The German Invasion Of Austria-Hungary: What Happened?

On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This event, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. The annexation of Austria was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, and Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg was pressured to resign on March 11, 1938, a day before the invasion. The next day, Adolf Hitler accompanied German troops into Austria, where they were met with enthusiasm by the crowds.

The annexation of Austria into the German Reich

The Background

The idea of a union between Austria and Germany, or Anschluss, had been around since the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria. The concept gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, as many felt that Austria, stripped of its imperial lands, was not economically viable on its own. The idea was particularly popular among Austrian citizens of the political left and centre, including prominent Social Democrat leader Otto Bauer.

Hitler's Rise and the Nazi Threat

When Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933, the desire for unification became associated with the Nazis and their concept of "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm"), which sought to bring as many ethnic Germans as possible into a "Greater Germany". Hitler himself, an Austrian German by birth, had written about his desire to unite Austria and Germany in his 1925 book, "Mein Kampf".

The Austrian Response

In Austria, the Austrofascist Fatherland Front government, led by Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss, opposed unification. However, the Austrian Nazi Party, though initially weak and divided, gained support as Hitler's popularity in Germany grew. In 1934, Austrian Nazis attempted a coup, assassinating Dollfuss. The coup failed, but it prompted many leading Austrian Nazis to go into exile in Germany, where they continued to push for unification.

The Berchtesgaden Agreement

By 1938, Austria found itself diplomatically isolated and facing an increasingly aggressive Nazi Germany. On February 12, 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Hitler and was forced to sign the Berchtesgaden Agreement, which undermined Austrian sovereignty.

The Plebiscite and Annexation

In an attempt to assert Austrian independence, Schuschnigg called for a plebiscite (referendum) on March 9, 1938, to be held on March 13. However, on March 11, under pressure from Hitler, Schuschnigg cancelled the plebiscite and resigned. The next day, German troops crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. On March 13, Austrian Nazi Chancellor Arthur Seyss-Inquart, who had been appointed by Hitler, signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, formally incorporating Austria into Nazi Germany.

The Aftermath

The annexation of Austria was met with little resistance from other European powers, who accepted it as an act of appeasement. This allowed Hitler to continue his expansionist policies unchecked, leading to the Munich Agreement and the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1938, and the invasion of Poland in 1939, which marked the start of World War II.

The Austrian Nazi Party's role in the invasion

The Austrian Nazi Party played a crucial role in the German invasion of Austria, also known as the Anschluss. Here is a detailed account of their involvement:

The Rise of the Austrian Nazi Party

The Austrian Nazi Party, or the Austrian National Socialists, emerged as a marginal force in the country's politics during the early 1920s. However, by the 1930s, they had gained significant support, especially after Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933. The idea of Anschluss, or the unification of Austria and Germany, resonated with many Austrians, who felt that their country was economically dependent on the lands of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. This notion of a "Greater Germany" was a central tenet of Nazi ideology, and Hitler himself, being Austrian-born, was committed to this cause.

Terrorist Activities and Propaganda

The Austrian Nazis waged a propaganda campaign, receiving encouragement and funding from Germany. They sought to undermine the Austrian government, which was controlled by the Austrofascist Fatherland Front, opposed to unification. The Austrian Nazis staged disruptive protests, brawls, and even terrorist attacks, such as bombings and assaults on political opponents and Jewish-owned businesses. This campaign of violence and intimidation destabilized the country and created a sense of chaos and incompetence surrounding the Austrofascist regime.

The Failed 1934 Coup

On July 25, 1934, the Austrian Nazis attempted a coup. They assassinated Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss and briefly occupied the chancellery and state radio station. However, the majority of Austrians remained loyal to the government, and the coup was swiftly put down. This failure prompted many leading Austrian Nazis to flee to Germany, where they continued their efforts to promote unification.

