【 Chapter 21 – Interwar Period – Anschluss (2) 】
March 1, 1938
Berlin, Northern Germany, Berlin War Castle Training Grounds
In Austria, the unrest caused by Austrian Nazi members continued unabated as I knew it.
The Interior Minister, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, who was the representative figure of the Austrian Nazis, would be overseeing the situation.
The impatient Austrian Chancellor, Schuschnigg, was planning to hold a referendum opposing the unification with Germany sometime in March, but I couldn’t recall the exact date, which was the problem.
Even if I may not know the exact dates of major events like the outbreak of World War II, it’s hard to believe that I could remember the precise details of every single event… I really missed real-time internet searches.
I tried my best to record even the memories I had from the present day, fearing that I might forget them. Just that alone filled up an entire notebook.
Since I wrote in Korean rather than German, nobody would be able to understand it even if they happened to come across it.
Korea as a country has no recognition whatsoever in Europe, not even in terms of language.
Hitler and the Nazi Party neatly ignored the demands for a thorough investigation of the Blomberg–Fritsch affair, and instead, they used the opportunity to promote a large number of army personnel, burying the Austrian affair.
In reality, they were promoting personnel who clearly aligned with the nazi party and giving them key positions, while also promoting other personnel as a show or to placate them.
The war headquarters in Berlin was filled with Nazi officials, generals, and officers, creating a scene of bustling activity.
“Congratulations on your promotion, General.”
“Congratulations! General.”
“Haha… Thank you. Schacht, Mikhail.”
Captain Mikhail and I congratulated him, but now Walter Model, who had become a colonel, seemed to be forcing a smile.
He couldn’t help it. He had been transferred from the Berlin High Command to the staff of the 4th Army in Dresden.
Being sent from a role that could influence the entire German Army to a staff officer of a single unit, could be seen as a promotion in rank but a demotion in terms of position.
Officers in the German military who were uncooperative with the policies of Heinrich Himmler, such as Ludwig Beck, Chief of Staff of the Army, were either demoted in this manner or, like Erwin von Witzleben, a general who later became involved in the Valkyrie Operation (the failed assassination attempt on Hitler in 1944), were completely sidelined.
And it was the senior officer of the Army, Ludwig Beck, who had to prevent such actions, was promoted to the rank of senior general, and was smiling as he faced Hitler.
The main instigator behind this investigation was none other than him! During the time when Ludwig Beck, the Chief of the General Staff, was having his limbs amputated under the orders of Hitler, he was serving as a spectator.
His only notable accomplishment was preventing Hitler from appointing Walter von Reichenau, a general, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Army.
Walter von Reichenau, even before the Nazis exerted dominant influence over the military, openly joined the Nazi Party and was an ardent follower of the Nazis. Naturally, the Army’s public opinion exploded.
Whether Ludwig Beck genuinely believed that he had to prevent Reichenau’s appointment or if he was influenced by the Army’s public sentiment, only he would know.
And as a replacement for him as the Commander-in-Chief of the Army…
“Ah, General! Congratulations!”
Seeing General Model smiling and returning the salute, Captain Mikhail and I also immediately saluted.
“Congratulations, Model. You have finally become a Marshal, haven’t you?”
Today, Walter von Brauchitsch, who has been promoted to the rank of Colonel General, approached us with a smile.
“Ah, are these your comrades?”
Brauchitsch patted Model’s shoulder and then turned his gaze towards us.
“I-it’s an honor to meet you, General! I’m Captain Mikhail Roger!”
“Congratulations on your promotion, General. I’m Captain Dietrich Schacht.”
“Model, if this friend is the one you’ve been paying attention to, they are promising in the future. If it’s the Model’s line, it’s also my line. Captain Mikhail, Captain Schacht. I remembered.”
“Thank you!”
Being introduced by the highly ranked senior officers, the sight of General Model looking pleased was quite helpful for my career in the army. However, my feelings of gratitude were mixed.
Now that Walter von Brauchitsch has become the Army Commander-in-Chief, he is not only a long-time superior of General Model, but also a highly capable individual whose abilities have been proven within the defense forces.
