rise-and-fall-of-the-third-reich-william-shirer-pdf

THE LAST DAYS OF PEACE 509DUCE:I have received your communication on your final attitude. I respectthe reasons and motives which led you to take this decision. Incertain circumstances it can nevertheless work out well.In my opinion, however, the prerequisite is that, at least until theoutbreak of the struggle, the world should have no idea of the attitudeItaly intends to adopt. I therefore cordially request you to supportmy struggle psychologically with your press or by other means.I would also ask you, Duce, if you possibly can, by demonstrativemilitary measures, at least to compel Britain and France to tie downcertain of their forces, or at all events to leave them in uncertainty.But, Duce, the most important thing is this: If, as I have said, itshould come to a major war, the issue in the East will be decidedbefore the two Western Powers can score a success. Then, this winter,at latest in the spring, I shall attack in the West with forceswhich will be at least equal to those of France and Britain . . .I must now ask a great favor of you, Duce. In this difficult struggleyou and your people can best help me by sending me Italian workers,for both industrial and agricultural purposes . . . In speciallycommending this request of mine to your generosity, I thank you forall the efforts you have made for our common cause.ADOLF HITLER 634The Duce replied meekly late in the afternoon that the world would ”notknow before the outbreak of hostilities what the attitude of Italy is” – he wouldkeep the secret well. He would also tie down as many Anglo-French militaryand naval forces as possible and he would send Hitler the Italian workers herequested. 635 Earlier in the day he had repeated to Ambassador von Mackensen”in forceful terms,” as the latter reported to Berlin, ”that he still believed itpossible to attain all our objectives without resort to war” and had added thathe would again bring this aspect up in his letter to the Fuehrer, 636 But he didnot. For the moment he seemed too discouraged to even mention it again.Although France would provide almost the entire Allied army on Germany’swestern border if war were suddenly to come, and although, in the initial weeks,it would far outnumber the German forces there, Hitler seemed unconcernedas August began to run out about what the French would do. On August 26,Premier Daladier dispatched to him a moving and eloquent letter remindinghim of what France would do; it would fight if Poland were attacked.Unless you attribute to the French people [Daladier wrote] a conceptionof national honor less high than that which I myself recognizein the German people, you cannot doubt that France will be true toher solemn promises to other nations, such as Poland . . .After appealing to Hitler to seek a pacific solution of his dispute with Poland,Daladier added: