Post by Diarist on Mar 15, 2017 18:27:18 GMT 1
After a steak for breakfast we arrived at the Wehrmachtamt at 08:50 and I endured a round of introductions again. The main topic of today's meeting was the Anglo-German talks in Hamburg last weekend. General von Blomberg was in the Reichstag so General Beck, General Milch and Wilhelm gave their reports. When I was asked if wished to add something I declined. "Everything has already been said. What can you report about the Sudetenland situation?"
"It's very tense at the moment. Tempers are fraying and shots have been fired."
"What is your view of the Czechoslovakian actions, Bob?" Wilhelm asked.
"The Sudetendeutschen are another victim of Hitler's foreign policy. The SDP (SudetenDeutsch Partei) is an affiliate of the NSDAP. Germany got rid of its Nazis and Czechoslovakia is doing the same. Your options are limited, Wilhelm. You could ask Austria to take some of the displaced persons because technically they are Austrians not Germans. You could ask a neutral nation to negotiate the return of non-political refugees to their homes but you can forget Sudetenland ever becoming part of Germany. Finally, if you are not already doing it, the refugees need to be sent to other parts of Germany in order to share the burden. They probably have relatives somewhere."
"Could Britain help with emergency aid?"
"It's not my area of expertise but I presume the British Red Cross would provide its German counterpart with all possible support. Wouldn't it have to be coordinated through the IRC?"
"I believe so."
"Germany needs to import more food and less war materials. It must also consider an Agriculture Reform Act. All available land should be cultivated so that Germany is less dependent on food imports. There is plenty of free labour in Germany. We are preparing something similar in Britain, I could arrange that you receive a copy."
"Sir Robert, would Britain be willing to negotiate a solution to the Danzig Corridor problem?" General Beck asked.
"If there is a reasonable chance of success I can imagine that we would support negotiations. Probably in Luxembourg though."
"The current situation is intolerable."
"In which way, Herr Oberst?" I've forgotten his name.
"The separation from the rest of Germany isn't a just solution."
"I've always said that the Versailles Treaties are stupid and short-sighted. Germany should have kept Danzig and Poland should have received East Prussia and called it Masuria. Problem solved. Herr Oberst, Poland needs access to the Ostsee and there are only two decent ports. They are Danzig and Königsberg. Germany can't have both so decide. Why don't you treat East Prussia as an island? You can travel to an island by sea or by air. East Prussia could also have a rail link unlike a real island. A train leaves Pomerania and stops next in East Prussia. No halt in Poland. There are plenty of options available."
"Those options are unacceptable!"
"And you decide that, Herr Oberst? Wake up to the new reality. Britain, France and Germany are negotiating a non-aggression treaty. In other words we don't like aggressors or aggression here in Europe. Thanks to Hitler's foreign policy Germany has alienated all its neighbours and conversely Britain and France has better relationships with all these neighbours. If one of them is a victim of aggression Britain and France has agreed to help them against the aggressor. Do you understand what I am telling you? Democracies don't start wars, Herr Oberst."
"We need Poland as a friend not an enemy," General Beck added. "I too believe the rail link would be an acceptable corridor."
"You won't need a mediator if you propose that to the Poles, General Beck. The infrastructure to the Polish-Russian border needs to be improved anyway."
"Our rearmament must have priority." The colonel again.
"Yes, but you need to wait for advanced designs to become available. That's what we are doing in Britain. Most of what you are producing now will be obsolete in a few years. Save those resources and expand your infrastructure instead. Next year there will be better, more advanced models available. Germany has a lot of hungry mouths to feed at the moment. That's your priority now. Give them food and they'll support the new government policies."
"The businessman is speaking now."
"Wilhelm, all nations need a civilian, consumer economy to support a military economy. We can discuss that later. If there is nothing else that can't wait I've promised to visit the neighbourhood in Berlin where my wife grew up."
"I'll detail a couple of security personnel to accompany you. No arguments, Bob."
"It's very tense at the moment. Tempers are fraying and shots have been fired."
"What is your view of the Czechoslovakian actions, Bob?" Wilhelm asked.
"The Sudetendeutschen are another victim of Hitler's foreign policy. The SDP (SudetenDeutsch Partei) is an affiliate of the NSDAP. Germany got rid of its Nazis and Czechoslovakia is doing the same. Your options are limited, Wilhelm. You could ask Austria to take some of the displaced persons because technically they are Austrians not Germans. You could ask a neutral nation to negotiate the return of non-political refugees to their homes but you can forget Sudetenland ever becoming part of Germany. Finally, if you are not already doing it, the refugees need to be sent to other parts of Germany in order to share the burden. They probably have relatives somewhere."
"Could Britain help with emergency aid?"
"It's not my area of expertise but I presume the British Red Cross would provide its German counterpart with all possible support. Wouldn't it have to be coordinated through the IRC?"
"I believe so."
"Germany needs to import more food and less war materials. It must also consider an Agriculture Reform Act. All available land should be cultivated so that Germany is less dependent on food imports. There is plenty of free labour in Germany. We are preparing something similar in Britain, I could arrange that you receive a copy."
"Sir Robert, would Britain be willing to negotiate a solution to the Danzig Corridor problem?" General Beck asked.
"If there is a reasonable chance of success I can imagine that we would support negotiations. Probably in Luxembourg though."
"The current situation is intolerable."
"In which way, Herr Oberst?" I've forgotten his name.
"The separation from the rest of Germany isn't a just solution."
"I've always said that the Versailles Treaties are stupid and short-sighted. Germany should have kept Danzig and Poland should have received East Prussia and called it Masuria. Problem solved. Herr Oberst, Poland needs access to the Ostsee and there are only two decent ports. They are Danzig and Königsberg. Germany can't have both so decide. Why don't you treat East Prussia as an island? You can travel to an island by sea or by air. East Prussia could also have a rail link unlike a real island. A train leaves Pomerania and stops next in East Prussia. No halt in Poland. There are plenty of options available."
"Those options are unacceptable!"
"And you decide that, Herr Oberst? Wake up to the new reality. Britain, France and Germany are negotiating a non-aggression treaty. In other words we don't like aggressors or aggression here in Europe. Thanks to Hitler's foreign policy Germany has alienated all its neighbours and conversely Britain and France has better relationships with all these neighbours. If one of them is a victim of aggression Britain and France has agreed to help them against the aggressor. Do you understand what I am telling you? Democracies don't start wars, Herr Oberst."
"We need Poland as a friend not an enemy," General Beck added. "I too believe the rail link would be an acceptable corridor."
"You won't need a mediator if you propose that to the Poles, General Beck. The infrastructure to the Polish-Russian border needs to be improved anyway."
"Our rearmament must have priority." The colonel again.
"Yes, but you need to wait for advanced designs to become available. That's what we are doing in Britain. Most of what you are producing now will be obsolete in a few years. Save those resources and expand your infrastructure instead. Next year there will be better, more advanced models available. Germany has a lot of hungry mouths to feed at the moment. That's your priority now. Give them food and they'll support the new government policies."
"The businessman is speaking now."
"Wilhelm, all nations need a civilian, consumer economy to support a military economy. We can discuss that later. If there is nothing else that can't wait I've promised to visit the neighbourhood in Berlin where my wife grew up."
"I'll detail a couple of security personnel to accompany you. No arguments, Bob."