Episode 170 Promise and Feathers

On 12 February, Austrian Chancellor Hüschnitge held talks with Hitler at the Berchtesgaden mountain house, and although this was not a public announcement and a high-profile affair, intelligence officers from several countries with a stake in the world paid attention to it. Just because no country has come out for Austria doesn't mean they don't pay attention to it.

Watching Germany annex Austria meant an even greater expansion of Nazi power in Europe, and the Treaty of Versailles was once again torn up. No one wants that, except Italy. But to save Austria is very likely to drag Austria into the water, and in the worst case, it may even fall into war with Germany. It can be said that now all European countries are afraid of Germany. It's not that Germany is stronger than all European countries, because now all European countries are afraid of war, even Italy is afraid of war, only Germany is not afraid.

Hitler seized on the fear of war after the First World War of the major European powers, put on a posture of a singleton who did not want to die, and often used war to engage in diplomatic blackmail. And several major European powers have also more or less embraced the mentality of "preferring to offend a gentleman rather than a villain", and have had no choice but to get used to Germany again and again, and even do not hesitate to sacrifice the interests of weak and small countries, just in exchange for Hitler's promise of "ending here" and giving their countries and voters a vision of "keeping peace."

The appeasement mentality of countries such as Britain and France can be summed up in one sentence: they are afraid of German expansion, but they are even more afraid of their own country being drawn into the war. -- The lesser of the two evils, or "always looking ahead of the present".

In addition to European countries, there are two other powerful countries in the world that can stay out of the way and look at this matter, that is, the Ming Dynasty and the United States. Needless to say, the United States is now a neutral country, and it has to rack its brains to exploit the loopholes of the "Neutrality Act" even if it sells a little arms, and it has nothing to do with the merger of Germany and Austria. And another powerful country, the Ming Empire in East Asia, has a very speculative attitude.

The relationship between Daming and Germany is very close, and there are many close cooperation in the economic and technological fields. However, the social system, political ideas, ideologies, and values of the Ming Dynasty and Germany are very different - far from Germany, but more similar to Britain, the United States, Japan and other countries. Moreover, the Ming Dynasty is not only close to Germany, but also closer to Britain and France, and has a longer history of friendship. For these reasons, many people believe that the Ming Empire, like Britain and France, will adopt a "half-pushed, half-done" conniving attitude towards Germany's plot against Austria. Neither support nor oppose with practical actions.

But outsiders don't know that Daming's choice is not so free now. According to the "Mingde Secret Treaty" signed two years ago, the Ming Dynasty must clearly express its support for the German-Austrian merger. Now faced with two choices: either abide by the secret agreement, make it clear that you support it, or tear it up. It's absolutely impossible to get out of the way.

After entering 1938, the Ming cabinet was most worried about this matter. They have been debating what option to take. If it was Daming two years ago, it would be a good choice, just directly support the German-Austrian merger. At that time, the Ming Dynasty was not a "world power" in the full sense, and 80% of the Ming Dynasty's energy was focused on fighting against the Northern Qing Dynasty. Whether it can maintain its ** and survive under the threat of the Northern Qing Dynasty is the top priority of the Ming Empire. At that time, if anyone could give Daming real help, Daming would be willing to do anything. It's okay to make a deal with the devil. At that time, it was precisely Germany that gave Ming real military and technical help, which Britain and France and other countries never gave. Daming also really made a deal with Germany, promising to stand on Germany's side when Germany plotted against Austria in the future.

From this point of view, at that time, Daming also made the same choice as Britain and France now - compared with the security of his own country, everything else does not matter.

Now that time has passed, the Ming Dynasty is no longer the Ming Dynasty of two years ago, and Germany is no longer the Germany of two years ago. Now the Ming Dynasty has unified China and become one of the most powerful countries in the world, but it has burned the flames of war outside the country and continues to assert its own rights and interests in the international community. Now Daming is no longer the "Little Red Riding Hood" image trembling under the clutches of the Northern Qing Dynasty, but has become a muscular fighter, fighting against "Bolshevism" in the west and "Japanese militarism" in the east, and playing the role of an international policeman in Asia.

And Germany is not the same as it was two years ago. At the beginning of 1936, Germany was still very weak, and in Europe it was still largely weak. Although Hitler also controlled the media, enslaved and brainwashed, persecuted dissidents, and persecuted Jews internally, after all, the Nazis had not been in power for a long time, and all this was not very serious, at least the rest of Europe did not feel the threat of Germany. And at that time, Hitler had just eliminated unemployment in Germany and revived the German economy, and it was the time when the world was stunned. At that time, many countries learned from Germany, and regarded the "German model" together with the "Soviet model" as a shortcut to the success of late-developing countries.

