Der Führer Hitler arrived in Vienna yesterday to a cheering crowd of 200,000. At the Heldenplatz, Hitler proclaimed the Anschluss to the Austrian people and the German Reich. He also commented on the criticism that some nations have directed at Germany by stating "Certain foreign newspapers have said that we fell on Austria with brutal methods. I can only say: even in death they cannot stop lying. I have in the course of my political struggle won much love from my people, but when I crossed the former frontier (into Austria) there met me such a stream of love as I have never experienced. Not as tyrants have we come, but as liberators.
A Plebiscite has been set for April 10th. At that time, Austrians will officially vote on the Anschluss. This has already passed as a legislative act in the German Reich on March 13. in essence, the Austrian people will need to ratify it on April 10th.
Political leaders such as Socialist Leader Karl Renner have urged Austria to approve the plebiscite.
Voting in the Referendum that was initiated on March 11th was still counted even during the German Blumenkreig. There were pockets if the country that were only able to count the votes three days later.
Showing posts with label Blumenkreig. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blumenkreig. Show all posts
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Blumenkrieg
The Austrian Legislature has voted to give the measure full affect today.
Reports that Germany's 8th Army of the Wehrmacht had no need to fire a single bullet have been confirmed. Austrians have generally celebrated the arrival of the German Army. It is being hailed as the Blumenkreig, or, the War of Flowers.
The representatives of the Holy See in Austria have had a more difficult time with this upheaval. Yesterday, March 12th, Cardinal Innitzer said "The Viennese Catholics should thank the Lord for the bloodless way this great political change has occurred, and they should pray for a great future for Austria. Needless to say, everyone should obey the orders of the new institutions." Many other Austrian bishops followed suit.
Vatican Radio was quick to respond with Cardinal Pacelli, the Vatican Secretary of State, commanded Innitzer report to Rome immediately. Reports have it that he may have to sign a statement retracting his previous statement. If so, the other bishops will have to no doubt, do the same.
So far, response from France and Great Britain has been moderate. Both France and Great Britain have filed protests against Germany's actions. These are little more than formalities. France has ignored many of Hitler's violations of the Treaty of Versailles. He has thus far exceeded the quota of 100 planes established in the treaty. A zone extending 50 km east of the Rhine River was specified in the Treaty to be demilitarized. There are to be no installations on this side of the river. On the western side of the same river, Allied troops were to remain in a zone for 15 years. Hitler has moved 3 battalions into this Demilitarized Zone in 1936.
In the United States, an article in the New York Times likened this event to Scotland and England joining centuries before.
Reports that Germany's 8th Army of the Wehrmacht had no need to fire a single bullet have been confirmed. Austrians have generally celebrated the arrival of the German Army. It is being hailed as the Blumenkreig, or, the War of Flowers.
The representatives of the Holy See in Austria have had a more difficult time with this upheaval. Yesterday, March 12th, Cardinal Innitzer said "The Viennese Catholics should thank the Lord for the bloodless way this great political change has occurred, and they should pray for a great future for Austria. Needless to say, everyone should obey the orders of the new institutions." Many other Austrian bishops followed suit.
Vatican Radio was quick to respond with Cardinal Pacelli, the Vatican Secretary of State, commanded Innitzer report to Rome immediately. Reports have it that he may have to sign a statement retracting his previous statement. If so, the other bishops will have to no doubt, do the same.
So far, response from France and Great Britain has been moderate. Both France and Great Britain have filed protests against Germany's actions. These are little more than formalities. France has ignored many of Hitler's violations of the Treaty of Versailles. He has thus far exceeded the quota of 100 planes established in the treaty. A zone extending 50 km east of the Rhine River was specified in the Treaty to be demilitarized. There are to be no installations on this side of the river. On the western side of the same river, Allied troops were to remain in a zone for 15 years. Hitler has moved 3 battalions into this Demilitarized Zone in 1936.
In the United States, an article in the New York Times likened this event to Scotland and England joining centuries before.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Anschluss
Today, Austria united with Germany. Adolf Hitler desired having all German speaking peoples united in one Germany. The last time this was fact was in 1806 under the Holy Roman Empire.
