April 10, 1938
Linz, on the banks of the Danube River in northern Austria Mussolini, who had blocked the annexation of Austria in 1934, gave his tacit approval after Hitler offered the condition of renouncing Germany's sovereignty over Südtirol (the South Tyrol region, historically Austrian territory, that was ceded to Italy after World War I).
The nominal League of Nations remained silent, and Hitler and the Nazis, having swallowed Austria, began to openly proclaim their claims to the Sudetenland, Danzig, and Memelland, vowing to recover Germany's former territory.
These territories belonged to the sovereign states of Czechoslovakia, Poland, and Lithuania, respectively, and while the international community had yet to show a serious reaction, they would soon realize that Hitler's claims were becoming a tangible threat.
We remained garrisoned in Linz even after Hitler's declaration of Austria's reunification.
For the first few days, even our supplies were inconsistent, so we had to pay residents for lodging and meals, and even officers' vehicles had to be refueled at Austrian civilian gas stations.
Thankfully, as a month went by, the situation was slowly beginning to normalize.
Back in Spain, I had thought the Condor Legion's military discipline was lax due to its liberal atmosphere, being made up of volunteer soldiers in name, but it turned out the Korean army I was used to just had pointless hazing!
The German regular army I actually led was in far greater chaos than the Condor Legion, which had always been exposed to the threat of actual combat.
Even with this level of capability now, I wonder if Hitler's guts in ordering the remilitarization of the Rhineland two years ago were incredible, or if he was just thoughtless…
Germany had already declared the annexation of Austria on March 13, but under the pretense of following formal procedure, they were holding a national referendum in Austria today, April 10, nearly a month later.
They called it a referendum, but with the German military and Nazi Party members garrisoned in every city, it was nothing more than a nominal vote for show.
Furthermore, when I saw the ballot, I had to let out a cynical laugh.
'Do you agree with the reunification of Austria and Germany, which took place on March 13, 1938, and do you support the list of candidates of our Führer, Adolf Hitler?'
The question itself blatantly asked for agreement and support, and they had even printed a large 'Yes' in the center of the ballot and a tiny 'No' in a corner next to it.
From my perspective, having lived in a 21st-century democracy, it was a textbook example of vote rigging, yet the Austrian residents were dropping the ballots into the ballot box with bright smiles, as if they were thrilled.
Some residents even gave us, the ones guarding the ballot box, a Nazi salute and chanted "Heil Hitler" as they voted.
Do those people voting now even imagine that they, or their children, will be incorporated into the German military and soon be dragged into World War II…
A bitter smile formed on my face.
Is it a comedy or a tragedy, to be a mere Captain with the sensibilities of a different era, standing alone in a scene of history?
"Captain Schacht."
At the sudden call, I turned and immediately gave a salute upon seeing Lieutenant Colonel Tresckow.
"Lieutenant Colonel Tresckow."
"Let's take a walk."
"Yes, sir!"
I left my post to my adjutant, Second Lieutenant Behr, and followed him.
---
What could be his purpose in summoning me like this, after not speaking to me for so long since the Anschluss?
This felt like a crucial moment, and I kept looking back, worried there might be Gestapo agents following us, before realizing that was more suspicious and stopping.
Even in the urban area where a rigged vote solely for Hitler was taking place, the atmosphere among the Austrians was cheerful, and no resident looked strangely at two German officers walking through the streets.
Tresckow said nothing as he led me on a long walk away from the central urban area and into a deserted alley.
He had me stop and then naturally took out a cigarette and put it to his lips.
"Care for one?"
"I'm fine, Lieutenant Colonel."
Tresckow took his time, slowly smoking the cigarette without saying a word.
It felt strange, remembering a movie I saw in modern Korea where the actor portraying him had quite a few smoking scenes.
"…Dietrich Schacht, Captain. Your father is the former Minister of Economics, Hjalmar Schacht. I hear you got along quite well with Colonel Richthofen of the Air Force during the Spanish Civil War? And you started the General Staff Course on the recommendation of Major General Walther Model."
"Yes, that's correct, Lieutenant Colonel."
After hearing my answer, Lieutenant Colonel Tresckow smoked his cigarette in silence for another long moment.
I could feel sweat pooling in my gloved hands.
I had contacted him knowing he was a key figure in the anti-Nazi faction who had felt skeptical about the Nazis since the Night of the Long Knives, but perhaps I had been too reckless.
The thought suddenly struck me.
What I knew about him was that during the Blomberg–Fritsch Affair, he had tried to resign, but General of the Infantry Erwin von Witzleben persuaded him to remain in the Army, and he joined the anti-Hitler organization instead.
Since that same Witzleben had been forced into retirement and was now a civilian, I had assumed he would have already joined the anti-Hitler organization, but perhaps that was a hasty judgment?
He smoked his cigarette slowly, then threw the finished butt on the ground, crushed it with his foot, and finally faced me squarely.
"As you know… our Wehrmacht has sworn an oath of loyalty to the Führer."
After saying that, Tresckow tilted his head slightly and, with a smirk, continued.
"It is truly a matter of regret that an officer who harbors doubts about the Führer and the nation, to whom he should be loyal, over a 'trivial matter' like the oppression of the Jewish people is my subordinate."
I felt a cold sweat run down my spine.
Is this a test, or is he being serious?
Should I deny it here? Or should I object?
I could read nothing in the cold eyes of Tresckow, a veteran of the last great war.
"Colonel Richthofen, who evaluated you as an excellent man, is the cousin of 'the Red Baron,' a hero of the Fatherland in the Great War. Major General Model is a man of integrity, famous for staying away from politics. But it seems they misjudged you."
