Germany's Invasion Of Austria: What History Reveals

On March 12, 1938, German troops invaded Austria, annexing the German-speaking nation into the Third Reich. This event, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. The German army crossed the border unopposed and was met with enthusiasm by Austrians. Hitler, who was born in Austria, travelled with the troops and gave a speech in Vienna on March 15, declaring Austria a province of Germany.

The Anschluss

After Adolf Hitler rose to power in 1933, the desire for unification became associated with the Nazis, for whom it was an integral part of the "`Heim ins Reich` ("back home to the realm") concept". In 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. On March 12, the German army crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. A plebiscite was held on April 10, with 99.7% approval for the Anschluss.

The annexation of Austria demonstrated Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions and his disdain for the post-World War I European order. It was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany, and it transformed Austria almost overnight. Austrian and German Nazis carried out the Nazification of all aspects of Austrian life, and Austrians participated in the mass murder of Europe's Jews. The international community did not intervene to stop the Anschluss or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties, which emboldened Hitler toward further aggression.

Hitler's arrival in Vienna

On March 12, 1938, Adolf Hitler arrived in Vienna, Austria, crossing the border at his birthplace, Braunau am Inn, with a 4,000-man bodyguard. The German army had invaded the country the previous day, unopposed by the Austrian military.

Hitler's Arrival and Reception in Vienna:

Hitler's Activities in Vienna:

Hitler's visit to Vienna was more than just a symbolic gesture. He had a busy schedule during his time in the city:

• He visited his place of birth and his parents' grave.
• He stayed at the luxury Hotel Imperial on Ringstrasse.
• He frequented cultural institutions such as the Vienna State Opera and the Burgtheater.
• He admired the grand buildings of Ringstrasse.
• He visited the Imperial Chapel to see the Vienna Boys Choir.

Hitler's Speech at Heldenplatz:

On March 15, 1938, Hitler gave a speech at Heldenplatz (Heroes' Square) in front of the Neue Burg, with around 200,000 to 250,000 Austrians gathered to hear him. During this speech, Hitler proclaimed the "homecoming of Austria" and the "Anschluss," declaring:

> "As Führer and Chancellor of the German nation and Reich, I announce before history the entry of my homeland into the German Reich."

The Impact of Hitler's Arrival:

• The annexation of Austria into the German Reich was formalized, with Hitler declaring on March 13 that "Austria is a part of the German Reich."
• The Austrian Nazis were emboldened and began to openly terrorize Jews and political opponents.
• A wave of anti-Semitic violence swept through Vienna and other Austrian cities, with Jews being robbed, humiliated, and forced to flee or commit suicide.
• The Austrian government and institutions were dissolved, with power transferred to Germany.
• A referendum was held on April 10, 1938, to legitimize the annexation, resulting in a 99.7% approval for the "Anschluss." However, the vote was not anonymous, and opponents did not dare vote against it.
• The annexation violated the Treaty of Versailles, but it was met with little condemnation from the great powers.

The Austrian referendum

On the 10th of April 1938, a referendum was held in German-occupied Austria to approve the unification of Austria with Germany. This referendum took place a month after German troops had occupied Austria on the 12th of March 1938, with the aim of preventing a vote on Austrian independence. The official result of the referendum was 99.73% in favour, with a 99.71% turnout.

The Austrian government had initially planned to hold a referendum on the 13th of March 1938 to assert its sovereignty and independence from Germany. However, the German invasion, led by Hitler, prevented this vote from taking place. The referendum question was:

> Do you agree with the reunification of Austria with the German Reich that was enacted on 13 March 1938 and do you vote for the party of our leader Adolf Hitler?

The referendum was supported by the Social Democratic Party of Austria, whose leader Karl Renner endorsed Hitler, and Cardinal Theodor Innitzer, the highest representative of the Catholic Church in Austria. Innitzer was, however, intimidated into endorsing the referendum and was assaulted by Nazi supporters. The Vatican condemned Nazism and forbade Catholics from supporting the unification.

