“I always knew we could bank on Mussolini,” Hitler con-
gratulated Göring. “This is the happiest moment of my life. Not
for one second did I doubt the greatness of the Duce.”
Encased on three sides by hostile German forces, Czechoslovakia
realized that its future strategic position would be impossible. At
: .. the Czech minister Vojtech Mastny scurried over to
Göring and presented his compliments. The field marshal rose
to his feet and solemnly gave his word that Prague had no
grounds for concern. Mastny passed this reassurance on to the
Czech president, Dr. Édvard Bene, who promised for his part
not to mobilize Czech forces. “Good,” said Göring, told of this at
midnight. “I am now able to repeat my undertaking officially
because the Führer has put me in supreme charge he’s going
elsewhere for a short time.”
Elsewhere was Austria. Learning at : .. that Heinrich
Himmler had already flown there, Göring ordered one of his
minions to phone urgent instructions to the exhausted Seyss-
Inquart in Vienna: “He [Göring] wants you to take over their
wiretapping agencies right away, okay?” Göring did not want
Himmler getting his hands on these.
From first light onward three hundred Luftwaffe transport
planes began ferrying troops into Austria. Acting head of state
for the first time in his life, Göring remained in Berlin, relishing
every moment of this brief taste of power. He phoned Mastny
this time to promise that no troops would come within ten miles
of the Czech frontier. He sent for Tauschitz and mockingly re-
marked that he had missed him at last night’s ball.
The Austrian envoy asked only, “Where is the Führer?”
“He’s gone,” roared Göring, laying it on thick and rotten.
“He’s gone where he’s not been allowed to go for twenty years:
to visit his parents’ grave in Austria.”