Austria prefers Czechoslovakia to accept annexation because acceptance transfers the Czech army intact. German assistance offers an alternative if negotiations fail, but it does not carry the same immediate attraction. Austria can also pursue individual Yugoslav successor states instead of waiting for the country to reform. These are considered easier targets than a larger country. The proposed sequence is specific to this counterfactual Hearts of Iron IV campaign.
Notable Point · 1:32:35-1:33:48
Austria weighs army inheritance and smaller neighboring states
Peaceful Czech annexation would transfer the army to Austria, while fragmented Yugoslav states offer smaller targets for further expansion.