The Third Reich in Desperation

Third Reich Episode 72

Since Reinhardt launched the conscription system in 1935, a large number of military officers who served in the First World War, or old soldiers who were forced to leave the army due to the Treaty of Versailles, have been listed as reserve officers and recruited into the reserve service.

Many young people were recruited into the SS as a military force responsible both to the German people and to the Socialist Workers Party.

Since Reinhardt himself doesn't care about height, the recruitment of the SS in this generation does not have the harsh height in history, and the number of recruitment is larger than in history.

Of course, this is also the reason why Wittmann, who is less than 1.7 meters tall, was able to join the SS.

In addition, under the impetus of Reinhardt, the German Wehrmacht gradually began to adopt a new conscription system, which is to call up soldiers in units of "defense zones".

First, the military divided Germany into 15 defense zones, and each defense zone was divided into two to three conscription zones. Each conscription zone had several divisions responsible for the conscription and new training tasks in the conscription zone.

Once the war starts, a defensive area can be quickly converted into a division to fight the battlefield.

The "Shadow Troop Policy" implemented in the defense zone also allows the defense zone to have a command team of two divisions at the same time.

That is to say, when a defensive zone transfers a division into the troops.The remaining batch of command teams have everything from division leaders to squad leaders, and can quickly support the skeleton of a new division.

The various policies recently released by Germany are on the surface. This country is ready to pay the price for dignity and ease!

Body 1 Chapter [-] Two German Chancellors

The Chancellery of Austria is located in a 3-story building in Vienna.This magnificent building full of artistic atmosphere is not inferior to Reinhardt's Chancellery in Berlin.

In this beautiful and peaceful early spring of March in 1937, the Austrian Chancellery welcomed a friendly and enthusiastic heavyweight guest.

Two Austrian soldiers stood tall and straight on both sides of the gate of the Prime Minister's Palace, with serious expressions.They are holding tightly in their hands, Steyr MP34 submachine guns manufactured by Steyr-Mannlicher GmbH in Austria.

Once anyone tries to break into the Prime Minister's Office, two Steyr MP34 submachine guns can spray 1 rounds of bullets in 1000 minute, smashing each other into a sieve.It's a pity that today they can only watch the "friendly" German Chancellor Reinhard step into the solemn and solemn Chancellery of Austria.

On the main street not far away, a row of black Mercedes convertibles were approaching at a constant speed.These public cars were presented to the Austrian government by Germany last year. Less than a year later, German officials were seated again and became Reinhardt's reception team for this visit.

On the third floor of the Chancellery, in the office of Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg, the hero who leads Austria's only legal political party "Fatherland Front" and is also the Austrian Chancellor is drinking bitter coffee and tasting Reinhardt's intention.

This German legend, who leads the only legal political party in Germany, the "Socialist Workers Party" and is also the head of the German Chancellor, obviously came to Austria with some purpose.

Recently, there have been endless "merger calls" in Austria, and the Austrian police secretly found out that there are many Germans among them.The measures taken by the German government to provide a large number of jobs for Austrian unemployed workers some time ago have also won the favor and recognition of the people.

At this moment, Reinhardt suddenly visited Vienna, the capital of Austria, and any fool would know his purpose.

"The heart of Reinhardt is known to all passers-by!" A minister close to Schuschnigg broke the silence and said: "The German Chancellor has never done meaningless things. Judging from his past experience, Everything this person does has the potential to have deep meaning."

"That's right," Holman, the commander-in-chief of the Austrian Army who was selected by Schuschnigg, took over: "Reinhardt visited the British Prime Minister Baldwin two years ago, and then the British acquiesced in the return of the German army to the Rhineland. The military zone supported Germany and France in the League of Nations. Last year, he met with Polish President Piłsudski, and the Poles cooperated with Germany in political suppression and military threats against Czechoslovakia in the second month."

Speaking of this, Holman swallowed his saliva, looked at Schuschnigg's face and continued: "I heard that at the beginning of January this year... Reinhardt visited Italy publicly and met with Its leader, Mussolini. And now he is visiting you in Austria...."

Schuschnigg has actually heard the general idea of ​​Holman's hint by now.According to the style of the German Chancellor, there will probably be a "collaborator" among the two countries he visits in Italy or Austria this year.

Although Austria is also a powerful country in Central Europe, it has a well-trained standing army of 30.However, compared with the Kingdom of Italy, which controls the entire Italian peninsula and has a million-strong army, which can control the Vienna system, it is still far behind.

If Germany is looking for an ally between the two, Schuschnigg understands that the German head of state will definitely give priority to joining forces with Italy.

"Prime Minister!" A confidential secretary stumbled into Schuschnigg's office, sweating profusely and interrupting the discussion of several high-level officials in the room.

Seeing this impolite confidential secretary, Schuschnigg frowned, waved his hands and said, "The German Chancellor is coming soon? Well...I know the time, let him go directly to the conference room on the second floor Just meet me."

"No...it's not, Your Excellency the Prime Minister." The confidential secretary panted and shook his head, "The German Prime Minister's convoy hasn't entered the gate yet."

"What's the matter?" Schuschnigg suddenly hated this confidential secretary who asked and answered, and planned to replace him sometime.

