Austria's Historical Invasions: Did They Ever Invade?

Austria has a rich history, dating back to the Paleolithic period. The area was settled by the Celts around 400 BC, and was later conquered by the Romans in the late 1st century BC. The area was then occupied by Germanic tribes during the Migration Period, and was later incorporated into the Frankish Empire in the 9th century. The name Ostarrîchi (Austria) has been in use since 996 AD, when it was a margravate of the Duchy of Bavaria. In 1156, Austria became an independent duchy of the Holy Roman Empire, and was ruled by the House of Habsburg from 1273 to 1918.

In 1806, Austria became the Austrian Empire, and was also part of the German Confederation until the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. In 1867, Austria formed a dual monarchy with Hungary, which collapsed after World War I in 1918, reducing Austria to its current frontiers. After World War II, Austria became an independent republic in 1955, and joined the European Union in 1995.

The Anschluss

In the 1920s, the idea of the Anschluss was supported by many Austrian citizens, particularly those on the political left and center. However, popular support for the unification began to fade over time. After Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933, the desire for unification became associated with the Nazis, as it was an integral part of their "Heim ins Reich" concept, which aimed to incorporate as many ethnic Germans outside of Germany as possible.

In early 1938, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced that there would be a referendum on a possible union with Germany, to be held on March 13. Portraying this as defying the popular will, Hitler threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign. On March 11, the day before the planned referendum, the German Army crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military.

On March 12, German troops marched into Austria, greeted by enthusiastic crowds. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the annexation was proclaimed. Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and reestablished an independent Austria.

Austria's role in WWII

Austria was annexed by Germany in 1938, becoming an integral part of the Third Reich. The annexation, known as the Anschluss, was supported by the majority of the Austrian population, who welcomed the arrival of German troops. Hitler himself accompanied the troops into Austria, where they were met with enthusiastic crowds. Austria was renamed Ostmark, and Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg was imprisoned after being coerced by the Nazis into pleading with Austrian forces not to resist.

During World War II, hundreds of thousands of Austrians fought as German soldiers, and a substantial number served in the SS, the elite military corps of the Nazi Party. Austrians were also involved in the Nazi administration, from death camp personnel to senior Nazi leadership. Many Austrians were involved in the Final Solution, and the majority of the bureaucrats who implemented it were Austrian.

After the German defeat at Stalingrad in 1943, popular support for the war and the Anschluss began to wane. In 1943, the Allies issued the Moscow Declaration, describing Austria as "the first victim of Hitlerite aggression" and calling for the reestablishment of an independent Austria. The Soviet Union's Red Army entered Austrian territory in 1945, capturing Vienna and advancing towards Linz and Graz. The Western Allies—the United States, Britain, and France—met minimal resistance as they advanced into the country.

At the end of World War II, Austria was occupied by the Soviet Union, the United States, Britain, and France, who divided the country into four occupation zones. Austria emerged from the war as one of the poorest countries in Europe, with much of its infrastructure damaged or destroyed. In 1945, the Allies declared the Anschluss void and reestablished an independent Austria.

The Soviet occupation of Austria

In the winter of 1945, troops from the 3rd and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts approached Austria's border from Hungary. After almost four years of brutal combat, the Red Army suffered heavy losses in Hungary, with 484,300 casualties, including 140,000 killed or captured. The Germans launched their last major offensive of the war at Lake Balaton in March 1945, but the 3rd Ukrainian Front launched a counterattack that resulted in the elimination of the bulk of German forces in the south and the capture of Vienna. The Red Army then advanced towards Linz and Graz in early May.

The Soviet occupation policies in Austria were shaped by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, in which the British, Americans, and Soviets proclaimed that Austria was Germany's first victim but would also have to pay the price for its participation in Nazi aggression. The Red Army occupied only parts of Austria, including the capital, while Anglo-American troops entered from Germany and Italy. Thereafter, France, Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union divided Austria into four occupation zones.

Although Moscow treated Austria as a defeated Axis power, it maintained that Austria was a victim of Germany. As a result, Austria avoided some of the harsh consequences faced by Germany, such as territorial loss and the expulsion of ethnic Germans to the Soviet Union for slave labour. However, the Western Allies consented to Moscow's demand for German assets in Austria, resulting in significant reparations paid by Austria to the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union did not attempt to impose a communist dictatorship in Austria, and the scale of political violence experienced by Austrians was more limited compared to other countries occupied by the Red Army. Soviet military tribunals arrested around 800 Austrian civilians in the initial eight months of occupation, with charges ranging from belonging to the Nazi Werewolf resistance group to espionage and war crimes. By 1955, when the Red Army withdrew from the country, the Soviets had arrested 2,400 Austrians, with approximately 150 executed and others receiving lengthy prison terms.

