Chapter 81:
February 2, 1940
Southern Germany, 7th Military District, Munich
“The annulment of the Treaty of Versailles, the annexation of Austria, the restoration of the Hohenzollern. We have already made plenty of concessions to Germany.
There can be no compromise on our demands.”
The negotiation, held in a setting that was called a conference but was truly meant for an ultimatum, continued with only France’s one-sided assertions.
How could there be a compromise when they were demanding the complete liberation of Czechia, including the Sudetenland, and an end to the war with no gains after all the blood that had been shed?
“You never took issue with the annexation of Austria, the Austrian residents participated voluntarily, and there’s even a plebiscite scheduled. What concessions are you talking about?”
When my father, Hjalmar Schacht, retorted sarcastically, French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud narrowed his eyes, but soon glared back at my father and replied.
“And Germany? You said you would liberate Czechoslovakia and form a democratic government, but has any of that been realized?”