schuschnigg was stunned, and then his face became contorted with rage. “This is deception! Why are you including the Germans? This plebiscite should be the Austrian people’s own decision! This is extortion!”

“Chancellor Akado believes that since it is a decision about the future of the Germanic people, then all Germanic people must be the ones to decide! Austria cannot be independent from Germany! We believe this is the wish of the entire German people! And also the wish of the Austrian Germanic people!”

The diplomat handed a pen to Schuschnigg. “As for you! Surrendering your power and then finding a house in the countryside to live out the rest of your life is already your best option!”

“I have told you! I will die before I sign! Even if I am the only Austrian willing to bleed and sacrifice for independence and freedom! It will still prove that Austrians have fought for the truth!” Schuschnigg said furiously.

“Noble! Great!” the diplomat laughed. “But foolish.”

A German officer walked into the room and reported the situation outside to the German diplomat. “Sir! Vienna is under our control. The 25th Division has secured all important areas, and the Austrian troops have all been disarmed and contained.”

“No, Lieutenant Colonel,” the diplomat said, pointing to the Austrian leader Schuschnigg sitting in his chair. “The Germanic people have all returned to the embrace of the motherland! But there is still one ‘Austrian’ here who refuses to surrender!”

The Lieutenant Colonel’s lips curled up. He drew his pistol and pointed it at Schuschnigg’s forehead.

“Wait!” Schuschnigg’s face turned pale.

“Bang…” The shot rang out. The Wehrmacht Lieutenant Colonel shrugged helplessly. “Sorry, you were too late.”

For the de facto leader of Germany, Akado Rudolph, September 15, 1933, was a day of unprecedented glory. This German leader had always used a strong Germanic nation as his slogan and goal, and today, when he came to Vienna with his army to announce the “merger of Germany and Austria,” he had truly done everything he said he would.

He was warmly welcomed by thousands of people. Akado traveled from his temporary headquarters in Linz to the Austrian capital, with 40 tanks leading the way and police cars full of officers as a rear guard. Along the way, he was welcomed by Greater German Party followers from all over Austria.

For most of the journey, Akado stood in an open-top car, dressed in a black SS officer’s uniform, waving almost hysterically at his fanatical supporters. Many of his supporters waved German flags. Some Greater German Party members had sewn the German flag onto the Austrian flag.

“What we are feeling at this very moment,” Akado proclaimed on the streets of Vienna while waving, “is the common feeling of all other Germans! No matter what happens, the unified Germany we proclaim today will never again be divided by anyone. It will never be in a state of division.”

The next day, Akado signed a decree with the Austrian military, making himself, as the German Chancellor, the acting Commander-in-Chief of the Austrian army. All Austrian soldiers had to swear an oath of allegiance to this chairman of the Greater German Party, this national leader who led more than 70 million Germanic people.