The Red Army suffered 94,185 casualties in Austria, with 26,006 killed and 68,179 wounded. The end of the war was marked by looting, raping, and hunger for most Austrians, and the parliamentary election in November 1945 resulted in a victory for the coalition of Social Democrats and Christian Democrats, with the Communist Party of Austria receiving less than six percent of the national vote. The Soviets maintained control in their zone of occupation until 1955, when they withdrew along with the Western Allies in exchange for Austria's promise to remain neutral in the Cold War.

The Austrian Nazi movement

Origins and Early Years:

The origins of Nazism in Austria are disputed and continue to be debated. However, some factors contributed to the emergence of Austrian Nazism. After World War I, the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the abolition of the Habsburg monarchy led to a power struggle between political groups in the new Austrian republic. The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SDAP), Christian Social Party (CS), and the nationalist Great German Union (which later became the Greater German People's Party) were the major players. Smaller parties, such as the Communist Party of Austria and the Austrian National Socialists, also existed but had less influence.

Support for Unification:

One common theme among these political groups was the desire for unification with Germany, which was also a republic at the time (Weimar Republic). This sentiment was particularly strong among Austrian pan-Germans, who felt that the new republic violated their right to "self-determination." They advocated for a union with Germany, seeing it as a way to address the economic problems and territorial losses Austria faced after World War I.

Emergence of Austrian Nazism:

Terror Campaign and Coup Attempt:

Beginning in 1933, the Austrian Nazis waged a propaganda and terror campaign, staging disruptive protests, brawls, and even bombings. This campaign was encouraged and funded by Nazi Germany, aiming to destabilise the Austrian government. In July 1934, Austrian Nazis attempted a coup, assassinating Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss. However, the majority of Austrians remained loyal to the government, and the coup was swiftly defeated with the help of Italian troops sent by Mussolini.

Anschluss and Nazification:

Despite the failed coup, Hitler continued his pursuit of unification. In February 1938, he met with Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg and issued a series of demands, including the coordination of Austrian policies with Germany and the appointment of Austrian Nazis to key positions. Schuschnigg attempted to assert independence by calling for a plebiscite on March 13, 1938. However, under pressure from Hitler, he cancelled the plebiscite and resigned on March 11. On March 12, German troops crossed the border, and Hitler entered Austria, greeted by enthusiastic crowds. The annexation, known as the "Anschluss," transformed Austria into a province of Nazi Germany, and the country was swiftly "Nazified."

Austrian Collaboration and Resistance:

Many Austrians actively collaborated with the Nazi regime, with 950,000 Austrians fighting for the Nazi armed forces during World War II. Austrians also held key positions in the Nazi administration, including senior leadership roles. However, it is important to note that a small but significant minority of Austrians resisted Nazism. An estimated 100,000 people participated in the Austrian resistance, with thousands imprisoned or executed for their anti-Nazi activities. The resistance groups were ideologically diverse, reflecting the political landscape before the war. They engaged in intelligence-gathering, counter-propaganda, and aiding Jewish families during the Holocaust.

In summary, the Austrian Nazi movement was a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that capitalised on economic woes, nationalist sentiments, and the desire for unification with Germany. It played a pivotal role in the annexation of Austria and the country's subsequent integration into Nazi Germany, with lasting consequences for its society and politics.

The Austrian Civil War

The conflict began when members of the Republican Protection League fired on Austrian police who were attempting to enter the Social Democrats' party headquarters in Linz to search for weapons. The violence spread to Vienna and other industrial centres in eastern and central Austria. The Austrian police and Federal Army, who had superior numbers and firepower, quickly suppressed the uprising. The overall death toll is estimated at 350, with around 1,000 members of the Schutzbund killed in Vienna alone, and around 120 police officers killed, with a further 400 injured.

The socialists' defeat led to arrests, executions, and the banning of the Social Democratic Party. In May 1934, Austria's democratic constitution was replaced by an Austrofascist constitution, with the Fatherland Front as the only legal party. This marked a shift towards an authoritarian regime, the Federal State of Austria.

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