This suggestion did not shock Chamberlain. But he couldn't kill him before he consulted with the cabinet members and the French. However, Chamberlain still stated his personal attitude: "I personally agree with the principle of the Sudetenland's separation from Czechoslovakia. But I must return to the UK to report his personal attitude to the government and obtain the government's approval."
Towards the end of his meeting with Hitler, Chamberlain finally managed to extract from him a guarantee that he would not take military action until the two of them met again. At this time, Chamberlain still had great trust in Hitler's words.
After the meeting, Hitler invited Chamberlain to stay in Germany for a few days and browse the scenery of Germany, but Chamberlain politely declined Hitler's kindness. After returning to England, when he met with King George VI of England, he said, "As far as I am concerned, although I saw coldness and cruelty on his face, I have the impression that as long as he makes a guarantee, he will It’s still trustworthy.”
However, Chamberlain did not return home immediately. He drove his special plane Electra directly to Paris, France. And immediately held a secret meeting with the then French Prime Minister Daladier. At this time, French Prime Minister Daladier showed an extremely reluctant attitude. After all, giving up Czechoslovakia would mean making Germany stronger. What France fears most is Germany's power.
Hitler watched Chamberlain leave the Berghof Villa. After Chamberlain left the Berghof Villa, Hitler looked at Lin Wei behind him and said, "Lampard, what do you think?"
Lin Wei took a deep breath, "But the British don't agree. Germany should get Czechoslovakia. If the model of annexing Austria doesn't work, we will force Czechoslovakia to take action first. As long as they start partial mobilization, we only need to create a brother." A small misfire is an excuse to carry out operations."
"Okay!" Hitler praised, "However, what can be obtained at the negotiation table does not need to be taken back from the battlefield. I will continue to argue with the British. At the same time, you must also order the SS to enter a war-ready state. If the time comes, If the negotiations break down, I will cooperate with the Wehrmacht to capture Czechoslovakia as quickly as possible."
"Yes, head of state!" Lin Wei replied respectfully.
Political preparations were also intensifying for the final blow to Czechoslovakia. On the same day, according to Hitler's instructions, German Deputy Foreign Minister Ribbentrop began to exert constant pressure on Hungary and Poland, demanding the conditions they had negotiated, and jointly exerting pressure on Czechoslovakia. Ask them to take advantage of the situation and divide the stolen goods.
In the next two days, Hitler took the time to meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Imredi and Foreign Minister Kania, as well as special envoys from Poland. After all, Hitler knew that as far as the current situation was concerned, although Germany was capable of swallowing up Czechoslovakia, To quickly expand the cake, but to avoid public outrage, given the current situation, it would be better to involve a few more countries.
With Berlin's instigation, the Polish government proposed to the Czechs on July 21, requesting a referendum in the Teqing area where a large number of Poles lived, and moved troops to the border of this area. The next day, the Hungarian government followed suit.
On the evening of the 21st, Lin Wei found Heydrich and asked the Gestapo to form an advance team to enter the Sudetenland. Although Lin Wei was the national leader of the SS and had enough prestige to directly command the Gestapo, Lin Wei did not want to do this. After all, Linwei and Himmler were not lovers. He did not have Himmler's obsession with power. Taking into account the huge scale of the SS in the future, Lin Wei did not interfere with the factions of other deputy leaders within the SS. Therefore, whether it was Louis who was responsible for training new recruits and weapons research and development, or Heydrich who was in charge of the police and Gestapo, Lin Wei did not interfere too much and maintained their authority within their own system.
After Lin Wei explained his intention, Heydrich immediately expressed his full cooperation. In fact, even if Lin Wei directly commanded the Gestapo, Heydrich could not explain it. After all, Hitler could see how difficult it was to catch up with a leader who did not have a strong desire for power.
After doing this, Lin Wei went to the Chancellery to inform Hitler of his plan. Hitler had no objection to this and just told Lin Wei to do it with confidence. In fact, Lin Wei also knew that it was impossible to get any constructive opinions from Hitler. It seemed easy to annex Czechoslovakia, because Hitler would succeed later, but the actual operation process was full of dangers. After all, Czechoslovakia's military strength was stronger than that of Germany on the border. The hundreds of thousands of Chen soldiers are not weak at all.
Czechoslovakia had forty divisions, more than Germany's four divisions. The Sudetenland also has the second largest arsenal in Europe. Furthermore, the forty divisions in Czechoslovakia are not forces like Germany that have only expanded in recent years. Their weapons and equipment are not comparable to the newly developed equipment like Germany. Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to say that Czechoslovakia is a Central European military power. Now Lin Wei understands why Hitler split into two steps when annexing Czechoslovakia. Because the Sudetenland was cut off, Czechoslovakia's war capability was reduced by half.
