Interwar Period – Anschluss (4)

April 10, 1938 – Linz, on the Danube River, Northern Austria

Mussolini, who had blocked the annexation of Austria back in 1934, had now meekly conceded to it—so long as Hitler renounced sovereignty over South Tyrol.

The impotent League of Nations said nothing. Hitler and the Nazis, having consumed Austria, now began to speak openly of reclaiming the Sudetenland, Danzig, and Memelland—territories that belonged to Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Lithuania. All sovereign nations.

We were still stationed in Linz even after Hitler declared Austria’s reunification.

In the early days, supplies were so scarce we had to purchase food directly from locals, and even refuel our staff cars at civilian Austrian gas stations. Only a month later were things beginning to normalize.

When I was in Spain, the Condor Legion was technically a volunteer force, so the atmosphere was more relaxed. But the regular German army was something else entirely, far more rigid, even if we too were often tested by reality.

Even so, I can’t help but wonder—was Hitler bold or just reckless when he reoccupied the Rhineland two years ago?

Although Germany had declared the annexation on March 13, the Austrian referendum wasn’t held until today—April 10. They insisted on the appearance of a democratic process.

It was a farce.

The vote was staged by German troops and Nazi officials in every city. When I saw the ballot, I had to laugh.

"Do you agree with the reunification of Austria and Germany on March 13, 1938 and support the list of candidates for our President Adolf Hitler?"

The layout made things worse. A large, inviting "Yes" circle dominated the center of the ballot, while a tiny, easily missed "No" lingered in the corner.

As someone who lived in a democratic country in the 21st century, the whole thing reeked of fraud. Yet Austrians dropped those ballots into the box smiling—some even shouting "Heil Hitler" and saluting us as they voted.

They had no idea. They couldn’t imagine that soon, they or their children would be conscripted into the German army and dragged into a global war.

I let out a bitter laugh.

Was this comedy, or tragedy? And here I was, stuck in the middle of it all, a captain burdened with the sensibilities of a future age.

"Captain Shacht."

I turned at the unexpected voice. Leutnant Colonel Treshkov. I saluted.

"Colonel."

"Come take a walk."

"Yes, sir."

I handed my post over to Leutnant Behr and followed.

Why had he summoned me? We hadn’t spoken much since the Anschluss.

As we walked, I kept glancing over my shoulder, half-expecting the Gestapo to tail us. But soon I realized that looking paranoid only drew more attention.

Even in a town where a sham referendum had just cemented Hitler’s power, Austrian civilians seemed at ease. Two German officers walking the streets wasn’t alarming to anyone.

Treshkov said little. He led us out of the city center to a quiet alley.

He stopped, pulled out a cigarette, and offered me one.

"Smoke?"

"I’m good, Colonel."

He took his time lighting up, inhaling deeply.

Strange—I remember an actor playing him in a film I watched back in modern Korea. He smoked the same way. Slowly, thoughtfully.

"...Dietrich Shacht. Your father was Hjalmar Schacht, the former Minister of the Economy. You worked closely with Colonel Richthofen during the Spanish Civil War. And you began your general staff training under the recommendation of Major General Walter Model."

"That’s correct, Colonel."

He didn’t respond. Just took another drag from his cigarette.

Sweat collected under my gloves.

I knew Treshkov was skeptical of the Nazis—had been since the Night of the Long Knives. But had I been too reckless in approaching him?

I recalled that during the Blomberg–Fritsch Affair, he tried to resign but was persuaded to stay by General von Witzleben, who had already joined the anti-Hitler circle.

Or had I misjudged all of this?

Treshkov dropped the cigarette, crushed it underfoot, and stared at me.

"As you know… our Wehrmacht swore an oath of loyalty to the Führer."

He tilted his head slightly, lips curling into a subtle smile.

"It’s truly unfortunate when junior officers harbor doubts about their rightful leader over… trivial matters like the persecution of a few jews."

A chill ran down my spine.

Was this a test? Or a threat?

Should I deny it? Report him first? Remain silent?

Treshkov’s gaze was unreadable—ice-cold, like a man who’d seen too much of the last war.

"Colonel Richthofen spoke highly of you. He’s the cousin of the famed Red Baron. Model is known for keeping out of politics. But perhaps their faith in you was misplaced."

My throat dried. If he reported this to the SS, I was finished.

But if this was a loyalty test, hesitating now would brand me unreliable.

"Tell me, Captain Shacht. Have you violated the Wehrmacht's oath of loyalty? Do you dare to doubt the Führer and the Reich?"

A choice.

"I am loyal to Germany, Colonel."

He pressed.

"And to the Reich’s ideology…?"

"Loyalty to Germany does not mean oppression of jews."

He raised an eyebrow.

"In the Great War, as you know, it was the jews who—"

"You believe the Nazis’ lie? That Germany lost the war because of a few jews?"

He paused.

"Yes. Minor details…"

"Minor? Perhaps. But how minor is it that thousands of jews sit in camps, waiting to die?"

He fell silent. I didn’t stop.

"Parliament, the SA, the military—anyone who supported Hitler is discarded when their usefulness ends. Göring and the SS are positioning themselves to gut the Wehrmacht. If we do nothing, Germany will become nothing more than Hitler’s puppet."

My voice surged.

"Austria is only the start. Next, it’s Czechoslovakia. Then Poland. Do you think Britain and France will keep standing still? War is coming, Colonel. A war we can’t afford."

My heart pounded. My lungs burned. But I couldn’t stop.

"Afraid to die? I am too. But better to die than watch my country burn again while I sit back and obey commands like a coward."

Even in sleep, I still wake to the tinnitus of Spain. I’ve written down every soldier’s name—each one who died under my command—so I don’t forget. So I don’t grow numb.

"Loyalty? I pledged it. But I didn’t pledge blind obedience. I’ll be loyal to Germany—but not to a man who will destroy it."

Silence.

Then Treshkov lit another cigarette. Calmly.

"I apologize, Captain Shacht. This was a test."

My knees nearly buckled.

I had been ready to die.

"...I’m sorry, Colonel. If you want to charge me with insubordination, I’ll accept the punishment."

"Save it."

He coughed mid-drag. I couldn’t help but laugh.

"You’re bold. Running your mouth like that to a superior you barely know."

Well, I knew who he would become. A man who resisted Hitler long before Colonel Stauffenberg ever would.

"...For when all are drunk on glory, only a few see the tragedy ahead."

"What are you, a philosophy major?"

"No, Colonel."

To be honest, I wasn’t sure where those words came from. I was as surprised as he was.

"Does your father agree with all this?"

"Not yet. But he will."

Treshkov nodded, satisfied.

"Good. Someone from our side will contact you soon."

"I understand."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Not surprised that I’m part of something larger?"

"There are more than a few soldiers in this army disillusioned by recent events, Colonel."

He eyed me suspiciously, but let it go.

I couldn’t afford to make him doubt me now. The coup wasn’t far off.

Being a man of the future is both a gift and a curse. I have to remember that.

"...Well. I’ll trust what I saw today. Not as a superior—but as a comrade."

"And I thank you for that, Colonel."

It was a dangerous tightrope to walk—

But I had crossed it.

And the gamble paid off.