Hitler and the Habsburgs
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111. began to heal from the wounds of Sarajevo.: Special Correspondent New York Times. Vienna Monarchist Report on Progress, p. 8, February 7, 1935.
111. Emperor Karl to the vacant Habsburg throne.: Nostitz-Rieneck.
111. former palaces, farms, and estates had to be renounced.: Ibid.
111. on a collision course with Adolf Hitler.: Ibid.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE MOST GOLDEN TONGUED OF DEMAGOGUES
112. Mussolini being appointed prime minister of Italy in 1922.: Mack Smith, Denis. Mussolini: A Biography, 56–57, Vintage Books, New York, 1982.
112. failed and he was arrested for treason.: Kershaw, Ian. Hitler: 1889–1936: Hubris, 211, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 1999.
112. “those who betrayed the country in 1918.”: Hauner, 47.
113. with a new Mercedes automobile.: Ibid., 50.
113. Hohenberg brothers to visit their sister in Prague.: Royal Musings: News and Commentaries About the Reigning Royal Houses and the Former European Monarchies as Well, Maximilian von Hohenberg to Wed, July 8, 1926. In addition to the announcement of his engagement the article reported, “Last August a monarchist movement in Czechoslovakia wanted to turn the country from a republic into a monarchy with Maximilian as king.” Royalmusingsblogspot.com., retrieved April 27, 2011.
113. phone calls, and visits to Austria.: Nostitz-Rieneck, Count.
114. joys of bachelorhood for domestic bliss.: Ibid.
114. childhood friend Princess Marie Lobkowicz Waldburg-Wolfegg.: Hohenberg, Princess Sophie de Potesta. Archduchess Maria-Theresa had earlier played family matchmaker between Karl Habsburg and his wife, Zita, resulting in one of the few happy Habsburg marriages and eight children.
114. the Princess’s granddaughter brought the desired result.: Hohenberg, Georg Duke of.
114. “engaged today to Countess Elisabeth Waldburg-Wolfegg.”: Royal Musings, July 8, 1926.
114. wedding photographs she could finally enjoy.: Hohenberg, Princess Sophie de Potesta.
114. widowed thirty-year-old former Empress Zita.: Ibid. The Hohenbergs’ loyalty to their Habsburg cousins Karl and Zita stood in dramatic contrast to many of the Habsburg family who abandoned them with the collapse of the monarchy in 1918.
115. He was thirty-eight years old.: The New York Times article on Emperor Karl’s death read, “Charles of Austria Dies of Pneumonia in Exile… Vienna is grief-stricken… News of death empties cafes and fills the streets with throngs of mourners… Charles was democratic… opposed German domination and sought a separate peace… Kaiser did not trust Charles.”
115. Zita had eight children, five of them boys.: Hohenberg, Prince Gerhard.
115. Germany and Russia would fill by force.: Schofield, 93.
115. It also gave his life a new sense of purpose.: Hohenberg, Prince Gerhard.
116. There were few takers.: Roberts, Kenneth L. Europe’s Morning After, 174, Harper & Brothers, New York, 1921. Austria’s economy never fully recovered after 1918.
116. a Habsburg Archduke, arrested and jailed for fraud.: Gaillon, Eloise, and Jeffrey Post. “An Examination of the Napoleon Diamond Necklace,” 353, Gems & Gemology Magazine, 2007. The Napoleon necklace once owned by Archduchess Maria-Theresa is now in the Smithsonian collection in Washington, DC.
116. provide his benefactors unparalleled profits.: Smith, Howard K. Last Train from Berlin: An Eyewitness Account of Germany at War, 340, Knopf, New York, 1942. Smith’s book provides a remarkable firsthand account of life in Nazi Germany prior to 1941.
116. Two-thirds of Hitler’s followers were under the age of forty.: Lower, Wendy. Hitler’s Furies: German Women in the Nazi Killing Fields, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, 2013.
117. “despite our love of the army.”: Hauner, 89.
117. “cursed in your grave by future generations.”: Ibid.
117. “brotherly German people of Austria.”: Ibid.
117. granting him dictatorial powers.: Ibid.
117. placed on any German citizen traveling there.: Ibid.
118. the principle of “the superiority of the Aryan Race.”: Grace Communion International, The Protestant Church in Hitler’s Germany and the Barmen Declaration, p. 1, https://www.gci.org/history/barmen.
118. non-political matters were conceded to the Vatican.: Cornwell, John. Hitler’s Pope: The Secret History of Pius XII, Viking, New York, 1999. Individual Catholics and Lutherans courageously spoke out against Hitler including Clemens August, the Catholic bishop of Münster, and Lutheran priest Martin Niemöller.
