Office of the Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary Ambassador
of the German Reich
Austrian Division
Berlin W 8
Wilhelmstr. 64
IV 2 a A/0
To the Reich Chancellery Attention Captain Wiedemann Berlin W 8 78 Wilhelmstr.
Enclosed please find a confidential report on the situation in Austria, for your information. I may call your attention to the particular importance of this report.
Heil Hitler! by order
[signature illegible.]
Copy
14. Jan. 1937
Subject: Situation in Austria. Confidential Report.
With the exception of the extreme clerical camp, the C. V. [Catholic students' association] and the Catholic Action and the closely connected Legitimists, nobody denies really seriously that without an agreement between the governing circles and the nationalist opposition in Austria it will not be possible to attain the peace indispensable for the building up of the state. Therefore, it is the question of the way to it that hitherto could not be solved and that with every new attempt offers again and again a suitable point of attack for the group which is striving for a clerical-legitimist totalitarian regime. In addition there is the apprehension even of the moderate elements, in principle not averse to an agreement, not to be overpowered by a newly developing national movement. It depends on circumstances, impossible to define in advance, whether such counter-attacks will succeed. Hitherto they did.
At present, negotiations are in the foreground, being carried on by the Minister for Security Neustaedter-Stuermer. It is planned to gather a "Committee for the drafting of proposals" [Proponenten Komitee] composed of well-known nationally leading personalities of public life and business ip order to form in
498
2831-PS
this way a "German Action" built upon a broad basis, which should be inserted into the state. The Ministers Neustaedter-Stuermer and von Gleise-IIorstenan will join the committee, one of the strongest advocates of which is a war-comrade of Minister Neustaedter-Stuermer, the former chief of the provincial government of Corinthia, Dr. Wolsaegger. Prince Rohan, too, is interested in it and collects business men particularly. The chances for approval of this action by the Bundes Ranzler are greater anyway than the previous attempts because it would be rather difficult for the government to reject without urgent reasons this proposal that is supported by some of its leaders—among them the Ministers of the 11th July—and that is also promoted by industry. Nevertheless it would be premature in view of the complicated situation to give an opinion. Of course it must be understood that a failure caused by the pressure of the clerical-legitimist wing would endanger also the value of the agreement of 11th July in a way difficult to bear even for Austria and, without doubt, would make untenable the position of the ministers supporting the plan. On the other hand, the fact of the forming of such a committee, even the planned extension of the "German Action" is of little meaning, for at first it has to be shown under what restricting conditions any activity will be possible.
In any case, a contradiction remains also in the attitude of the Minister for Security Neustaedter-Stuermer who wants the participation of the illegal party groups because in this action indubitably with his—at least forced—consent the police actions against the Party have been again greatly intensified just lately. Under these circumstances it is not astonishing that new distrust has been created in illegal party circles and even beyond them in the circles of the nationalists on the whole, that this "Action" had only the purpose of wearing down the resistance of the nationalists and that it would end in a new wave of persecution. The attitude of the authoritative governmental authorities and of the ' "Fatherland Front" strongly supports this view and one has to take in account the immense bitterness of the people about the economic campaign of annihilation by the clerical-legitimist circles which still continues and is performed in the name of the regime.
From all these events a very intensive crisis has arisen for the illegal party. It is generally known--that grave differences of opinion on the attitude to be taken in future exist between the present leadership and a large part of the party, particularly the
499
2831-1»$
Gau-leadership. It became apparent that the optimism of thé leadership that they could soon perform complete legalization and participate directly in the government was unjustified. Especially in SA-circles who had to suffer the most by the new wave of persecution the most vehement attacks have been sounded against the leadership. In very lengthy discussions of the Gauleiters, an immediate split-up of the party threatened in case the leadership should not resolve on a change of attitude. Eventually Dr. Fr. R succeeded by his considerate manner and his way of presenting the political situation without any illusions in preventing this split. In the end the gauleiters gave spontaneous support to his proposals representing a positive policy which does not precipitate the developing events, but demands the maintenance of the present leadership if it acknowledges these directive's. Upon this basis, by further long discussions also an agreement between the Gauleiters and the leadership was accomplished in which the political directives of the R-report were explicitly acknowledged. Now it is to be seen if this line can be kept or the influence of the present advisers which were described as disastrous, will endanger anew this agreement also. Another point is the necessity to change the obstruction of the Nazis within the state into a constructive opposition and to make the cooperation of the Nazis valuable by their attitude in the fight against Communism and so on. Instead of a mechanical "legalization" which will do no one any good, now the way of positive politics in thè state will be pursued.
But even here, with absolute reserve towards the present leadership, we have to wait to see if this way can be pursued with the given personalities as leaders. Towards the action. Neu-staedter a position of benevolent neutrality should be taken—as far as counter-currents do not already in this first case diverge from the line. A too strong and far-reaching connection would be understood neither in our own ranks nor could it be of use to the action itself.
Cover letter and report to the Reich chancellery on Austria, including various political factions, and Austrian Nazis' discussions about whether to move from obstruction to "constructive opposition"
Authors
Franz Papen, von (Vice-Chancellor; ambassador)
Franz von Papen
German general staff officer, politician, diplomat, nobleman and Chancellor of Germany (1879–1969)
- Born: 1879-10-29 (Werl)
- Died: 1969-05-02 (Sasbach)
- Country of citizenship: German Reich; Germany
- Occupation: diplomat; military personnel; politician
- Member of political party: Centre Party (until: 1932-01-01); Nazi Party
- Member of: Union-Klub
- Participant in: Hostages Trial (date: 1947-10-03; role: affiant)
- Significant person: Wilhelm List (role: acquaintance)
Date: 14 January 1937
Literal Title: [second page:] Subject: Situation in Austria. Confidential Report.
Defendant: Franz Papen, von
Total Pages: 3
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: PS-2831
HLSL Item No.: 450724
Notes:The report was sent by von Papen's office (as German ambassador to Austria); it is not signed. No record has been found of this document being presented as evidence.
Trial Issues
Conspiracy (and Common plan, in IMT) (IMT, NMT 1, 3, 4) IMT count 1: common plan or conspiracy (IMT) IMT count 2: crimes against peace (wars of aggression) (IMT) Wars of aggression
Document Summary
PS-2831: Photostat of letter omanating from Papen, German Ambassador in Austria, dealing with the situation in Austria