After taking two more breaths, the confidential secretary finally said the news that made him look so hasty: "Just received the report, Italian leader Mussolini's right-hand man, Rossi, who took office as Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Security, Commenting in public that 'Italy has had enough of the drudgery of standing guard for Austrian independence', published by the Italian National newspaper  …"

"It seems that this is the attitude of the Italian government." Schuschnigg held his forehead and smiled bitterly: "Without the umbrella of the Kingdom of Italy, how can we compete with Germany! Could it be that we rely on the mediation of the League of Nations?!"

There was a sudden silence in the office.In front of these generals and politicians who have followed Schuschnigg for many years and reached the pinnacle of Austrian power.The intention behind the whole thing is already very clear.Moreover, looking at the reaction of the Italian government, others have no intention of concealing their intention to unite Germany.

Since Schuschnigg mentioned the League of Nations, everyone will understand his worst intentions.There are many "records" in the League of Nations. Recently, there are two typical ones:

1 Mediated the Italian invasion of Ethiopia, which ended with Italy annexing Ethiopia.

2 The German army was prohibited from returning to the Rhineland Demilitarized Zone, and the German army then occupied the Rhineland.

Schuschnigg mentioned the mediation of the League of Nations, which was actually a subconscious or subconscious acceptance of the result of Austria being merged by Germany.After all, everyone knows that Austria is even more powerless to fight against Reinhardt's army alone.

Last year, Italy sent troops to the Brenner Pass with four divisions and sent urgent telegrams to the Austrian government, promising Italy to support Austria's independence, and barely suppressed the vigorous domestic rioters.

This year, those domestic "democrats" who are trying to urge the merger of Germany and Austria are more organized and more secure than last year.And the attitude of the German government has gradually begun to move closer to these merger factions, even secretly supporting and guiding them!

Schuschnigg's choice was actually arranged from the very beginning.It is impossible for Austria to have a military conflict with Germany, and there will be no major power in the world to maintain Austria's independence.As long as Schuschnigg is not a lunatic or a war madman, it is impossible for him to mobilize Austria's seemingly huge army of nearly 30 to confront Reinhardt's no less than 50 cutting-edge men.

"Let's go, we should also prepare to meet this head of state who has been blown up to the sky." Schuschnigg said calmly: "What can't be avoided, we have to face it after all. Perhaps, this is not a good thing for Austria. A bad thing...."

As a politician, Schuschnigg is well aware of how capable he is.If he went against the sky and insisted on confronting Reinhardt, who had obvious advantages and was expected by everyone, he would probably not end well.

On the contrary, while his government will lose a lot of status rights by choosing to bow to Reinhardt's government now, it can also keep a lot of things.Active concessions are much better than forced compromises. This is the basic judgment a calm politician needs to possess.

Schuschnigg put down the coffee cup in his hand, and said lightly: "I have already decided to sign an agreement with the German Chancellor at the negotiating table that makes me uncomfortable."

All the confidantes silently looked at the old leader who they followed more, and they were overshadowed.

There is something that Schuschnigg did not say, that is, once Germany and Austria are merged, only one of the current two German chancellors will remain.And the two sets of leading groups will inevitably disband one of them.

One country cannot tolerate two masters!

These people present will obviously be the part that will be kicked away by future history......

Body 1 Chapter [-] Eastern Provinces

"Sign it, so that you can still leave a piece of dignity." Reinhardt's tone revealed a trace of complacency and pride that could not be concealed.

Facing the tough "German-Austrian Agreement" proposed by Reinhardt, Schuschnigg sighed and said: "Dear Chancellor Reinhardt, I believe that you are the one who has the ability to lead all Germans to prosperity and peace." Man, that's why I'm here to meet you."

Nodding his head, Reinhardt made a gesture of continuation with a smile on his face, indicating that the Prime Minister of the country, who is theoretically at the same level as himself, continued to speak.

Regarding Reinhardt's arrogant attitude, Schuschnigg could only sigh secretly in his heart.This is politics, even if both of them are national leaders of the same level.The leader of a weak country will never be able to stand up in front of the leader of a strong country.

Weak countries have no diplomacy!

Hiding his inner dissatisfaction, Schuschnigg continued: "I can sign this agreement, but I am also responsible for the future of the Austrian people. You can promise me that the Austrians can be treated as equals as the Germans." Treat it?"

After taking a sip of the coffee specially prepared on the conference table, Reinhardt shook his index finger and smiled: "One thing I need to correct you is that from today onwards, the name Austria is no longer appropriate. There are only Germans here. Eastern Province."

today! ?Realizing that something was wrong, Schuschnigg suddenly jumped up from the stool in surprise, and shouted: "We haven't signed an agreement yet, how dare you say that Austria will merge with Germany from today!"

"Hahaha..." Reinhardt put down the glass with half a cup of coffee left, looked directly into Schuschnigg's eyes and said indifferently: "Yes, it is today, just now, the Austrian government announced The border guards announced that 'government buildings in various parts of Vienna have been surrounded by rebel mobs', and the Austrian government has formally issued an urgent request to Germany to suppress the riots."

Less than half a minute after Reinhardt broke the explosive news, Schuschnigg's confidential secretary, who was stammering, broke into the conference room.

"What's going on?" Schuschnigg looked at the confidential secretary who broke into the meeting room, and frowned: "Is there anything important! Do you have to barge in on such an important occasion?! "

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