Even though Walter Model, who was a subordinate of Beck, was demoted, his strong influence likely allowed him to achieve some level of promotion.
At first glance, their relationship seems beautiful, but this person, in order to climb the ladder of success and gain favor with Hitler and the Nazis, divorced his wife, with whom he had children, and married a fervently pro-Nazi woman.
Furthermore, during this process, he received financial support for the wedding from Hitler himself, which led him to completely betray the expectations of Beck and the defense forces that he would serve as a check on Hitler in the early stages of the war. As a result, he became completely entangled with Hitler and was dragged along by him.
“Returning from Spain and heading straight to Dresden, I was a bit concerned that I wouldn’t be able to take care of these friends properly, but since you’re here, I can breathe a sigh of relief.”
“Haha, I have high hopes for your abilities, so why would I disregard such things? Don’t worry….. It’s just between us, but I’ll make an effort soon. Is it even possible for someone like you to be a staff officer in a single corps?”
“….thank you, sir.”
As Model watched Brauchitsch, he couldn’t help but feel a bitter taste in his mouth. Walter Model had hardly ever discussed politics with his family throughout his life, always emphasizing his loyalty to the Führer and the regime. He had never given orders for racial extermination or war crimes.
However, even he, who began to emerge as the hope of the German Army in the Eastern Front during the Leningrad Front, was indicted as a war criminal for allegedly condoning guerrilla suppression and racial extermination.
While there is no record of him giving direct orders, considering his position as the overall commander of the Leningrad sector and his command style of personally inspecting the front lines and encouraging the troops, it is unlikely that he was unaware of the events taking place.
Despite his disregard for orders emphasizing racial extermination, such as the Warsaw Uprising suppression order or the Nero Decree1 to destroy German industrial facilities, and his lamentation that he fought for the criminal regime in the end, Model had always wondered why he acted like that in Leningrad.
Perhaps he believed that he still lacked the strength to oppose the Nazis based on his own judgment openly. That thought crossed my mind, but seeing Model’s attitude toward Brauchitsch today, I had a feeling that I might understand why.
Brauchitsch was indeed a capable general, and while he may have appeared subservient to the Nazis, he actively enforced Nazi policies and repeatedly justified war crimes, even criticizing officers who condemned Nazi policies on the Eastern Front and emphasizing the need to comply with them.
Ironically, during the subsequent war crimes trials, he claimed that such atrocities were committed solely by the Nazis and the SS, portraying the Wehrmacht as clean and innocent. He was an opportunist who opportunistically asserted the concept of the “Wehrmacht myth” for the first time.
Even someone as honorable as Model, being both his superior and subordinate, could not entirely avoid his influence.
In such a time of madness, even the best individuals can become demons to someone else.
“Then I’ll be on my way. See you next time.”
“Yes!”
As Brauchitsch left, receiving salutes from General Model and us, a familiar face approached with a camera in hand.
“Captain Schacht?”
“Reporter Jung.”
“Oh? Do you know her, Schacht?”
“Yes, we’ve been acquainted, and she has been helpful in various ways. Haha.”
As General Model exchanged greetings and conversed with Claudia, he showed interest.
“Nice to meet you, General and Captain. I’m Claudia Jung from Frankfurt Zeitung.”
“Oh, nice to meet you. I’m General Walter Model.”
“Ah, I’m Captain Roger Mikhail.”
After exchanging introductions, General Model looked back and forth between Claudia and me and chuckled. No, it’s not like that. I have a feeling he knows what I’m thinking. But we’re not on those terms, General.
“Since we’ve met like this, would you like to take a picture together?”
“Oh, is that okay?”
“Yes, why not? I’ve taken plenty of pictures anyway. Thanks to you, Captain Schacht.”
It seemed that Claudia was in a good mood, perhaps because of the success of the Austrian project she had been working on. As she spoke with a cheerful smile, the General Model observed her with a peculiar gaze, smiling back but with a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
“Hehe, Shahdt, my friend, you’re keeping up well with the staff officer course, right?”
