ANSCHLUSS HISTORY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 139, 27 March 1940, Page 6

ANSCHLUSS HISTORY

AMAZING STORY BY FORMER MEMBER OF THE GESTAFO An astonishing account of an attempt by Dr.. Schuschnigg,, the former Chancellor of Austria, to save that country's independence by bringing pressure to hear on Hitler is told in "Inside the Gestapo." It is Avritten under the pen-name of Mansjurgen Koehler by one who claims to have occupied a high posi ti.on in the Gestapo until, considering his life at stake, he deserted and escaped to Switzerland. The author's most startling revelation begins in Berlin, when he is instructed by Reinhard Heydrich, his; chief, to possession, at all costs, cf a number of documents in Dr. Schuschnigg's possession. One group of documents Avhicn concerned Hitler's Avar record had apparently been compiled by Genes al A'on Schleicher, Avho ay as German Chancellor in 1933, and was murdered in 1931. They AA-ere sent shortly before his death to Dr Dollfuss, the Austrian Chancellor. To Rob Dr. Schuschnigg. Another group of documents purported to be a collection made by Dr. Doll fuss of evidence concerning Hitler's origins. The author declares that he AA r as sent to Vienna to rob Dr. Schuschnigg of the lile, on the grounds that he had threatened to publish it as a White Book. According to Avhat folloAVS, Dr. Schuschnigg's entourage Avas systematically corrupted to the service of Herr von Papen,, now Ambassador in Turkey, and the Gestapo agents. The author claims that he persuaded the Countess Vera A r oii Fuggcr, who ultimately became Dr. Schuschnigg's second Avife, to act for Germany. The Countess was tricked into giving the file to von Papen's secretary, Baron von Kettler When Dr Schuschnigg later made a veiled allusion to the possible publication of a White Boob, Hitler shewed him the file. Nothing could prevent the Anschluss.