Austria's Advance: Troops In Munich

On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This event is known as the Anschluss, which in German means connection or joining. The annexation of Austria was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. The German invasion was met with no armed resistance, and Austrian Nazis took over the country without firing a single shot. The next day, on March 13, Austrian Nazi Chancellor Arthur Seyss-Inquart signed the Reunification of Austria with Germany law, formally incorporating Austria into Nazi Germany as a province called Ostmark.

The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany was called the Anschluss

The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, was an aggressive act of territorial expansion by the Nazi regime. The idea of a union between Austria and Germany, resulting in a "Greater Germany", was not new and had gained support after World War I. However, the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint Germain, which were signed after the war, explicitly forbade such a unification.

In the 1920s and 30s, the proposal for the Anschluss had strong support in both Austria and Germany, particularly from Austrian citizens of the political left and centre. The idea was less attractive after Hitler's rise to power in 1933, but support for unification could be identified with the Nazis, for whom it was an integral part of their ideology.

In 1938, Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence by calling a plebiscite (referendum) on the issue, to be held on March 13. However, he was pressured by Hitler to cancel the plebiscite and resign. On March 12, German troops crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the annexation was proclaimed. A plebiscite held on April 10, which was neither free nor secret, resulted in a 99.7% approval for the Anschluss.

The annexation of Austria was the first step in Hitler's plan to create a Greater German Reich, and it demonstrated his aggressive territorial ambitions and disdain for the post-World War I European order. The failure of the British and French to take action against this violation of international treaties emboldened Hitler to further aggression, and just six months later, he manufactured a crisis in the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia.

The Anschluss was the first act of territorial aggression by Nazi Germany

The Anschluss, or the annexation of Austria, was the first act of territorial aggression by Nazi Germany. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, annexing the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This was the first step in Hitler's plan to create a German empire in Europe.

The unification of Germany and Austria had been a long-standing idea, dating back to the 19th century. After the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria, the idea of a "Greater Germany" gained support. In the 1920s, many Austrians believed that their country could not survive economically without the lands previously held by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Adolf Hitler, an Austrian himself, shared the desire for unification. In his earliest writings and speeches, he expressed his intention to unite all Germans in a Greater Germany. In January 1933, when Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, he began to put this plan into action. However, it wasn't until 1938 that the annexation of Austria took place.

In the lead-up to the Anschluss, there was increasing pressure from pro-unification activists in Austria. Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on the issue, which was scheduled for March 13, 1938. Hitler, however, was not willing to wait and demanded that Schuschnigg cancel the referendum and resign. On March 11, 1938, the German Army crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military.

The annexation of Austria was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order. By annexing Austria, Nazi Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of the two countries. The other European powers did not intervene or punish Nazi Germany for this violation, allowing Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked.

The Anschluss transformed Austria overnight. Austrian Nazis, supported by their German counterparts, rapidly carried out the Nazification of all aspects of Austrian life. This included the persecution of Austria's Jewish population, who were subjected to violence, discrimination, and eventually, mass murder.

The annexation of Austria was a watershed moment in Nazi Germany's foreign policy and the first step in Hitler's plan for European domination. It demonstrated Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions and set the stage for further acts of aggression, including the invasion of Czechoslovakia and Poland, which ultimately led to the outbreak of World War II.

The Anschluss was widely popular in both Germany and Austria

In the 1920s, the Anschluss proposal had strong support in both Austria and Germany, especially among Austrian citizens of the political left and centre. One such supporter was Otto Bauer, the prominent Social Democrat leader who served as Austria's Foreign Minister after the war. Support for unification with Germany was largely based on the belief that Austria, stripped of its imperial land, was not economically viable.

The idea of a union was also supported by Adolf Hitler, who was Austrian by birth. Hitler expressed his desire for an Austro-German union in his earliest writings and speeches. The first point of the Nazi Party Platform (1920) demanded "the union of all Germans in a Greater Germany". Hitler also wrote in his autobiography, Mein Kampf, that "the reunification [of Germany and Austria] is a life task to be carried out by all means! German-Austria must be restored to the great German Motherland…People of the same blood should be in the same REICH."

Hitler's popularity in Germany, along with the propaganda campaign, "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" ("One People, One Empire, One Leader"), helped grow support for the country's union with Germany. By 1936, John Gunther estimated that Austrian public opinion about German annexation was at least 60% against, but by 1938, the Nazis claimed that 99.7% of the Austrian population supported the Anschluss.

On March 12, 1938, German troops, accompanied by Hitler, entered Austria, where they were met by enthusiastic crowds. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the Anschluss was proclaimed. Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II.

The Anschluss was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order

The idea of the Anschluss dated back to the 19th century, but it gained support after World War I, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire fell and Austria was stripped of its imperial land. Many Austrians believed that their country was not economically viable without its former territories. The unification of Germany and Austria was also an integral part of the Nazi "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept, which aimed to incorporate as many Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans outside Germany) as possible into a "Greater Germany".

In the early 1930s, Austrian politics was characterized by infighting and political violence. The Austrian Nazi Party was initially weak, but it gained support in 1931-32 as Hitler's popularity in Germany increased. Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss transformed Austria into a right-wing authoritarian regime, but he was assassinated by Austrian Nazis in 1934. His successor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, attempted to maintain Austrian independence, but he was pressured by Hitler to give in to Nazi demands.

On March 11, 1938, Hitler gave the Austrian government a series of ultimatums, demanding that Schuschnigg cancel a planned plebiscite on Austrian independence, resign as chancellor, and appoint the Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as the new chancellor. When Schuschnigg gave in to these demands, German troops invaded Austria on March 12, 1938. The annexation of Austria was proclaimed on March 13, and a plebiscite held on April 10 showed 99.7% approval for the Anschluss.

The Anschluss was the first act of territorial aggression committed by Nazi Germany, and it demonstrated Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions. The international community's failure to intervene or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties was a significant act of appeasement, which allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked. The breach of the post-World War I order set a precedent for further Nazi aggression, including the occupation of the Sudetenland and the invasion of Poland, which started World War II.

The Anschluss was not inevitable

Firstly, the Austrian government was opposed to unification with Germany. Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss, who was assassinated by Austrian Nazis in 1934, was committed to maintaining Austrian independence. After his death, Kurt von Schuschnigg became chancellor and continued Dollfuss's policies of suppressing the Austrian Nazi Party and maintaining Austria's sovereignty. Schuschnigg even attempted to hold a referendum on Austrian independence, which was ultimately cancelled due to pressure from Hitler and the threat of invasion.

Secondly, international powers were initially opposed to the idea of unification. The Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which ended World War I, expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. Additionally, countries like Italy, France, and Britain viewed an Austro-German union as a threat to European stability and were reluctant to support it.

Thirdly, public opinion in Austria was mixed regarding unification. While there was some support for the idea, particularly among ethnic Germans in Austria, there was also significant opposition. Many Austrians feared that unification would lead to the loss of their independence and the imposition of Nazi rule.

Finally, the Nazi Party in Austria was weak and divided in the years leading up to the Anschluss. It was not until 1931 that the bulk of Austrian Nazis recognized Hitler as their leader and began to gain significant support.

In conclusion, while there were factors that facilitated the Anschluss, it was not inevitable. A stronger Austrian government, more united international opposition, and greater public resistance could have potentially prevented the unification of Austria and Germany.

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