
407. The Nazis in Power: The Conquest of Austria (Part 4)
The Rest Is History
Mussolini's Change of Opinion and Hitler's Intimidation
Mussolini shifted his opinion on Germany taking over Austria because he lost support due to his imperialist war in Abyssinia and had ambitions in Africa and the Balkans. He was willing to sacrifice Austria to gain Hitler's support for his own imperial ambitions, and possibly have a crack at the Greeks or the Albanians. Early in 1938, Hitler, eyeing a divided Austria, sent an intimidating group of generals to a meeting with Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg, where he declared his determination to end Austria's autonomy and fulfill his historic mission. Hitler's message to Schuschnigg was clear: resistance is futile.
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