Hitler's Annexation Of Austria: A Welcome Takeover?

On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg attempted to reassert his country's independence but was coerced into naming several Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. Following his resignation, German troops entered Austria, where they were met with enthusiastic crowds. The annexation of Austria was supported by 99.75% of Austrian voters. However, the population's true opinions are unclear, as the vote was neither free nor secret, and it is estimated that about 70% of Austrians would have preferred to preserve Austrian independence. While the invasion was celebrated by some, it also sparked a wave of violence against Jewish people and their property, and many Austrians, especially those of Jewish origin, were forced into exile.

Hitler's popularity in Austria

Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria, and lived in Vienna in the first decade of the 1900s before moving to Germany in 1913. He was decorated during his service in the German Army in World War I, receiving the Iron Cross. In 1919, he joined the German Workers' Party (DAP), the precursor of the Nazi Party, and in 1921 was appointed leader of the Nazi Party.

On the other hand, there was widespread dissent, discontent, and noncompliance in Austria. Hitler's popularity in Austria was also demonstrated by the enthusiastic crowds that met German troops when they invaded Austria in 1938. On April 10, 1938, Austrians were asked whether they supported the March 13 Anschluss. 99.75% of voters said that they supported Germany's annexation of Austria into the Third Reich.

The Austrian chancellor's response to Hitler

Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg was strongly opposed to Hitler's goal of absorbing Austria into the Third Reich and wished for his country to remain independent. Schuschnigg's efforts to keep Austria independent ultimately failed.

In February 1938, Hitler demanded that Schuschnigg appoint members of Austria's Nazi Party to his cabinet and give full political rights to the party, or face an invasion by the German army. Fearful that Hitler intended to take over Austria, Schuschnigg called for a national plebiscite, or vote, to take place on March 13, so that Austrians could decide for themselves whether they wished their nation to remain independent or become part of the Third Reich. When Hitler heard this news, he decided to invade Austria immediately to prevent the vote. By March 11, Schuschnigg was aware of the coming invasion and cancelled the plebiscite. He offered to resign to avoid bloodshed but was coerced into pleading with Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance" into the country.

Hitler accompanied German troops into Austria on March 12, where they were met with enthusiastic crowds. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the annexation, or Anschluss, 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.

The public's reaction to Hitler's arrival

On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, accompanied by Hitler himself, to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. The previous day, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg had resigned, under coercion from the Nazis, and pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance" into the country.

Hitler and his troops were met with enthusiastic crowds. The public's reaction was one of genuine and spontaneous enthusiasm, with people greeting the soldiers with Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers. The sight of well-equipped German soldiers marching through the country revived memories of wartime solidarity and evoked a sense of satisfaction that the humiliations of 1918 had been overcome. Many Austrians also hoped for an improvement in their everyday lives, given Hitler's economic achievements in Germany.

However, it is important to note that the true extent of public support for Hitler's arrival is difficult to determine. While the Nazis held a plebiscite on April 10, 1938, which resulted in 99.7% approval for the annexation, this vote was not secret, and threats and coercion were employed to manipulate the outcome. It is estimated that about 70% of Austrians would have actually voted to preserve Austrian independence.

Furthermore, the reaction to Hitler's arrival was not universally positive. The idea of the Anschluss was opposed by many political circles in Austria, including Austrian Jews, old Habsburgist officers, and a considerable part of Austrian capitalism. Additionally, the Austrian resistance movement, though small, included left-wing and conservative resisters who actively opposed Nazi rule.

In conclusion, while Hitler's arrival in Austria was met with enthusiasm by a significant portion of the population, the true extent of public support is difficult to determine due to the manipulation of plebiscite results and the presence of active resistance groups.

The impact of the invasion on Austrian Jews

The invasion of Austria by Hitler's forces in 1938, known as the Anschluss, had a devastating impact on Austrian Jews, who were subjected to violence, persecution, and humiliation at the hands of both Austrian and German Nazis.

