Vienna, 12th August 1935
The Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of the
German Reich on Special Mission.
No.' A 1892.
Contents: Inspection of the Consulates of Linz and Salzburg.
Opening of the Grossglockner road. .
(Three copies for the Foreign Office).
I returned today from a fortnight's tour, the purpose of which was to inspect the consulates and visit the provinces of Upper Austria, Salzburg, and Styria. This journey has given me a new and valuable insight into spiritual and economic conditions in these areas.
On the impressions I received from my visit .to Linz and Salzburg I have already reported personally on the 1st of August. My conversation with the provincial Hauptmann, Dr. Gleisner, who, by the way, is a Bavarian by birth and is the first of the generation to live in Austria, dealt with the whole German-Austrian problem. The provincial Hauptmann gave me the impression of being of above average intelligence, and I quite believe that the surmise that he will yet be seen in other decisive State positions will prove right. On my question as to how far his own. opinion concerning the possible restoration of normal relations coincides with that of the Austrian government, he answered very frankly, pointing out that the Federal government cannot bridge the present very sad gulf between the German Reich and Austria as long as they are of the opinion that the position of Catholicism seems to be threatened by the National Socialist doctrine. Despite my various objections regarding the
D-689
present position in Germany, which was brought about at least in part by political Catholicism, which shows a strong similarity to the activity of Austrian political Catholicism, Dr. Gleisner stuck to his opinion. He concluded his exposition with the words: "Mr. Ambassador, I declare to you quite openly that the Austrian government has only one problem, which is to maintain our course until the cultural position in Germany is clarified.''
Count Reverterá, the Director of Security, spoke in a very conciliatory manner. He said he is trying to secure for the national opposition the possibility to exist, even though it is banned. (Action Reinthaler, Hueber) . He said that it was necessary for the national opposition to become an Austrian affair and to break away clearly from the German party. I also had an opportunity to speak about some cases of particularly severe punishment, on which Count Reverterá gave hopes of a benevolent revision.
In the evening I had assembled the representatives of .the Reich German colony around me on the Postling berg. As soon as my arrival in Linz became known, people assembled to greet me in the most friendly manner. The consul told me that my visit has given a new incentive to national circles.
In Salzburg, the Reich German colony had assembled in considerable numbers—about 800 persons—and an excellent atmosphere prevailed among all .the participants, who sent their greet1-ing to the Fuehrer. As a result of the readiness of the security directorate to assist, flags and music were allowed and only the Horst Wessel song was forbidden. My visit to the provincial Hauptmann, Dr. Rehrl, left me with the impression that I was dealing with a sensible, politically moderate man, who is working earnestly for reconciliation with Germany. Dr. Rehrl repeatedly expressed to me his special thanks that the Fuehrer had, at the last moment, allowed some German cars to participate in the inauguration of the Grossglockner road. The promises of the Austrian government to exhibit both the German national emblems at the inauguration ceremonies on the Grossglockner were kept. The arrival of the Munich cars, driving in close column, with their Swastika pennant, was greeted everywhere with great joy by the population.
The ceremony of inaugurating the road has been reported elsewhere. The members of the Government avoided making any provocative remarks concerning the German relationship, so harmony was not disturbed. The Plenipotentiary General for German motor roads, Dr. TODT, whom I met next day at the Grossglockner, will report on the road itself. The nonarrival of the German car racers who had been announced was commented upon by
the population with particular regret. How much it had been wished that a German car should win is proved by the demonstrative and roaring applause which went on for minutes on end, when, at the distribution of prizes, the Munich driver, Kohlrausch, was handed the third prize. As this applause could not be denied in the radio'broadcast too, it has already given rise to disagreeable comments in a few newspapers.
The building of this road is without doubt a first class work of culture in which Reich German constructional firms took the main and decisive part. The Chief engineer of the Reich German firm which built the tunnel at the highest point offered to inform me of the position of the explosives chambers in this tunnel. I sent him to the military attache.
In all places and among all persons to whom I talked, I found the greatest interest in developments in Germany. In Salzburg my presence gave rise to spontaneous demonstration in favor of the Reich. In Kammer on the Attersee, which I made my last halting place, 500 National Socialists assembled in the evening with music to greet me. It was only with the greatest difficulty that it was possible to explain to these people that any demonstration would involve imprisonment or even severer punishments for them. In spite of the fact that the crowd preserved marvelous discipline and only shouted "Heil" or sang folk songs, some guests in the hotel felt induced to telegraph to the Federal Chancellory: "the German Ambassador has caused a great Nazi demonstration to take place".
All told, I got the impression that morale in the Alpine provinces through which I travelled is excellent in spite of all sacrifices and oppression and that hopes for the rise of the Third Reich and a common destiny are unbroken. The lack of information about the actual state of affairs in Germany is noticeable everywhere. Something can be done about this only if the attempt to come to an arrangement with the Austrian government along the lines I am following succeeds, an arrangement according to which part of the German press and of German literature will be permitted to enter the country.
[Sgd] PAPEN
To the Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor,
Berlin.
By Courier.
Report to Hitler, on Austrian attitudes toward Germany, Germans in Austria, the opening of a new Austrian road, and the need to inform Austrians about Germany
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: 12 August 1935
Literal Title: Contents: Inspection of the Consulates of Linz and Salzburg. Opening of the Grossglockner road.
Defendant: Franz Papen, von
Total Pages: 2
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: D-689
Citations: IMT (page 11914), IMT (page 11918)
HLSL Item No.: 453519