July 22 was actually a tense day throughout Europe, because on that morning, in order to "avoid the scourge of war," Zhang
Boehlen set out for Germany again to hold talks with Hitler. Although Chamberlain brought Hitler everything that the latter asked for in the Berchtesgaden talks, when they met again in the small town of Godsburg on the Rhine on the afternoon of July 22, both men felt uneasy. After seeing Chamberlain off at the London airport, the German charge d'affaires immediately sent an urgent telegram to Berlin: "Chamberlain and his party set off with a heavy heart... There is no doubt that opposition to Chamberlain's policies is growing."
After the talks began, Chamberlain spoke first. He first explained that after "arduous negotiations", he had won not only the British and French cabinets but also the Czech government to accept Hitler's demands. He then detailed ways to achieve these requirements. He had accepted Runciman's suggestion that the Sudetenland be transferred to Germany without a referendum. As for the future of the mixed areas, it can be decided by a three-person committee composed of a German, a Czech and a representative of a neutral country. Not only that, the mutual assistance treaty between Czechoslovakia, France and the Soviet Union, which Hitler was extremely disgusted with, would also be replaced by an international guarantee that Czechoslovakia would not be attacked unprovoked and that the latter "should maintain complete neutrality" in the future.
For this "peace-loving" British Prime Minister who was born as a British businessman, all this seems very simple, very reasonable and very logical. According to those present, he paused to await Hitler's reaction with an apparent sense of complacency.
"Am I to understand that the British, French and Czech governments have agreed to transfer the Sudetenland to Germany?" Hitler asked.
"Yes." the Prime Minister replied with a smile.
"I am extremely sorry," Hitler said, "due to the development of the situation over the past few days, this plan is no longer useful."
Chamberlain was startled when he heard this, and his owl-like face turned red with shock and anger. But it was obviously not because he hated Hitler for deceiving him, but because he hated Hitler for being like an ordinary extortionist who would immediately increase the price as soon as the other party agreed. What Chamberlain regretted and was anxious about was that the peace edifice he had so painstakingly built at the expense of the Czechs collapsed like one made of cards.
Chamberlain said with a pale face, "Mr. Hitler, I am both disappointed and surprised by your decision. What was the reason that made you give up the original promise of the conversation?"
Chamberlain should have been justified in saying that Hitler had received from him everything he asked for. In order to do this, Chamberlain put his entire political life on the line. He was accused by honest people in Britain of betraying Czechoslovakia, surrendered to Hitler, and was indeed booed when he left Britain that morning.
Hearing Chamberlain's words, Hitler had no reaction. The personal misfortune of the Prime Minister of the British Empire could not move his hard-hearted heart. Hitler said expressionlessly, "The Sudetenland must be placed under German occupation. This is without any negotiation."
The next morning, Hitler and Chamberlain parted ways in a "very cordial and friendly" atmosphere. The two of them talked alone for a while before parting ways. Hitler said that as far as he was concerned, the Sudetenland problem was the last big problem that had to be solved. He also talked about the close relations between Germany and Britain and the cooperation between the two countries, saying that maintaining good relations with Britain is what he cares most about. He was up to his old tricks again.
"There is no need for differences between our two countries," Hitler said. "We will not interfere with your interests outside Europe, and it will not harm you if you allow us to move freely in Central and Southeast Europe. Of course, at a certain time, the colonies The problem must be solved, there is no rush now, and besides, there will never be a war over this problem."
Finally, Chamberlain said a sincere farewell to Hitler. He said he felt a relationship of mutual trust had developed between him and Hitler as a result of the talks over the past few days. He still hoped that the present difficult crisis would be overcome and that he would then discuss other outstanding issues with Hitler in the same spirit.
Hitler thanked Chamberlain for his words and told him that he had the same hope. He once again assured that the Czech issue was his "last" territorial claim in Europe.
Hitler's statement denying that he still wanted to seize territory seemed to have left a deep impression on the British Prime Minister, who left to return home, because in a subsequent report to the House of Commons, he emphasized that Hitler made this statement "with great ambition" sincerity".
At this point, Lin Wei also understood. Everyone still has to solve the problem at the negotiation table. Although the hundreds of thousands of troops on the border still maintain a tense atmosphere, the most dangerous time has passed. Now it depends on how Hitler makes the British and French bow their heads.
After learning the news, Lin Wei no longer wasted time on the border and rushed back to Berlin. Prepare to participate in this negotiation that will go down in history. But just when Lin Wei returned to Berlin, news came that shocked Lin Wei.
After Czechoslovakia got the news. Hitler and Chamberlain's Goldsberg Memorandum was directly rejected and partial mobilization was ordered on the same day. The Czechoslovak government angrily rejected the German demands and conscripted nearly one million men into the army.