118. “an agitator of genius.”: Thompson, Dorothy. I Saw Hitler, 29, 32, Farrar & Rinehart, New York, 1932.
118. “news print is usually plain nonsense.”: Ibid.
119. “this superior race shall conquer the earth.’”: Ibid.
119. reclaiming the vacant throne for themselves.: Lamar, Cecil. Wilhelm II Vol II: Emperor and Exile, 1900–1941, 325, 331, University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 1996.
119. behind closed doors to wealthy monarchists.: Ibid., 331.
119. openly joined the Nazi Party.: Petropoulos, Jonathan. Royals and the Reich: The Princes von Hessen in Nazi Germany, 3, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2008.
119. “and we may want one in England before long.”: Olson, Lynne. Troublesome Young Men, 66, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 2007.
119. “the basic features of the Fascist state.”: Ricks, Thomas E. Churchill & Orwell: The Fight for Freedoms, 86, Penguin Press, New York, 2017.
120. “have to adopt totalitarian methods.”: Messersmith, G.S. The Papers of G.S. Messersmith, February 23, 1935, University of Delaware, Box 4, F30.
120. definitely be receiving treatment elsewhere.: Stiller, Jesse. George S. Messersmith: Diplomat of Democracy, 56, University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 1987.
120. Hitler’s anti-Semitism or his designs on Austria.: Ibid.
120. “safeguarded only by the destruction of Austria.”: Hitler, 1. Few people read Mein Kampf cover to cover, but even reading a few pages gave readers a road map of Hitler’s mind-set and plans. Four people who apparently read the entire book were George Messersmith, Maximilian Hohenberg, Otto Habsburg, and Tomas Masaryk, first president of Czechoslovakia.
120. and Jews known as the “Iron Ring.”: Schofield, Victoria. Witness to History: the Life of John Wheeler Bennett, 93, Yale University Press, New Haven, 2012.
120. as an alternative to Adolf Hitler.: Ibid.
120. Sophie quietly supported their brother’s efforts.: Ibid.
121. Austrian towns declared themselves “Emperor Communities.”: Trove.nia.gov.au/ndp/del/article/37838421.
121. to a happy, certain, and great future.: Ibid.
121. as if he was spitting on her grave.: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. National Archives and Records, Documents papers 1933–1945. Memorandum on Austrian Situation, Box 23, p. 3.
122. windows of his legendary sanctuary toward his homeland.: Riefenstahl, 210.
122. from here I can look at Germany and Austria.: Ibid.
CHAPTER TWELVE
IMPENDING HORRORS
123. “you’ve caught the Chancellor cleaning up.”: Messersmith Papers, February 23, 1935.
124. and became immediate best sellers.: Clare, George. Last Waltz in Vienna: The Rise and Destruction of a Family, 1842–1942, 127, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York, 1980.
124. “draw impressionable youth from Adolf Hitler.”: Millard, 136.
124. the American press followed.: In Alistair Cooke’s 1977 book, Six Men, he writes the American magazines Time and News Review delivered in England had “two sometimes three pages torn out” by English censors to keep the British public from reading about Edward and Mrs. Simpson.
124. “unofficial and devoted to pleasure.”: Zeigler, Philip. King Edward VIII, 182, Knopf, New York, 1991.
125. for MI-6, the British Intelligence Service.: Sebba
, 217.
125. “internal affairs (regarding) Jews or anything else.”: Ibid.
125. described Mrs. Simpson as “charming and intelligent.”: Messersmith Papers, December 6, 1936.
125. Until his death, we felt safe.: Hohenberg, Georg Duke of.
125. constitutional monarchy headed by Otto Habsburg.: Millard, 137.
126. “hope was associated with his name.”: Schuschnigg, Kurt. My Austria, 20–21, Knopf, New York, 1938.
126. teetered on the brink of chaos.: Messersmith Papers, January 18, 1935.
126. “have to take a Habsburg into bed with them.”: Ibid.
126. “Europe with no illusions about Hitler.”: Ibid.
127. “no war in Europe as long as Mussolini is alive.”: Vanderbilt Jr., Cornelius. Farewell to Fifth Avenue, 174, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1935.
127. dictator’s position on the Habsburg restoration.: Hohenberg, Prince Gerhard.
127. “one set of people, but govern with another.”: Mussolini, Benito. My Autobiography, 30–31, Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, 1928.
127. and the daughter of the King and Queen of Italy.: Brook-Shepherd, Uncrowned Emperor, 84.