Prior to the invasion, Jews in Austria were prominent figures in various fields, including the sciences, arts, business, and industry. However, with the rise of Nazism in Germany and the annexation of Austria, the situation changed drastically for Austrian Jews. They became targets of violent attacks, public humiliation, and discriminatory laws. Austrian Nazis and their accomplices engaged in street violence against Jews, forcing them to wash sidewalks and public toilets and eat grass in acts of dehumanization. This wave of violence culminated in the Kristallnacht riots in November 1938, where synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses were vandalized and looted.

The persecution of Jews in Austria was immediate and pervasive. German racial laws were imposed, resulting in the disenfranchisement of Jews and an increase in the number of people considered Jewish in the country. A forced reorganization of Jewish communities was carried out, with all Jewish organizations and newspapers being shut down and their leaders imprisoned. Jews were banned from using public transportation and were subjected to public humiliation. Many regular Austrians joined the Nazis in terrorizing the Jewish population.

The invasion also led to the seizure of Jewish property as part of the Holocaust. There was a massive transfer of homes, businesses, real estate, financial assets, and artworks from Jews to non-Jews. The Nazis, in collaboration with various institutions, orchestrated a well-organized machinery of plunder, storage, and resale, ensuring that seized properties were transferred to non-Jewish owners.

The impact of the invasion extended beyond violence and persecution. The Central Office for Jewish Emigration was established under the leadership of Adolf Eichmann, resulting in the emigration of thousands of Jews from Austria. Between 1938 and 1939, 62,958 Jews emigrated, and by the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, an estimated 126,445 Jews had left the country. The mass emigration was driven by both the persecution they faced and the efforts of the Nazi regime to accelerate Jewish emigration.

The invasion also marked the beginning of the isolation, deportation, and extermination of Austrian Jews. In October 1939, the deportation of Austrian Jews to Poland commenced, aligning with the Nazi plan to gather and restrict Europe's Jewish populace in one territory. The deportation of Jews to death camps started in February 1941, and by November 1942, only about 7,000 Jews remained in Austria. The deportations continued until March 1945. As a result of the Holocaust, between 60,000 and 65,000 Austrian Jews lost their lives, with fewer than 800 surviving until the liberation of Vienna by Soviet troops in April 1945.

The international response to the Anschluss

The Anschluss, or the unification of Germany and Austria, was met with a mixed international response. While some Austrians welcomed the German troops with enthusiasm, others opposed the invasion. The international community, however, was largely silent, with only a few countries speaking out against the act of aggression.

The Roman Catholic Church denounced the Anschluss, releasing a statement that expressed their disapproval of the union between Germany and Austria. The Leader of the Lutheran Church, on the other hand, supported the union, believing that Hitler was the saviour of German Protestants in Austria.

British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain acknowledged the gravity of the events, stating that they "cannot be regarded by His Majesty's Government with indifference or equanimity." He also highlighted the economic impact of the Anschluss, predicting that it would retard economic recovery and increase uncertainty in Europe. Despite this, Chamberlain's policy of appeasement towards Hitler prevented any strong opposition from Britain.

Winston Churchill, a member of Parliament at the time, was one of the few British politicians who openly criticised the Anschluss. He warned that Europe was confronted with a program of aggression and that countries needed to take effective measures to ward off the danger posed by Hitler.

The French government, which had resigned en bloc two days before the invasion due to unrelated issues, made no official comment on the Anschluss. France was not in a position to oppose the invasion, as they were dealing with their own political turmoil.

The United States, under President Roosevelt, also expressed concern over the German annexation of Austria. The Anschluss aided the passage of Roosevelt's naval rearmament program, and he established an organisation to assist Austrian refugees. However, due to domestic issues and isolationist sentiment in Congress, Roosevelt could not take strong action against Germany.

Overall, the international response to the Anschluss was muted, with only a few voices of opposition. The world seemed to accept the union of Germany and Austria, despite the aggressive nature of the invasion.

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