29 Nov. 45
not to tolerate the plebiscite. Accordingly, he called his
military advisers and ordered the preparation of the march into
Austria.
On the diplomatic side he started a letter to Mussolini
indicating why he was going to march into Austria, and in the absence
of the Defendant Ribbentrop (who was temporarily detained in London),
the Defendant Von Neurath took over the affairs of the Foreign Office
again.
The terse and somewhat disconnected notes in General Jodl's diary
give a vivid account of the activities in Berlin. I quote from the
entry of 10 March:
"By surprise and without consulting
his Ministers, Schuschnigg ordered a plebiscite for Sunday, 13 March,
which should bring strong majority for the Legitimists in the absence
of plan or preparation. The Führer is determined not to tolerate
it.
"This same night, March 9 to 10, he calls for Göring.
General Von Reichenau is called back from the Cairo Olympic
Committee. General Von Schobert is ordered to come as well as
Minister Glaise-Horstenau, who is with the district leader, Gauleiter
Bürckel, in the Palatinate. General Keitel communicates the
facts at 9:45. He drives to the Reichskanalei at 10 o'clock. I follow
at 10: 15, according to the wish of General Von Viebahn, to give him
all drafts. 'Prepare Case Otto.' "1300 hours, General
K."--which I think plainly means Keitel--"informs Chief of
Operational Staff and Admiral Canaris, Ribbentrop is being detained
in London. Neurath takes over the Foreign Office. Führer wants
to transmit ultimatum to the Austrian Cabinet. A personal letter is
dispatched to Mussolini and the reasons are developed which forced
the Führer to take action.
"1830 hours, mobilization order is given to the Commander of
the 8th Army (Corps Area 3), 7th and 13th Army Corps, without Reserve
Army." (Document Number 1780-PS, Exhibit USA-72).
Now, it is to be noted that Defendant Von Neurath was at this
critical hour acting as Foreign Minister. The previous February the
Defendant Ribbentrop had become Foreign Minister, and Von Neurath had
become President of the Secret Cabinet Council. But in this critical
hour of foreign policy the Defendant Ribbentrop was in London
handling the diplomatic consequences of the Austrian transaction. As
Foreign Minister in this hour of aggression, involving mobilization
and movement of troops, use of force and threats to eliminate the
independence of a neighboring country, the Defendant Von Neurath
resumed his former position in the Nazi conspiracy.