ABSTRACT
In the spring of 1938 Germany swallowed up Austria, thereby becoming a next-door neighbour to Hungary. The Anschluss had been preceded by other successful moves by the German side. The unhindered occupation of the demilitarized Rhineland two years earlier had reinforced Hitler in the conviction that he need fear no military response on the part of the French. German foreign policy was therefore designed, first and foremost, to ascertain what reaction could be expected from Great Britain. In November 1937 Lord Halifax, then Lord Privy Seal but holding special responsibilities in foreign affairs, travelled to Berlin-a visit that Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden agreed to only reluctantly and was later to regret having agreed to. The nominal pretext for the trip was the opening of a big hunting exhibition in the German capital (Göring used the occasion to organize a fox hunt in the guest’s honour). On 21 November Halifax met Hitler at Berchtesgaden and intimated that Britain would recognize the necessity of the changes in Central Europe that Germany was demanding, provided these were accomplished by peaceful means. At this stage the British politician was still an advocate of the policy of appeasement, but not only did he underestimate Hitler’s political abilities, he failed even to size up the latter’s character.31