128. “institution of monarchy can guarantee its permanence.”: Geddyr, G.E.R. “Restoration of Habsburg’s Within Year Predicted,” New York Times, 1, November 21, 1934.
128. “in the newspaper he founded, Popolo d’Italia.”: New York Times, “Vienna Celebrates Birthday of Otto,” 1, November 21, 1934.
128. memorials were being removed from monuments there.: Ibid.
129. and estates would be returned to them.: Messersmith Papers, October 7, 1935.
129. “question of restoration of the monarchy.”: Ibid.
129. by an overwhelming vote of 1,491,992 to 43,454.: Eade, Philip. Prince Philip: The Turbulent Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elisabeth II, 104, Henry Holt and Company, New York, 2011.
129. “return to Austria as private citizens.”: Messersmith Papers, October 7, 1935.
129. “lead to a serious European conflagration.”: Brook-Shepherd, 103.
129. to annex Austria would be met by force.: Ibid., 104.
129. who were at odds with one another.: Ibid.
130. “will ruin himself in twelve months.”: Middlemas, Keith, and John Barnes. Baldwin: A Biography, 34, Weidenfield & Nicolson, London, 1969.
130. once belonged to the Empress of Russia.: Ileana, Princess of Romania-Archduchess of Austria. I Live Again, 20, Rinehart & Co., New York, 1951.
130. and her Hungarian Countess mother.: Illustrated London News, Personalities of the Week: Ernst von Hohenberg, 7, April 25, 1936.
131. she was also a masterful lip reader.: Hohenberg, Princess Sophie de Potesta, March 25, 2011, interview.
131. and their efforts to restore the monarchy.: Hohenberg, Prince Gerhard.
131. ITALY TAKES UP WHITE MAN’S BURDEN IN AFRICA’S LAST NATIVE-RULED LAND.: New York Times, February 18, 1935, 4E.
131. Races, I know, are difficult to meld.: Mussolini, 151.
131. become more alluring to him.: Hauner, 112. Hitler’s intolerance, racism, and plans were no secret and available for anyone to see who wanted to see.
132. “not interfere in Austria’s internal affairs.”: Riefenstahl, 183–184.
132. will be destroyed by the Nazis.: Hohenberg, Georg Duke of.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ONE BLOOD DEMANDS ONE REICH
133. “the greatest news story since the resurrection.”: Gunther, John. Inside Europe, 297.
133. abdicated his throne to marry his mistress.: Rasmussen, Fred. “King Gave up His Throne for Love of Baltimore Girl: Sixty Years Ago Edward VIII Abdicated to Marry… Wallis Warfield Simpson,” Baltimore Sun, December 15, 1996.
133. belief in royalty itself was being undermined.: Nicolson, Harold. Diaries and Letters: 1930–1939, Atheneum, London, 1966.
134. “concerned that he doesn’t make her the queen.”: Smith, Amanda. Hostage to Fortune: The Letters of Joseph P. Kennedy, 261, Viking, New York, 2011.
134. His wife would be his consort, but never queen.: Schad, Martha. Hitler’s Spy Princess: The Extraordinary Life of Stephanie von Hohenlohe, 63, Sutton Publishing, Gloucestershire, 2004.
134. “in England who is ready to play with us.”: Hauner, 118. Hitler’s confidence in King Edward VII is revealing.
134. “because of the American newspapers, I am here today.”: Messersmith Papers, December 6, 1936.
135. “and even peeped into windows.”: Ibid.
135. was retitled the Duke of Windsor.: Sebba, 194.
135. where Benito Mussolini treated them royally.: Ibid.
135. assigned to protect and spy on them.: Ibid.
135. “keen intelligence and wide interests.”: Messersmith Papers, February 23, 1937.
136. tea with Deputy Führer Rudolf Hess.: Sebba, 216.
136. “a firm nail in the coffin of monarchy.”: Ibid., 201.
136. and her orphaned brothers from Konopiste.: Nostitz-Rieneck, Count.
136. “surprise and swiftness of our action.”: Hauner, 125.
137. other book was Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf.: Albright, Madeline. Prague Winter: A Personal Story of Remembrance and War 1937–1948, 53, Harper Collins, 2012.
137. the daily blood of future generations will grow.: Hitler, 1. No one need read beyond the first page of Mein Kampf to recognize Hitler’s determination to destroy Austria. He was quoted in Gunther’s Inside Europe, 1940 edition: “I did not take this decision (to acquire Austria) in the year 1938, but immediately after the Great War. I have never made a mystery of it,” p. 109.
