From the field marshal’s diary it is evident, however, that
he continued to have “his pudgy fingers in every pie,” as his
later prosecutors at Nuremberg would put it.
Considering his later reputation for indolence, his di-
ary entries are often of a surprising intricacy and length. Octo-
ber , three days after the sellout of Czechoslovakia by the great
powers at Munich, both the Czech and French diplomats were
beating a path to his door, anxious to mend the fences damaged
during the crisis:
Ambassador [André] François-Poncet, October .
Comes directly from Paris, where he had long talks
with [Prime Minister] Daladier and [Foreign Minis-
ter] Bonnet. Powerful inclination there to arrange a
deal with Germany in a new and lasting way. Daladier
has great confidence in the Führer. Swing of opinion
among French public, but the left-wing parties are
intriguing against Daladier, etc. [Wants] entente
[with Germany] similar to that with Britain: no war,
consultations first! That would be decisive.
This would strengthen Daladier’s hand and he
would be able after elections to get rid of the “People’s
Front” and [French] alliance with Moscow.
Strike while the iron’s hot!Thus read Göring’s diary entry for that day. The Frenchman
assured him that the Paris-Prague alliance was finished. French
public opinion, he said, even showed a wide understanding now
for Germany’s colonial aspirations.
Never [said François-Poncet, according to Göring’s
diary] was public opinion in Europe so disposed to
turn over a new leaf. Germany has now definitely es-
tablished herself as a Continental power of the first
rank. Only the left-wing parties do not want to rec-
ognize this.