My throat was parched.
If I screw up here and Tresckow snitches to the SS, it's all over.
But if I made a rash excuse and this turned out to be a test, I would be branded as untrustworthy, and gaining the suspicion of a key figure in the anti-Nazi faction would make any cooperation with them a distant dream.
"Speak, Captain Schacht. Did you break the Wehrmacht's pledge of loyalty and dare to doubt the Führer and the regime?"
It was the moment of choice.
What should I say?
What could I say to avoid being reported by him and earn his trust?
No, what good would thinking longer do!
"I am loyal to Germany, Lieutenant Colonel."
"…Then, regarding the regime's ideology…"
"Oppressing the Jewish people is not for the good of Germany."
When I cut him off, Lieutenant Colonel Tresckow raised an eyebrow, then started spouting nonsense again.
"As you know, in the last great war, due to the Jews…"
"Do you really believe the Nazi's claim that we lost the last great war because of the Jews' slander and scheming?"
There's no way he could genuinely believe that. An officer who saw the hell of World War I with his own eyes and felt firsthand that Germany was pushed to its limit couldn't possibly!
"Did you say a 'trivial matter'? Yes, that's right! It's a trivial matter! The problem of the Jews might be trivial when looking at Germany as a nation! But what about that Germany! Do you think all the countless people rotting in those concentration camps, just waiting to die, are Jewish?"
Tresckow fell silent at my words, but I was frantically spewing mine.
"The Parliament, politicians, the Sturmabteilung, and now even the military—those who trusted Hitler and the Nazis and contributed to his rise to power are being ground down at their whim as soon as their use value is depleted. Göring and the SS are openly aiming for the Wehrmacht's position.
If we let this go on any longer, all of Germany will be dancing as Hitler's puppet!"
My heart was pounding like it would burst, and it felt like my mouth was running wild on its own.
"Austria is just the beginning! Next is Czechoslovakia, then Poland! Do you think Britain and France will just stand by? A war is coming, Lieutenant Colonel.
We don't have time to waste on trivial wars of nerves like this!"
There's no time. There really isn't.
The shadow of World War II is looming so close, and I haven't even made contact with the anti-Hitler organization yet.
"You're… insane.
If I were to report this to the SS, right now…"
"Are you afraid of dying for opposing the regime? Yes, let them kill me! Do you think they'll just let Germany be, a country that lost the last great war and is now threatening the world again? I'd rather die than watch the ruin of my Fatherland with my own two eyes while doing nothing as a far more horrific war approaches!"
I still wake up at night to the tinnitus of cannon fire.
I've written down every single name of the soldiers who died under my command in Spain, afraid I'll forget them, afraid I'll become numb to their deaths.
How could I let a Great War happen, one where that hellish battlefield, that blood, would be reduced to a game of numbers—to mere statistics!
"A pledge of loyalty, you say? If loyalty means shouting 'long live' and following the Führer no matter what madness he commits just because we swore an oath, then I refuse to offer such loyalty. Are you saying you have the resolve to betray the Fatherland, but not the Führer!"
Gasping breaths escaped me, as if I had just run a full sprint.
Tresckow stood still for a moment, then quietly took out another cigarette and lit it.
He smoked in silence, waiting for me to catch my breath before he spoke.
"My apologies, Captain Schacht. I was testing you."
A sudden sense of relief almost made my legs give out.
Damn it. I really went for it, ready to die…
Ah… I really can't do this a second time.
"…I apologize, Lieutenant Colonel. If you're going to arrest me for the crime of insulting a superior officer, I suppose I'll have to go quietly."
"I'll give it some consideration after our work is a success."
Lieutenant Colonel Tresckow snickered as he smoked, and I let out a hollow laugh myself.
"All's well that ends well, but you're reckless. What made you trust me enough to come at me like this without any prior acquaintance?"
Because I knew that in the future, you would be the man who stood against Hitler for far longer than the celebrated hero, Colonel Stauffenberg.
…is what I couldn't say.
"…Because it's not often you find someone who, when everyone else is drunk on glory, can turn their eyes to the unfolding tragedy first."
"What were you, a philosophy major?"
"No, sir, Lieutenant Colonel."
Honestly, I was embarrassed because even I wasn't sure what nonsense I'd just spouted.
Fortunately, Lieutenant Colonel Tresckow didn't seem to be thinking about it too deeply.
"…Does former Minister Schacht share your will?"
"Not yet, but I will make it so soon, Lieutenant Colonel."
Tresckow nodded, seemingly satisfied with my words.
"…Good, Captain Schacht. Our contact will be in touch with you shortly."
"Understood, Lieutenant Colonel."
I nodded without much thought, but Lieutenant Colonel Tresckow's eyes glinted strangely.
"You're not even surprised that it's an organization, not just me alone?"
"…There are more than one or two military personnel caught up in this incident, Lieutenant Colonel."
At my hastily concocted explanation, Tresckow looked a little suspicious but let it slide.
To almost arouse suspicion again in a place like this, unexpectedly… I need to get my head straight now that I'll be participating in a full-blown coup d'état conspiracy.
The knowledge I possess as a modern person is an invaluable asset, but at the same time, it is a poison that can lead me into a trap.
I must keep that in mind.
"…Well, frankly, this is sudden, and not without its doubts, but I'll trust my eyes. Not as your superior officer, but as a comrade, I look forward to working with you."
"I look forward to working with you as well, Lieutenant Colonel."
It was a precarious tightrope walk, but—
The gamble I made with my life was a success.