WI: War between Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy over Austria?

Say following the assassination of Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dolfuss in 1934 the relationship between Hitler and Mussolini sours to the point of a war between the two powers in around 1935-

How could it have happened and what would have been the consequences?
 
I'm not sure how it could have happen (perhaps differences between Hitler and Mussolini on the subject of racial hygiene that gets completely out of control?) but the results would depend on the nature of war over Austria. A somewhat covert campaign by both parties would likely result in some sort of Austrian civil war, with both Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany supplying partisans on different sides of the conflict. Assuming an actual shooting war between the two, I could see German outrage at an "Italian betrayal of the German race" getting out of hand, with Lebensraum ideology about Eastern expansion perhaps taking a back seat (at least temporarily) to Atlantropan ideals of focusing on the Mediterranean, possibly to the extent of desiring to "liberate" the Po Valley. This is not to say that I believe the plans to dam the Mediterranean would ever get off the ground, merely that the drive to the East would be replaced with a drive to the South, with the actual Atlantropa megaproject gaining the same level of scorn that Sealion gets in OTL.

As for international relations, with the Axis strangled in its crib the Germans and the Italians could embody different sides of a wider split in fascist ideology. If Germany remains the reactionary/conservative faction of the split, Italy could possibly return to its Futurist roots in order to differentiate itself from Nazi views on race and society, illustrating a more revolutionary or progressive position. Taken to its extreme Europe could divide in half between Fascist-Futurists and National Socialists. With Germany distracted by matters closer to home, Russia's Western Front would be safer, which could free up Russia to expand further into Asia, bringing them into conflict with Japan's own efforts at expansion in the region. In the United States meanwhile Monroe Doctrine-tempered isolation would likely continue until affairs in either a newly polarized Europe or a contested Asia spill over into some crazy new Great War.
 
Not particularly realistic, I'll admit, but I always enjoy more fun in scenarios rather than hardline realism. As for the hypothetical battle lines, if the first principle of a shift in German animus from Slavs to Mediterraneans holds then Futurist-Fascism could spread throughout the "Latin" nations of Southern Europe, with Northern Europe falling under the Nazi sphere of influence, perhaps including an allied Poland given the right wing antisemitism that was spreading in that country at the time. Regarding the Asian sphere the propaganda practically writes itself, with the Proletarian USSR facing down the barbarous feudal Japanese over their oppressed Chinese comrades.
 
I can imagine a simple miscommunication getting out of hand. If both the Germans and Italians wanted control over Austria, and both sides attempted to invade, or at least take control of the local government, then they could meet in the middle with messy consequences. Hitler always viewed the Italians as inferior to the Germans, so if skirmishes did occur, he could quickly hold it up as the "Italian Betrayal". Meanwhile, Mussolini would think Austria part of his New Roman Empire, and would see the protestant northern Germans as traitors - possibly attempting to create a catholic south German vassal of Austria and Bavaria. The course of this war would depend heavily on the first couple of weeks - the Alps would be difficult to fight in, and could end up grinding to a halt. If either side could push through the mountains quickly, they would have the upper hand. Eventually, foreign powers would be forced to act - France especially would not want that kind of conflict almost on their doorstep. The question would be how France, and possibly Britain, would get involved. They might choose sides, or attempt to occupy Italy and Germany for peace-keeping purposes. With Italy and Germany tied up in a conflict, the Spanish Civil War would have gone differently - possibly with a Republican victory or stalemate.
 
The Wehrmacht is still very limited in conscripts and equipment: which doesn't the Italian Army goes all the way to Berlin, but in Austria they will probably win, leading to Hitler suffering Rapid unscheduled regime change.
 
I think if Britain and France got involved it would have been on the side of Italy. At this time, there was no misadventure in Ethiopia and IIRC Mussolini was popular in France, Britain, and I believe the US as well. It might make him even more popular standing up to Hitler.
 
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