Hitler Killed by Austrians

[David S Poepoe]

I'm a frequent buyer of games from Avalanche Press and they have turned out some interesting WI and regular game supplements that have been really well researched.

A recent supplement for their Panzer Grenadier lines is titled Hopeless, But Not Serious and has to do with Austrian military responses to the Anschluss. One (of many) scenarios mentions:

Scenario Five
Revenge
14 February 1938
German Chancellor Adolf Hitler summoned his Austrian counterpart, Kurt Schuschnigg, to Hitler's mountain retreat at Berchtesgaden. There, Hitler berated the Austrian and demanded that Austria install a Nazi-friendly government. Schuschnigg refused, and Hitler in turn would not let him leave. As no communication came from their leader, Austrian officers of the 8th Infantry Brigade headquartered a few kilometers away in Salzburg became concerned. Maj. Gen. Kurt Zborzil, appointed to the post just two weeks before, called his senior officers together. If no word came soon of Schuschnigg's fate, his brigade would storm the Eagle's Nest, free their chancellor and "kill the little (expletive)."

Conclusion
A coward in his heart, Hitler would undoubtedly have fled the field and left his fanatic bodyguards to die in his place. Losing the Eagle’s Nest to the Austrian Army — and fleeing into the night to avoid them — would have been a political catastrophe. But in reality Schuschnigg returned before Zborzil led his troops over the border. The chancellor was physically unharmed but spiritually broken. Forty years later, 8th Brigade officers still spoke wistfully of the lost opportunity to destroy Hitler before he unleashed his madness. However, if unsuccessful it would have plunged Austria into an utterly hopeless war.

The Austrian 54th Mountain Reconnaissance Battalion would have been taking on the Regiment Adolf Hitler Life Guards.

 

[Solomaxwell6]

Austria anschlusses Germany, and Fascist Austro-Germany conquers France and Hungary and reinstalls the Habsburgs.

 

[wormyguy]

A bit far-fetched, Austria can't possibly win that war, not without intervention from the French and British. Even so, it would be winning in the same sense that the French won WWII, their country would be thoroughly defeated and occupied (and the Austrian army would no doubt suffer massive desertion, given that they are expected to kill their brother Germans in order to protect their Entente-forced independence).

 

[Geekhis Khan]

Well, if Austria opposes anschluss with arms then that totally throws the "willing plebiscite" farce out the window. Germany has invaded a sovereign nation rather than "willingly incorporated their ethnic brothers". Even Nevil will have to take notice that Peace in Our Time ain't happening.

Possibly this means WWII earlier with Germany in deep doo doo since a) their army is not nearly as built up as it will be a year later, and b) Italy is an enemy at this point so Hitler has no major friends.

Alternately Hitler will have to abandon anschluss, which will seriously weaken his credibility at home and may cost him the chancellorship.

Either way, better for the rest of the world.

 

[Blue Max]

Well, if Austria opposes anschluss with arms then that totally throws the "willing plebiscite" farce out the window. Germany has invaded a sovereign nation rather than "willingly incorporated their ethnic brothers". Even Nevil will have to take notice that Peace in Our Time ain't happening.

Possibly this means WWII earlier with Germany in deep doo doo since a) their army is not nearly as built up as it will be a year later, and b) Italy is an enemy at this point so Hitler has no major friends.

Alternately Hitler will have to abandon anschluss, which will seriously weaken his credibility at home and may cost him the chancellorship.

Either way, better for the rest of the world.

No, I disagree.

Hitler will claim that Austria fired the first shots, that Schussnigg was a devious backstabber, and Neville and Daladier will buy it. The UK and France, with what appears to be an Austrian Attack against Germany (and to be sure, the Nazis will blame Austria for the attack), will sit out the conflict and let Mussolini handle it.

Now, Given that Mussolini OTL made no action against Germany during Anschluss, despite having an alliance with Austria, it is possible that Italy does NOT honor its alliance and that Austria is hung out to dry.

It is also possible that the whole Danubian Bloc moves--Italy and Hungary mobilize against Germany. While Germany's 1938 army is not particularly impressive, I would be confident that Germany can win this war and claim victory--but it will take years of alpine fighting and millions of lives. Unless, of course, Poland or Czechloslovakia decide to dogpile Germany, as they might.

Austria is probably doomed. But it is quite possible that Poland decides to kick Germany while she's down; it is also possible that the Czechs align behind Austria after sensing trouble with their own SdP movement...

I find it extremely unlikely that Germany will lose the war unless it gets dogpiled, and the Allies are not likely to take a part of what they might view as Austria going insane. At best, Germany AFTER the war will have been forced to fight long and hard against other nations it allied with OTL, and perhaps its ambitions end with Austria, Budapest and Fruili & Venice.

Given the losses incurred, this might be a victory in name only. Hitler would be a Martyr and his party could claim to have won a war for German unification. But the idea of launching another terrible war? After Austria turns into a three year alpine slog? Even the Nazi Party is going to have to move somewhat dove--another war would just not be palatible, and perhaps its just as well that Hitler has died...

 

[wormyguy]

-snip-

I find it difficult to believe that Czechoslovakia and Poland could justify to their people allying with the hated Austrians (possibly with the hated Hungarians, too). Neither one of them has any claims on German land, anyway.

 

[Susano]

Geekis: While the Nazi referendum as it was held was a farce, that didnt mean the Austrians didnt want the Anschluss - they did want it, which IS why it was expressively forbidden in the Paris Suburbs Treaties (no sense in that if it there were no chance of it). In (obviously non-binding) referenda single Austrian stated held in the 20s, regularily over 90% of the people voted that theyd want Austria to join Germany.

