The Conquest Of Austria: Germany's Historic Annexation

On March 12, 1938, German troops invaded Austria, and the country was incorporated into the German Reich in what is known as the Anschluss. This annexation was the culmination of a long-held desire for a Greater Germany that included Austria, which had been excluded from the unification of Germany in 1871. The idea of the Anschluss gained support after World War I, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire fell and Austria was stripped of its imperial land, leading to economic instability. While there was some opposition to the unification, many Austrians and Germans enthusiastically supported the idea, and on April 10, 1938, a referendum showed 99.7% approval for the annexation.

The Anschluss: Germany's annexation of Austria

On the morning of March 12, 1938, German troops invaded Austria, marking the beginning of the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into the German Reich, known as the Anschluss. The invasion was unopposed by the Austrian military, and later that day, Adolf Hitler arrived in his birthplace, Braunau am Inn, with a 4,000-man bodyguard.

The idea of the Anschluss, meaning 'joining' or 'connection' in German, was not new. After the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria, the notion of a Greater Germany that would include all ethnic Germans gained support. In the 1920s, the proposal for a union of Austria and Germany had strong backing in both nations, particularly from Austrian citizens of the political left and centre. However, popular support for unification gradually faded, and by the early 1930s, regional patriotism was stronger than pan-German sentiment.

When Hitler rose to power in 1933, the desire for unification became associated with the Nazis, for whom it was an integral part of their ideology. They sought to cultivate pro-unification tendencies in Austria and undermine the Austrian government, which opposed unification. During an attempted coup in 1934, Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was assassinated by Austrian Nazis. The coup's defeat drove many leading Austrian Nazis into exile in Germany, where they continued their efforts.

In early 1938, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany, to be held on March 13. Hitler threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign, who complied on March 11. The day before the planned referendum, German troops crossed the border into Austria. A plebiscite was held on April 10, with 99.7% approval for the Anschluss. However, the vote was not secret, and threats and coercion were used to manipulate the outcome. It is estimated that about 70% of Austrians would have voted to preserve Austrian independence.

The annexation of Austria demonstrated Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions and the failure of Britain and France to take action against him for violating the Versailles Treaty. It was among the first significant steps in Hitler's desire to create a Greater German Reich, which included all ethnic Germans and territories lost by the German Empire after World War I. Austria remained part of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allies declared the Anschluss void and re-established an independent Austria.

Hitler's Austrian-born influence

Adolf Hitler, the Austrian-born German dictator, was instrumental in the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany. On March 12, 1938, the German army invaded Austria, and Hitler arrived later that day, visiting his birthplace and his parents' grave. This invasion, known as the Anschluss, was the culmination of Hitler's desire to unite Austria and Germany, which had been excluded from the unification of Germany in 1871.

Hitler's time in Vienna also shaped his artistic interests. He applied to the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna but was rejected twice. This rejection may have contributed to his disillusionment with Austrian society and his growing affinity for German nationalism. Hitler's desire for a career in the visual arts clashed with his father's wishes for him to enter the Habsburg civil service, leading to bitter conflicts between the two. After his father's death, Hitler pursued his artistic dreams with the support of his mother. However, he failed the entrance exam for the Vienna Academy of Arts, and his financial situation deteriorated, forcing him to paint watercolour scenes of Vienna to make a living.

In 1913, Hitler moved to Munich, Germany, to avoid military service in Austria. There, he continued to pursue his artistic interests and made a living by selling watercolour paintings. With the outbreak of World War I, Hitler's life gained a new sense of direction and purpose as he enlisted in the Bavarian Army. His military service and the subsequent political turmoil in Germany further solidified his nationalist beliefs and set him on a path towards politics and the rise of Nazism.

Hitler's Austrian upbringing and experiences in Vienna had a profound impact on his ideology and political ambitions. The influences he encountered during this formative period contributed to the development of his racist and anti-Semitic beliefs, as well as his desire to unite Austria and Germany under Nazi rule.

The Austrian Nazi Party

The DNSAP gained support in the 1920s and 1930s, with some analysts estimating that they could have received up to 50% of the votes in elections held in 1933. The party split into several factions in 1923 and 1926, and many former members became supporters of the German Nazi Party led by Austrian-born Adolf Hitler. These Austrian Nazis played a key role in the pro-Nazi coup in 1938 that led to the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss.

After the German annexation of Austria in 1938, the Austrian Nazi Party was revived and made part of the German Nazi Party. Many Austrians participated in the Nazi administration, and the majority of the bureaucrats who implemented the Final Solution were Austrian. Austrians also made up a significant proportion of the SS and concentration camp personnel.

The Austrian resistance

One of the most notable resistance groups was led by the priest Heinrich Maier. This group sought to re-establish a Habsburg monarchy after the war and played a significant role in providing the Allies with information on the production sites of V-1, V-2 rockets, Tiger tanks, and aircraft. They maintained contact with Allen Dulles, head of the U.S. OSS in Switzerland, and their intelligence contributed to key operations such as Operation Crossbow and Operation Hydra, precursors to Operation Overlord. The Maier group was also one of the earliest to report the mass murder of Jews, utilising contacts at the Semperit factory near Auschwitz.

In addition to armed resistance, numerous individuals provided support to Jewish families during the Holocaust, risking imprisonment or death in Nazi concentration camps. These efforts included hiding individuals, managing or exchanging their property to generate funds, and aiding their escape from persecution. Rosa Stallbaumer and her husband, Anton, were arrested by the Gestapo in 1942 and sent to concentration camps. While Anton survived, Rosa died at Auschwitz at the age of 44.

Another notable resistance group was the Austrian Freedom Front, a partisan group led by the Communist leader Franz Honner and supported by the USSR. By the end of the war, the Austrian Freedom Front had become the only armed movement in Austria.

Military resistance was limited, with most resisting by avoiding postings to the active war fronts. However, there were some notable acts of sabotage against both civil and military installations. The most significant military resistance was the "Operation Radetzky," planned for April 6, 1945, which aimed to assist the Red Army in liberating Vienna and preventing major destruction. However, the operation was betrayed, and the leaders were sentenced to death and executed.

Overall, the Austrian resistance was a diverse and courageous movement that fought against Nazi occupation and sought to protect the rights and lives of those targeted by the regime.

The Allies declare the Anschluss void

On April 27, 1945, a provisional Austrian government declared the Anschluss "null and void". This was legally recognised by the Allies in the following months.

The Allies' declaration was made possible by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, which was signed by the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom. The declaration stated that Austria was the first free country to fall victim to Hitlerite aggression and that the annexation of Austria was to be regarded as "null and void".

The Allies' declaration was also based on the fact that the Anschluss was forcibly enacted by Germany. The referendum held on April 10, 1938, which resulted in 99.7% approval for the Anschluss, was neither free nor secret. Officials were present directly beside the voting booths and received the voting ballot by hand. In addition, the voting rights of around 360,000 to 400,000 people were abrogated.

The Allies' declaration also reflected the fact that the annexation of Austria violated the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint Germain, which specifically prohibited the union of Austria and Germany.

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