The Austrian government finally understood its situation in July 1933. The British and the Western European powers eventually abandoned them in order to "move eastward" for Germany. The French were struggling with the economic crisis and the bottomless pit of the Maginot Line, and they could not take care of them for the time being. The Soviets secretly fought with Germany from the beginning, selling the Sudetenland of Austria and Czechoslovakia to the Germans. Italy, the only country that was more opposed to the German annexation of Austria, changed its mind after Mussolini's visit to Berlin and began to support the German plan. After some discussion in Congress, the conservatives overwhelmed the hardline President Roosevelt and chose to support the "peaceful" rise of the Germans.

The desperate Austrian government had no choice but to play what they thought was the wisest card of public opinion, hoping to rely on the will of the people of the country to prevent itself from being annexed by the mighty Germany. The Austrian government announced that it would hold a referendum in September 1933, with the people choosing whether to join Germany or remain independent.

However, they then signed a compromise transitional treaty with the German government, under strong international pressure and the aggressiveness of German diplomats, which stipulated that "the Austrian government must act on the principle of recognizing itself as a Germanic state." ”

Austria hoped that such an agreement could be reached to ease relations between the two countries, to postpone the timetable for Germany's annexation of Austria, and to achieve the goal of delaying observation. When the international situation changed and the Western European powers came out of the economic crisis, they could naturally stand up and stop the Germans' expansionist ambitions.

Unfortunately, Accardo did not intend to give the Austrian government such a chance, and after receiving the promises of several major countries, he began to hurry up and plan for the annexation of Austria.

On a fine morning on August 25, 1933, officers and a few soldiers on duty at the Austrian border checkpoint saw a large army coming from Germany.

There were military trucks one after another on the road, and there were a large number of military horses and cavalry on both sides of the road, and tanks and armored vehicles could even be faintly seen behind the truck troops.

An open-top Mercedes-Benz military car staggered to a halt only a few dozen centimeters from the border between the two countries, the door was opened, and a Wehrmacht major officer stepped out of the car, took off his gloves and walked to the door of the Austrian checkpoint with two guards armed with submachine guns.

"Good morning! I am Major Hoffmann of the Independent Armored Training Battalion of the 25th Panzer Division of the Wehrmacht, and I am ordered to take control of this place and advance towards Vienna. The major said as he walked into the checkpoint, found a chair and sat down: "Don't put up useless resistance, that will only bleed more Germanic compatriots." ”

"Major, I have not received an order to allow you to enter the country!" said the Austrian officer, frowning, "You are an invasion. ”

"This morning, Vienna was besieged by *elements, who formally submitted an application for protection to the German government. Major Hoffmann said casually: "There is no Austria anymore, only the Eastern Province of Germany. ”

"I'm sorry! I don't get any information about that! If you insist on entering Austria, we'll shoot back!" said the Austrian officer, reaching for the pistol at his waist.

The two German guards had already pointed the muzzles of the submachine guns at him, but Major Hoffmann seemed unimpressed, and he waved his hand: "Don't be so nervous, I got up a little early today, and in a few minutes, you will receive the order to let you go." So it's better to wait and make a decision, so as not to take your own life. ”

As he spoke, he pointed to the troops of no less than 300 people outside, as well as the tanks behind these people: "You see, if we attack directly, you will have no chance to fight back, and we did not open fire directly just to protect our compatriots of the same Germanic people, is this sincerity not enough to explain the problem?"

The Austrian officer nodded, his hand removed from the pistol, pulled over a chair, sat down next to the telephone, and tapped his fingers on his desk as he looked at Major Hoffmann. I have to say that the uniforms of the German armored forces are really handsome!

"Bell, bell, bell. As expected, it didn't take long for the telephone to ring, and the Austrian officer grabbed the receiver: "This is the border checkpoint!

"Let them go!" they are not enemies!" was silent on the other end of the phone for a few seconds, and said slowly with helplessness and unwillingness in his tone: "Now Vienna is in chaos, and many conflicting orders are issued everywhere. ”

"Oh my God, what happened?" the Austrian officer's hand holding the telephone receiver trembled a little.

The government had just ordered the German armed forces to enter Austria in order to avoid more blood shed on the Germanic people, but he reiterated that the September referendum would not be canceled. The person on the other end of the line sighed and hung up.

