Geist, Raymond H., Berlin. To Jay Pierrepont Moffat, Washington. Copy to G.S. Messersmith, Vienna.

Date
1934-08-10
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Results of execution of June 30 are (1) S.A. suffered shock to morale (2) presence of the "terror" impressed upon large mass of inhabitants (3) prestige of secondary leaders diminished (4) Hitler, Goering, and Goebbels emerge as triumvirate; minority of well informed Germans view assassination of Dollfuss with revulsion, but Nazi leaders have convinced general public in Germany that assassination was result of Dollfuss' trampling on legitimate political aspirations of Austrian people; no change in Hitler's intention with regard to Austria; appointment of [Franz] von Papen to Austria will result in no good for either country; Austrian Legion in Germany has not disbanded and propaganda continues; according to Karl von Wiegand, von Papen's efforts in Austria will be directed toward convincing Austrián government that future of Austrian people indissolubly bound to that of German, and to freeing Austria from Italian influence; general opinion in Germany vacillates between desire to regain prestige and place in the sun and desire to resume normal relations with other countries for sake of trade; German people generally susceptible to pan-Germanic idea and military aggrandizement; death of von Hindenburg and Hitler's coup d'etat by which he assumed command of armed forces have had profound effect; many Germans try to attribute to Hitler the best motives and to see his present position as a guarantee of the nation's strength, but events of June 30 have dampened their confidence and enthusiasm; 200,000 S.A. being trained in East Prussia by Reichswehr officers and transformed into real army; economic and financial situation now entirely in hands of [Hjalmar] Schacht, but still precarious; Germany's rearmament will continue at all costs; National Socialism as political ideal built largely around person of Hitler; only opposition is whispered criticism; discontent on all sides - farmers, labor, industry, army; question now as to who will become Vice Chancellor, leading candidates being [Hermann] Goering and [Werner] von Blomberg; uncertainties of situation lie not with mass of people but with intrigues among leaders.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.
Citation