Austria

 

From the journal of "HI" a marvellous teleporting space wizard sent from the future. (This explains my knowledge of future events, and why I never use conventional means of transportation. This also helps explain the apparent typo in the title of the blog.)

I have recently teleported to Austria.

I had learned a lot about Adolf Hitler in my travels, but one thing that kept bouncing around inside my head was the fact that Hitler was Austrian. It was obvious Hitler wanted to expand German borders, and as I walked through the streets of Austria, I couldn`t help but think this is where he might start. His homeland. Fortunately I was wrong, Hitler`s first move occurred in the Rhineland.

The French occupied the Rhineland had a strong desire to re-claim it.

On March 7, 1936 nineteen German infantry battalions and a handful of planes entered the Rhineland.

France was not psychologically or economically prepared for a battle with the Germans. It would have cost the dwindling French economy a substantial amount of money to mobilize.

The French retreated, leaving the Rhineland at Germany`s disposal

Hitler later remarked, ""The forty-eight hours after the march into the Rhineland were the most nerve-racking in my life. If the French had then marched into the Rhineland we would have had to withdraw with our tails between our legs, for the military resources at our disposal would have been wholly inadequate for even a moderate resistance."

Afterwards, I was certain Austria was the next state to be absorbed by Germany. I was right.

Hitler demanded the unification of Austria and Germany.

Kurt Schuschnigg objected to Hitler's bold requests.

It was proposed they hold the future of Austria to a vote, Kurt Schuschnigg believed only a small minority favored Nazism and agreed.

Nazis used intimidation tactics to force civilians into voting in favor of unification.

Kurt Schuschnigg was not convinced, Hitler threatened to mobilize, and Austria was out of options.

In 1938 the Anschluss happens, without the Allies intervening, for it happened far too quickly.

To my shock there was a great amount of cheering and celebrating when the Nazis took over. It turns out there was actually a strong pro-Nazi movement in Austria. Soon Austrian factories were pumping out German planes and military supplies and I realized now was the time to leave.