At the beginning of 1936, Germany, even if its image was not very good, at least had a mixed reputation. Although it is also a "problem child" in Europe, it is at least a model of self-improvement and falling down and getting back up again by relying on its own efforts.

But Germany at the beginning of 1938 had become a monster. Internally, all kinds of enslavement and persecution have intensified, and the Germans have become more and more arrogant, extreme, and unreasonable to the whole world. Externally, Germany's military strength and national strength are growing rapidly, and it has formed a Nazi-fascist axis with Italy, which not only makes some weak and small countries in the east feel insecure, but even France, which is recognized as the "strongest in Europe" at this time, has no sense of security.

But at this time, the Ming Dynasty was diametrically opposed. Every time the Ming army liberated a Soviet concentration camp and restored the freedom of a high-pressure zone of the Soviet Union, it would attract a number of praise from the international community. At this time, Da Ming also paid more and more attention to his "feathers". At this time, Da Ming had to face the torture of the "Mingde Secret Covenant". At this time, there is nothing more damaging to one's own feathers than to openly endorse the "German-Austrian merger". Especially now, the door of American shopping has just opened, and the public opinion in the United States is also one-sided disgust with Hitler. At this time, it is absolutely no good to be on the side of Hitler.

The meeting between Hüshnitge and Hitler in Berchtesgaden on February 12 was also known to the Ming intelligence agencies. As for what they talked about, Dongchang didn't know at all. But Xiang Xiaoqiang's People's Guard gave a very detailed revelation, so much so that Dongchang was jealous.

Because of this, and because the "Mingde Secret Covenant" was promoted by Xiang Xiaoqiang back then, and now that the cabinet meets again on the 13th to study this issue, Xiang Xiaoqiang cannot be bypassed.

In front of a group of ministers who were spitting clouds and mist, Xiang Xiaoqiang also held a cigarette, and said while thinking:

"Obviously, whether from the point of view of intelligence or common sense, yesterday's meeting was entirely Hitler's call to Hüschnitge to threaten him. Hitler pressed forward step by step, and every step was pre-designed, leaving no room for manoeuvre. And Xu Shinig had no power to fight back, basically letting him slaughter. They didn't talk much about it in the morning, mainly Hitler's mental suppression of Schüshnigg. In the afternoon, Ribbentrop and Papen gave Schüschnitge a 'draft' of the agreement, asking him to sign it, saying that this was the Führer's final opinion, that it was not to be amended, not to be discussed, and that it was necessary to agree directly.

"As for the general content of the agreement, we have also heard about it. The main thing was to order Austria to lift the ban on the Nazi Party, that is, to fully legalize the Austrian Nazi Party in the future. In addition, all imprisoned Nazis must be released immediately. To be by Seth? As Austria's Minister of the Interior, Inquart also gave him the authority to take charge of police and security matters. We know that Inquart was a Nazi in the truest sense of the word. And let Glass? Holstnow was Austria's defense minister – a man who was also a Nazi. In addition, a number of measures were to be adopted to allow Germany and Austria to exchange 100 officers in a systematic manner, which meant that the two ** units would establish closer ties - in fact, to infiltrate the Austrian army. Also, Dr. Fishbauk should be appointed Minister of Finance. Of course, a Nazi. …… Needless to say, it is clear to you that this agreement was for Hüshnitge to hand over the entire Austrian government to the Nazis. ”

Foreign Minister He Ziguang looked around at the crowd and said slowly:

"If Schüschnigg accepts this agreement, it will only be a matter of time before Austria loses its **. It may be good for us. As long as the Nazis take control of the Austrian government, it is believed that they will soon take the initiative to invite Germany to 'merge' – or not to call it a merger, or to call it something else, anyway. Since it was Austria itself, no one could say anything. It was much more natural for us to show our support after us. At least it gives people the feeling that they are not playing for the tiger, but pushing the boat along the river. Our partnership with Germany is well known to the world, so it is a time to make a statement that would be understandable to all countries. ”

Xiang Xiaoqiang nodded and sighed:

"Lord He's analysis is very reasonable...... If Hüshnyg happily accepted the agreement, it would be the best. We're much better. But Xu Shinige is a person who is soft on the outside and strong on the inside. On the surface, he looks suave and elegant, like a reader, but he is very assertive. After all, he has also experienced all kinds of political storms and brutal power struggles at the top of Austria to get to where he is today. This man is by no means a soft egg. I reckon that he is now in Berchtesgaden, and he can't say anything, so he can only give a perfunctory touch to Hitler first. But as soon as he returns to Austria, he may turn his face. This thing won't end so easily. We must be mentally prepared, and it is very likely that we will stand on this side when Germany and Austria are stepping up their efforts. ”