After arriving at Hitler's Chancellery, Hitler told him even worse news, because news just arrived from Budapest, the capital of Hungary, that Yugoslavia and Romania notified the Hungarian government that they would take military action against Hungary if it attacked the Czech Republic. The news from Paris was even more serious. A telegram from the German military attache there said that France's partial mobilization was almost as good as a general mobilization. Therefore, it is estimated that the first batch of 65 divisions will be deployed on the German border by the sixth day after the mobilization is ordered. Moreover, the President of the United States and the King of Sweden also opposed war and called for peace.
"Holy shit..." Lin Wei couldn't help but curse. Lin Wei had never heard of such a thing. According to history, shouldn't Britain and France compromise in the end? How could such a change happen? What kind of hook is this? Lin Wei thought fiercely in his heart.
"Führer, what should I do?" Lin Wei had nothing to do now. After all, this was something unexpected.
what to do? How did Hitler know what to do? Prague was undaunted, Paris was mobilizing rapidly, London was hardening, the Wehrmacht was lukewarm, and his ultimatum on Goldsberg's proposals was due to expire at 2 p.m. the next day. But until now, Hitler still consoled him by saying, "Lampard, Britain and France don't dare to do anything to us. We will definitely get through this difficulty." At this time, Hitler suddenly thought of Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister who was almost cornered by Hitler during the talks.
Thinking of this, Hitler said, "Lampard, you go back to the border now. When we don't get everything we hope for. We must not let the British discover any of our flaws. After you return there, continue to show off." I will ask the Wehrmacht to cooperate with you as much as possible to create a false attack on Czechoslovakia. You can rest assured that I will coordinate with General Blomberg."
Lin Wei originally wanted to say that the Wehrmacht would not listen to him, but he did not expect that Hitler had already solved Lin Wei's concerns, so he said, "Don't worry, Führer."
Hitler nodded slightly. After Lin Wei left, Hitler immediately wrote a letter to Chamberlain. In the letter, Hitler softened his tone and urged Chamberlain to work hard to restore Czechoslovakia's sanity at the last moment.
Chamberlain did live up to Hitler's expectations. Chamberlain sent two telegrams to Prague in a short period of time.
On July 27, the British Prime Minister sent a telegram to Benes, warning him that if the Czech government did not accept Germany's conditions at 2 pm tomorrow, German troops would immediately be ordered to cross the Czechoslovak border. , Bohemia will be invaded by German troops. In this way, Chamberlain did not put the responsibility for the war on Hitler, but on Beneš.
However, before Benes had time to answer the telegram, the second telegram came immediately. Then Chamberlain issued a further warning. The threat said, "If this plan cannot be realized, your country will have no other way out except to be invaded and dismembered by force. Moreover, although this may cause a conflict of countless lives, no matter what the outcome of this conflict, Czechoslovakia will They will no longer be able to rebuild their homeland according to its original boundaries."
After Chamberlain finished this matter, he delivered a radio speech to the country at 8:30 pm. He said, "How strange, how absurd, how incredible that we should dig trenches here for the sake of a quarrel between people in a distant country about whom we know nothing!" In order to fight for "peace", He was determined to make a third visit to Germany. He said, "No matter how much we sympathize with a small country under the pressure of a powerful neighbor, we must not desperately plunge the entire British Empire into a war just for it."
At this time, Chamberlain seemed like a sincere martyr, and the British people who were previously dissatisfied with Chamberlain were no longer willing to let the poor old man suffer any more harm. Facing Germany's aggressive offensive posture, they had forgotten the meaning of the war. The British have completely ignored their own concerns.
At 10:30 that night, Hitler's letter asking Chamberlain to "keep up his efforts" arrived. This was the life-saving straw that the Prime Minister was eager to grasp. He immediately replied to Hitler:
Reading this letter convinced me that you can get all your basic demands immediately without a war. I would like to come to Berlin immediately and personally to discuss the handover with you and representatives of the Czech government. If you wish, representatives of France and Italy can also participate. I am convinced that we can reach an agreement within a week. I cannot believe that you would bear the responsibility of starting a world war that would bring human civilization to naught just to delay the resolution of this long-standing problem for a few days.
Immediately after replying to Hitler's letter, Chamberlain sent a telegram to Mussolini in Italy, inviting him to participate in the proposed international conference and asking him to urge Hitler to accept the proposal. Apparently in Chamberlain's mind, he thought fellow dictator Mussolini could persuade Hitler. However, if the German military circles knew Chamberlain's ideas, they would definitely sneer at it. After all, the Italian army, which suffered a bloody blow in Ethiopia, would hardly gain the respect of German soldiers.