The turn of events started as far back as February. On the 12th of that month, German Chancellor Hitler met with Kurt Schuschnigg, the Chancellor of Austria, in Berchtesgaden. That's Bavaria to you and me. At this meeting, the German Chancellor demanded that Austria allow full freedom for political parties and release all political prisoners, notably the Nazi ones.
Mr. Schuschnigg complied with these demands and even appointed Arthur Seyss-Inquart as Interior Minister and Edmund Glaise-Horstenau as Minister without portfolio. Both men are Nazis.
After the release of political prisoners who've not known freedom for four long years after Austria's own civil war, the Communists sided with the Austrian government. The Socialists demanded more concessions from the government before offering any support.
Schuschnigg decided to put the vote on Austrian independence to a vote. On March 9th, he set the minimum voting age at 24. The youth of the Alpine nation have been inflamed with Nazi ideology. For this referendum to pass, Schuschnigg could not have Nazi sympathizers participating.
Germany didn't take this lying down. The Ministry of Propaganda issued reports that riots were occurring in Austria and the Austrians were pleading for Germany to come in and restore order. These were false.
Hitler demanded that control of the country be handed over to the National Socialist Party by noon on the 11th. He extended the demand two hours. It mattered little. Nazis were quick to take over Vienna.
The Chancellor resigned in the evening hours of the 11th at around 7:30 PM. He told his people and the world by radio that he had to this to avoid bloodshed.
The President of Austria, Wilhelm Miklas, though, refuses to recognize Seyss-Inquart as the new Chancellor. As long as he did this, Seyss-Inquart was unable to send a telegram under the government for German troops to enter Austria.
After much frustration, Hitler and Hermann Göring, who was waiting with his troops at the border, decided to forge a telegram, at about 10 PM, allowing them to invade Austria. At midnight, after many of the government officials had been arrested and many places in Vienna were in Nazi control, Miklas conceded and decided to appoint Seyss-Inquart as Chancellor.
The German army has slipped across the border without any resistance. There have been reports that the German soldiers have been welcomed with salutes and flowers.
The turn of events started as far back as February. On the 12th of that month, German Chancellor Hitler met with Kurt Schuschnigg, the Chancellor of Austria, in Berchtesgaden. That's Bavaria to you and me. At this meeting, the German Chancellor demanded that Austria allow full freedom for political parties and release all political prisoners, notably the Nazi ones.
Mr. Schuschnigg complied with these demands and even appointed Arthur Seyss-Inquart as Interior Minister and Edmund Glaise-Horstenau as Minister without portfolio. Both men are Nazis.
After the release of political prisoners who've not known freedom for four long years after Austria's own civil war, the Communists sided with the Austrian government. The Socialists demanded more concessions from the government before offering any support.
Schuschnigg decided to put the vote on Austrian independence to a vote. On March 9th, he set the minimum voting age at 24. The youth of the Alpine nation have been inflamed with Nazi ideology. For this referendum to pass, Schuschnigg could not have Nazi sympathizers participating.
Germany didn't take this lying down. The Ministry of Propaganda issued reports that riots were occurring in Austria and the Austrians were pleading for Germany to come in and restore order. These were false.
Hitler demanded that control of the country be handed over to the National Socialist Party by noon on the 11th. He extended the demand two hours. It mattered little. Nazis were quick to take over Vienna.
The Chancellor resigned in the evening hours of the 11th at around 7:30 PM. He told his people and the world by radio that he had to this to avoid bloodshed.
The President of Austria, Wilhelm Miklas, though, refuses to recognize Seyss-Inquart as the new Chancellor. As long as he did this, Seyss-Inquart was unable to send a telegram under the government for German troops to enter Austria.
After much frustration, Hitler and Hermann Göring, who was waiting with his troops at the border, decided to forge a telegram, at about 10 PM, allowing them to invade Austria. At midnight, after many of the government officials had been arrested and many places in Vienna were in Nazi control, Miklas conceded and decided to appoint Seyss-Inquart as Chancellor.
The German army has slipped across the border without any resistance. There have been reports that the German soldiers have been welcomed with salutes and flowers.
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