“Y-Yes, of course. General…”
Oh, no, why do you look at me with such a disdainful gaze, like Clemens…
After taking a photo of me, Mikhail, and General Model, Claudia said she would print it and send it to me.
Thinking about appearing in a black and white photo wearing the German military uniform, like something from a history book… It feels quite strange.
“Well then, I should be on my way too. Schacht, Mikhail. I trust that there won’t be any negligence in my absence in Dresden.”
“Yes, General!”
As Mikhail and I stood straight and saluted, General Model returned the salute and departed. It was pitiful to think how upset he was, as he didn’t even make the jokes he usually enjoyed.
Soon Ludwig Beck, who has lost all his trusted men, would not be able to bear it and would resign. Was Manstein also demoted then?
“Hey, Schacht.”
Feeling curious, I followed Mikhail’s gaze and noticed that Claudia, who had just taken our photo, was now engaged in a conversation with Ribbentrop, who had become the Foreign Minister instead of the dismissed Neurath.
Well, she always wears that business smile. Ribbentrop seems to really like her. Oh, wait, isn’t he a married man?
As Claudia spoke with the high-ranking Nazi official, our eyes met, and she even gave me a wink, displaying a sense of ease.
Ah, yes. “The higher the politicians and military officers, the lighter the mouth is for pretty women,” isn’t that what they say?
“…what a beautiful woman.”
I couldn’t help but send a cold gaze at the words of Captain Mikhail, who seemed to have lost his soul for some reason.
Well, well, despite her seemingly innocent appearance, she’s a cunning and formidable journalist….
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March 10, 1938
Berlin War College, North Germany
On a night that was supposed to be a restful break after a day’s work, unexpectedly, the sirens blared, and chaos ensued.
Upon hearing the announcement calling for the mobilization of soldiers, I quickly put on my officer’s uniform and rushed downstairs to the first floor.
“I apologize for interrupting your rest at this late hour, comrades. However, it is an urgent order from our esteemed Führer. You are to immediately proceed towards the Bavarian direction and participate in the operation to subdue Austria!”
As the bewildered soldiers began raising their hands to ask questions, the commanding officer who came to deliver the message raised his hand to silence them and shouted.
“This is a real situation, not a drill! The Führer’s orders are to wage war with Austria and achieve a unified Greater Germany at all costs! Trains will be running on extended schedules to support the operation, which will commence on March 12th. You will receive your orders and assigned units and then travel individually by train!”
The commanding officer who delivered the orders seemed just as startled as us…
As soon as the orders were given, there was a clamor of soldiers calling out names and searching for their own orders, creating a chaotic uproar.
It’s unbelievable! I heard that the Anschluss happened suddenly and that the German army was in disarray, but this is just too much!?
Instead of moving together as a unit, we’re being told to gather individually. It’s utter chaos, and it doesn’t make any sense!
“Captain Schacht! Captain Schacht! Which one are you!”
“It’s me!”
I squeezed through the uproar of the officers and received the order being handed out by the sergeant.
It’s a complete mess!
“Schacht!”
“Oh, Captain Mikhail.”
“I’m Munich! 13th Division, 10th Brigade!”
I looked at the order and read it. The assembly point was… Regensburg. It’s in the direction of Linz, which is Hitler’s hometown, right?
“I am Regensburg. 11th Division, 18th Brigade…”
“It would have been nice if we were heading in the same direction.”
“That’s true.”
“Best of luck! Let’s make a strong line between General Model and us!”
“To Captain Mikhail as well. Wishing you good luck.”
Even though I knew there wouldn’t be much of a battle, let alone a war…
Nevertheless, I felt a sense of tension building up, making my throat dry.
Finally, it was the starting point.
I began to be swept away by the predetermined course of history, caught in its wave.
The first territorial expansion, revealing Hitler’s ambition, opened the door to the Second World War.
【 Interwar Period – Anschluss (2) 】- End
1The Nero Decree was issued by Adolf Hitler on 19 March 1945, ordering the destruction of German infrastructure to prevent its use by Allied forces as they penetrated deep within Germany.
Thank you for reading!
