[Extract from von Papen report of 21 August 1936 to Hitler]
* * * * * * * "It has unfortunately to be noted that the wild National Socialist excesses of July 29 of this year have not had the result we expected. Austria's reapproachment to the Third Reich in the field of foreign politics is making further progress, as well as the process of the cultural collaboration of the two sister nations. One can also assume from your most recent reports that the Trojan Horse of National Socialism is bringing over greater confusion into the ranks of the Fatherland Front and particularly into the ranks of the Heimatsschutz [Home Guard]. Opposition to the normalizing of German-Austrian relations which is extremely dangerous to Austrian independence, appears nevertheless to be relatively very great; it obviously only lacks good organization." * * * * * * *
"It appears hopeless and also impractical to us to strive to influence Austrian legitimism or the Heimwehr movement. There are, on the one hand, comparatively strong elements in Austrian Catholicism who could, with certain reservations, be called democratic. These elements, which are gradually grouping themselves round the Freiheitsbund [Freedom Union] and which are inclined basically to work for an agreement with the Social Democrats, represent, in our opinion, that group which would under certain circumstances, be inclined to bring about a revolution in internal politics in Austria."
934
Report to Hitler, on Austrian enthusiasm about Germany's success in the Olympic Games, Polish and British views on Germany, Austrian-Italian relations, and a Czech secret service report on Austrian political factions
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: 21 August 1936
Literal Title: Contents: After the Olympic Games.
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-706
Citation: IMT (page 11920)
HLSL Item No.: 453537
Notes:For more on the Czech report, see PS 2246.