The referendum was not anonymous, and opponents did not dare to vote against it. The ballots featured a large circle for 'yes' votes and a small one for 'no' votes, and many people marked their ballot papers in front of campaign workers. Political enemies, including communists, socialists, and Austrian citizens of Roma or Jewish origin—roughly 360,000 people or 8% of the population—were not allowed to vote.

The massive pressure to unify came from the fact that many Austrians marked the ballot paper in front of campaign workers, and the secrecy of the ballot was non-existent. The official results of the referendum showed 99.73% of voters in favour. However, according to estimates, with a voting age of 24, about 70% of Austrians would have voted to preserve Austrian independence. In the case of a fair referendum, the unification would have been supported by only 20% of the Austrian population.

Aftermath of the Austrian Referendum

After the referendum's approval, Austria was integrated as several administrative divisions into Nazi Germany. The unification of Austria and Germany, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. It was widely popular in both countries and resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population. The Nazis celebrated the unification as the fulfillment of the German people's destiny and glorified it in speeches and propaganda events.

The referendum was followed by the Nazification of all aspects of Austrian life, with many Austrians participating enthusiastically. Austrians persecuted the country's Jewish population, enacted Nazi policies, and fought in World War II. They also participated in the mass murder of Europe's Jews. The unification of Austria and Germany marked a significant breach of the post-World War I international order and was one of the earliest and most significant examples of the international community's appeasement of Adolf Hitler's aggressive foreign policy.

The persecution of Austrian Jews

The process of Aryanisation began, and Jews were quickly driven out of public life. They were disenfranchised, no longer allowed on public transport, and blocked from almost all professions. Jewish actresses were forced to clean toilets, and Jewish faculty members of the Medical University of Vienna were dismissed. The Nuremberg Laws were applied in Austria from May 1938, reinforced with innumerable anti-Semitic decrees. Jews were gradually robbed of their freedoms and forced to wear the Yellow badge from September 1941.

The Kristallnacht pogrom of 9–10 November 1938 saw the destruction of synagogues and Jewish businesses in Vienna and other Austrian cities. Over 6,000 Jews were arrested overnight, most of whom were deported to concentration camps in the following days. The Mauthausen concentration camp, established in the summer of 1938, became the main Nazi camp in Austria. Thousands of prisoners were worked to death.

The Nazis dissolved Jewish organisations and institutions, hoping to force Jews to emigrate. By the end of 1941, 130,000 Jews had left Vienna, 30,000 of whom went to the United States. Those who remained in Austria were subject to systematic deportation and extermination. Between 1938 and 1940, 117,000 Jews left Austria, and by November 1942, only about 7,000 Jews remained in the country. The majority of those who stayed were eventually murdered in the Holocaust.

International response to the Anschluss

The Anschluss was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. It was also a violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. The international community did not intervene to stop the annexation, nor did they punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties. This non-intervention was a significant act of appeasement, which allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked.

The United States

The United States objected to the Anschluss, but domestic issues, such as the dominance of isolationists in Congress, prevented President Roosevelt from taking a strong stance. However, the Anschluss did shape American foreign policy, compelling the US to criticise Germany's increasing lawlessness and formulate a more forceful response to Hitler's aggressive foreign policy.

The United Kingdom

The UK was experiencing political problems at the time of the Anschluss, with the resignation of the Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden, over Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's decision to negotiate with Mussolini. Chamberlain himself was determined to appease Hitler, and there was no political will in the UK to oppose Germany. The British population was against the idea of another European war, and as both Austria and Germany were German-speaking, the unification was not seen as a threat. However, anti-appeasers like Winston Churchill were alarmed by Germany's use of force.

France

The French government had resigned en bloc two days before the German invasion of Austria, so the country was in no position to oppose it.

Italy

Benito Mussolini, the leader of Italy, had previously supported Austrian independence, sending troops to the Austro-Italian border to defend it against Nazi Germany. However, by 1935-36, Mussolini had abandoned the idea of intervening to protect Austria and drew closer to Hitler.

Vatican

The Vatican condemned the Anschluss, with Vatican Radio broadcasting a strong denunciation of the German action.

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