That means a war against Germany would be a hell of a lot unpopular in Austria, and furthermore Hitler can paint himself as victim of aggression. Its not as much a coup as IOTL, where it happened fast, bloodless, uncomplicated and with a cheering population, but I think the end result is that Austria will fall regardless.

Blue Max: Hitler had a non-agression pact with Poland at that time still, and poland was more worried about the USSR. Czechoslovakia is a possibility - they had no immdiate reason tof ear Hitler (worry generalyl about his ideology yes, fear no), but they had always been supportive of the concept of an independant Austria for obvious reasons. But I dont think theyd go to war over it. Next best chance wpould be France, but they already did nothing when Germany restored her military souvereignity in the Rhineland, so I guess ame applies here: They wouldnt go to war over it.

And well, seeing as how Austria WANTED reunion with Germany, its sensible by all sides not to intervene.

 

[Geekhis Khan]

Quick question: are we assuming Hitler dies as per the thread title, or flees as per the OP? My earlier post assumes he lives. If he's killed Blue Max is likely right.

 

[Dilvish]

If Hitler dies, who takes over as leader of Germany? Who takes over from Hitler, the form of the post-Hitler government, and is there a peaceful transfer of power in Germany, all those can have an effect on the coming conflict.

Quick question: are we assuming Hitler dies as per the thread title, or flees as per the OP? My earlier post assumes he lives. If he's killed Blue Max is likely right.

 

[Geekhis Khan]

If Hitler dies, who takes over as leader of Germany? Who takes over from Hitler, the form of the post-Hitler government, and is there a peaceful transfer of power in Germany, all those can have an effect on the coming conflict.

IIRC Goering is the heir apparent at this point, but a nasty succession crisis is a real possibility.

 

[Blue Max]

I find it difficult to believe that Czechoslovakia and Poland could justify to their people allying with the hated Austrians (possibly with the hated Hungarians, too). Neither one of them has any claims on German land, anyway.

Susano has good answers on Poland, although I recall that Poland does have claims against Germany--things like East Prussia and the Oppeln region. Poland did consider a pre-emptive war against Germany, and this would clearly be one of the best opportunities for such a war.

The Czechs are concerned because the loss of Austria bypasses most of their Sudentenland Defenses, and the SdP would still be rising in prominence as well. I can't see Prague backing Austria alone, but everything hinges on what happens with Italy and Hungary.

Unlike the other nations, Italy and Hungary have strong reasons to intervene against Germany, and Italy did so in 1934 after the shooting death of Kanzler Dolfuss. That said, Germany is now in a war, with a casus belli, against Austria. The situation is extraordinary, and it lead to Italian and Hungarian intervention as both simply refuse to stand down given the major confusion that must follow. Both Austria and Germany as missing their leaders, and while Germany will claim that Austria launched the attack, Austria can claim that Germany provoked it by abducting Schussnigg.

Italy and Hungary may well buy Austria's side of the story. If they do, this conflict just went from Germany annexing Austria into Germany fighting a prolonged war against nations that befriended it historically, and while Germany will probably win such a conflict, It will really hurt to fight Italy at its strongest speciality--alpine fighting. I'd have to claim that Germany is out over a million men, and grabbing portions of Northern Italy as spoils is unlikely to pay for the losses incurred.

Austria is likely to be a basketcase. Yes, the war will be deeply unpopular, but Germany's response--including things like Bombing Austrian Troops and Cities--could greatly increase Austria's willingness to fight. Still, unless Germany is fighting Italian Troops the nature of this conflict is likely to be disorganized resistance; Germany will probably NOT elevate Austria to the level of a German Homeland if Austria has made some effort to kill Germans, and it is possible that there could be a legitimate resistance group or Government in Exile after this conflict...

Either this is a quick German victory against Austria alone, or its a real grinder against Italy-Hungary-Austria, with the latter as a battlefield for the other two players. No matter what happens, a Munich Confrence may well be butterflied, and Italian support for Germany might not exist at all, leading to Italy trying to play on the Allied Team...

 

[Solomaxwell6]

It could ultimately lead to other interesting events. Assume that it's a relatively easy German victory, for example, with the Austrian military ultimately welcoming Hitler in outside of a few incidents of resistance. The victory is fast enough that Italy doesn't have the time to join in the fight. Assume further that WW2 starts on schedule after Hitler invades Poland (minus a few divisions lost to the fighting in Austria/occupational forces). Now we have a WW2 with Italy fighting against Germany.

How would that affect the war? Could we see Italy becoming part of the UNSC?

 

[Cornelius]

Actually, in 1938 Italy and Germany had already an aggreement of sort regarding Austria. Mussolini accepted the anschluss in exchange for Hitler's support. IRRC, the austrian goverment asked Mussolini what to do regarding the german's aspirations and he replied to accep them.

However, if the austrian army had attempted to make any kind of resistance, Mussolini would be tempted to step in and act as mediator (he was a megalomaniac, after all). That could lead to a war, but I don't see it so probable.

Anyway, even if Hitler succeed in annexing Austria, the allies would probably draw the line in the sand for Cezchoslovakia, instead of Poland. The Czech should only play enough "not letting another free country fall to the nazi" tune, to get support.

Finally, if Hitler dies all the bets are off! The power struggle between the several factions would paralize germany for at least a couple of years and the new Fuher could even be not interested in following Hitler's plans. Of course if the economic crisis doesn't destroy the german economy before...