138. the largest mass circulation journal in Europe.: Hohenberg, Prince Gerhard.
138. world the most frightful of all slaughters.: Ibid.
138. “the preparation of the Sarajevo assassination.”: Ibid.
138. and growing numbers of Nazis in Austria.: Ibid.
138. “Four Italians were severely hurt.”: New York Times, “Mussolini Expels Austrian Soccer Team,” July 12, 1937.
138. Central European cup tournament being held in Italy.: Ibid.
139. Duke and Duchess of Windsor honeymooned.: Messersmith Papers, November 30, 1936.
139. leader of the region’s anti-Nazi Home Guard.: Hohenberg, Prince Gerhard.
139. “face to face meetings with the Nazi leadership.”: Gini, Al, and Ronald Green. Ten Virtues of Outstanding Leaders, 92, Wiley-Blackwell, Malden, 2013.
139. “check to the mad armaments race.”: Ibid., 92. In the Gilbert and Gott book, The Appeasers, Lord Halifax told a German diplomat, “[He] would like to see, as the culmination of his work, the Führer entering London, at the side of the English king, amid acclamation of the English people,” p. 132.
139. “can’t feel that either is unnatural or immoral.”: Ibid.
139. from her Maltese Square home, became her prayer sanctuary.: Nostitz-Rieneck, Count. Our Lady of Victories Church in Prague continues to be a popular pilgrimage destination for Catholics.
140. and the onetime owners of Konopiste.: Hohenberg, Georg Duke of.
140. on a rare visit he made to Vienna in January 1938.: Hohenberg, Princess Sophie de Potesta.
140. was promptly reported to Berlin.: Ibid.
140. “to any aggravation of the Austrian situation.”: Documents on British Foreign Policy 1919–39, 2/19, no 50.
141. become perhaps the greatest German in history.: Hauner, 127.
141. Austria would forcibly be incorporated into the German Reich: Schuschnigg, Kurt von, and Janet von Schuschnigg. When Hitler Took Austria: A Memoir of Heroic Faith by the Chancellor’s Son, 88–89, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 2012.
141. “raved like a madman.”: MacDonogh, 22.
141. the Habsburg who was not a Habsburg.: Documents on British Foreign Policy 1919–39, 2/19, No 50./ Meysels.
142. should stand or fall with my country.: Brook-Shepherd, The Aus
trians: A Thousand Year History, 311, Carroll & Graf, New York, 1996.
142. feared might thwart his lifelong ambition.: Ibid., 304.
142. no Hohenberg would be safe.: Nostitz-Rieneck, Count.
143. “except to have Schuschnigg eventually give in.”: Smith, 240, 241. Ambassador Kennedy’s avowed isolationism haunted him, and his sons, the rest of his life.
143. added to keep the crowds from rioting.: Weyr, 38–39.
143. and the children sent to bed early.: Hohenberg, Princess Sophie de Potesta.
143. “face a difficult and fateful situation.”: Schuschnigg, My Austria, 221.
143. “invasion by the German Army, to offer no resistance.”: Ibid.
143. villages and towns across the country.: Hohenberg, Prince Gerhard.
143. speech seemed like a death sentence.: Ibid.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
WITCHES SABBATH
144. the war began that evening.: Hohenberg, Princess Sophie de Potesta.
145. “even if the whole world were against him.”: Hauner, 128.
145. He could barely believe their luck.: Hohenberg, Prince Gerhard.
145. It was a long, silent ride home.: Ibid.
145. They had not escaped.: Ibid.
146. “and happier the people of Austria will be.”: Hauner, 128.
146. “restore my dear homeland to the German Reich.”: Ibid.
146. “Today we are your boss!”: Hohenberg, Prince Gerhard.
146. could destroy a family overnight.: Kanter, Heidi. Some Girls, Some Hats and Hitler: A True Story, 43–44, Virago Press, London, 2012. This book captures the fear and limited options Viennese Jews had in 1938.
146. help all of them safely escape the country.: Hohenberg, Georg Duke of.
147. balcony seemed covered by Nazi swastikas.: Ibid.
147. never bellowed the Nazi slogans with such mania.: Shirer, William. Berlin Diary: The Journey of a Foreign Correspondent, 78–79, Knopf, New York, 1941.
147. pro-Schuschnigg graffiti written just days earlier.: Hohenberg, Prince Gerhard.
148. and at what time Herr Hitler will arrive.: Perisco, Joseph. Edward R. Murrow: An American Original, 136–137, McGraw Hill, New York, 1998.
148. “found raging expression in broad daylight.”: Ibid.