Listening to the busy tone on the phone, the Austrian officer did not turn around, but took out his pistol, slapped it next to the telephone in front of everyone's eyes, and made a "bang" sound.

"Put down your arms! Leave it to them here!" After saying that, the Austrian officer walked out, and behind him, several Austrian soldiers also handed over their guns and ammunition, and walked out of the border checkpoint where they were on duty very helplessly.

Major Hoffman raised the corners of his mouth and gave the order to the adjutant who came in: "Take your men and go east." Control zhì encountered a qiē facility, a factory, and a military barracks! to take over the command of these places. Go for it!"

The adjutant nodded, and walked out of the checkpoint with a few soldiers, and the cars on the road began to start, bringing up a puff of dust and smoke, and the cavalry rode forward, and the whole border checkpoint was once again lively, and tanks and armored vehicles drove through the original border line one by one, heading towards Austrian territory.

......

"Sign it. A German diplomat pressed Wen Jiàn in front of Austrian leader Schuschnigg with a smug expression: "Believe me! You have no other choice! The world has recognized Austria as belonging to Germany! No one will fight against Germany for Austria!"

"I won't sign anything without a referendum! I can't go against my conscience!" Schuschnigg said, shaking his head.

The German diplomat snorted coldly: "Are you just like this without seeing the coffin and not shedding tears? Chancellor Accardo has decreed that the Austrian referendum will be held early tomorrow, and all the German people have the right to vote for the ownership of Austria." ”

Schuschnigg was stunned for a moment, and then his face became hideous: "You are cheating! Why do you count the Germans? This referendum should be the decision of the Austrian people themselves! You are blackmail!"

"Chancellor Accardo believes that since the future of the Germanic people is decided, then it is up to the entire Germanic people to be the masters! Austria cannot be independent of Germany! We believe that this is the wish of the entire German people! This is also the wish of the Austrian Germanic people!"

The diplomat handed the pen to Schuschnigg: "As for you, it is already the best choice to hand over your power and go to the country to find a house to live the rest of your life!"

"I said, I will not sign if I die, even if I am the only Austrian willing to shed his blood for independence and freedom! It proves that there are Austrians who have fought for the truth!" Schuschnigg said angrily.

"Noble! great!" the diplomat laughed, "but stupid." ”

A German officer entered the room and reported to the German diplomat what was going on outside: "Sir! Vienna is already under our control. The 25th Division had taken control of all important sections, and the Austrian units had all been disarmed. ”

"No, Mr. Lieutenant Colonel. The diplomat pointed to the Austrian leader Schuschnig, who was sitting in his seat: "The Germans have returned to the bosom of their homeland!

The lieutenant colonel raised the corners of his mouth and pulled out his pistol and pointed it at Schuschnigg's head.

"Wait!" Schuschnigg's face turned pale.

"Bah......" Gunshots rang out. The Lieutenant Colonel of the Wehrmacht shrugged helplessly: "I'm sorry, you said it was late." ”

......

For Germany's de facto leader, Accardo Rudolph, September 15, 1933 was a day of unprecedented glory. The German leader had always made it his slogan and goal to make the German state strong, and today, when he came to Vienna with his army to announce the "union of Germany and Austria", he did exactly what he said.

He was warmly welcomed by several thousand people. Accardo made his way from Linz, the seat of his provisional headquarters, to the Austrian capital, with 40 tanks in front and police cars full of officers as the rearguard, and along the way he was greeted by Advodsche followers from all over Austria.

For most of the road, Accardo stood in an open-top car, dressed in a black SS officer's uniform, waving almost hysterically to his fanatical supporters. Many of his supporters waved German flags. Some members of the Greater German Party sewed the German flag onto the Austrian flag.

"How we feel at this moment," said Accardo, waving his hand, as he walked the streets of Vienna, "is also the common feeling of all other Germans! Whatever happens, the united Germany that we proclaim today will never again be divided by anyone, and will never be divided." ”

The next day. Accardo signed a decree with the Austrian military that he would personally act as acting commander-in-chief of the Austrian army as German chancellor, and that all Austrian soldiers must swear allegiance to the president of the Greater German Party, the leader of the country that led more than 70 million Germanic people.