Infiltration and Infiltration

Despite the failed coup, the Austrian Nazi Party continued their activities within Austria. They gained support, especially as Hitler's popularity in Germany grew. In 1936, they were able to infiltrate the Austrian government, with Nazis being appointed to key positions. Arthur Seyss-Inquart, a long-time supporter of unification, became Minister of Public Security. The Austrian Nazis also continued their propaganda efforts, using slogans like "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" ("One People, One Empire, One Leader") to garner support for the idea of Anschluss.

The Berchtesgaden Agreement and the Plebiscite

In February 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, facing increasing pressure from pro-unification activists, announced a plebiscite (referendum) on the issue of Austrian independence, scheduled for March 13, 1938. Hitler, infuriated by this move, demanded that Schuschnigg cancel the plebiscite and resign. He threatened an invasion and secretly pressured Schuschnigg, who ultimately conceded.

The German Invasion

On March 12, 1938, German troops crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. The invasion was met with enthusiasm by many Austrians, who welcomed Hitler and the German soldiers with Nazi salutes and flowers. The Austrian Nazi Party members actively supported the invasion, occupying public buildings and dominating the streets with parades and salutes to Hitler.

The Annexation

On March 13, 1938, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, who had become Chancellor of Austria, signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, formally incorporating Austria into Nazi Germany. This act completed the Anschluss, and Austria became a province of the German Reich. A plebiscite was held on April 10, 1938, resulting in an overwhelming majority for unification, although it was neither free nor secret, with threats and coercion employed to manipulate the vote.

The Austrian public's response to the German troops

The annexation of Austria by Germany, known as the Anschluss, was met with a mixed response from the Austrian public.

On the morning of 12 March 1938, the German Wehrmacht crossed the Austrian border and was greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers. Hitler's journey through Austria became a triumphal tour, with 250,000 Austrians gathering in Linz to meet him. Hitler's popularity reached an unprecedented peak after he fulfilled the Anschluss, as he had completed the long-awaited idea of a Greater Germany.

However, the Austrian public's response was not entirely positive. According to some Gestapo reports, only a quarter to a third of Austrian voters in Vienna were in favour of the Anschluss. In most rural areas, especially in Tyrol, support for the Anschluss was even lower. According to one source, only one "unhappy face" of an Austrian in public when the Germans marched into Austria has ever been produced.

The Anschluss was the first step in Hitler's plan to create a Greater German Reich that would include all ethnic Germans and the territories lost after World War I. The unification of Germany by Otto von Bismarck in 1871 had excluded Austria, which had previously been part of the Holy Roman Empire and the German Confederation. The idea of a united Austria and Germany dated back to the 19th century and gained support after World War I, when the Austro-Hungarian Empire fell and Austria was stripped of many of its territories.

The Anschluss was also the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. It was enabled by the Austrian Nazi Party, which waged a propaganda and terror campaign to undermine the Austrian government. The Nazis also cultivated pro-unification tendencies in Austria and sought to undermine the Austrian government, which opposed unification. The Austrian Nazi Party's attempted coup in 1934 resulted in the assassination of Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss by Austrian Nazis. The defeat of the coup prompted many leading Austrian Nazis to go into exile in Germany, where they continued their efforts to unify the two countries.

In early 1938, under increasing pressure from pro-unification activists, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany, to be held on 13 March. Hitler threatened an invasion and secretly pressured Schuschnigg to resign. On 12 March, the day before the planned referendum, the German Army crossed the border into Austria unopposed by the Austrian military.

The plebiscite, held on 10 April, resulted in 99.7% approval for the Anschluss. However, the ballot was not secret, and threats and coercion were employed to manipulate the vote. While the true opinions of the population are unknown, it is estimated that about 70% of Austrians would have voted to preserve Austrian independence.

The international community's reaction to the Anschluss

The Anschluss, the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, was the first act of territorial aggression committed by the Nazis. It was also the first major step in Hitler's long-desired creation of an empire that included German-speaking lands. The international community's reaction to the Anschluss was largely passive, with no military confrontation taking place. The strongest voices against the annexation, particularly Fascist Italy, France, and Britain (the "Stresa Front"), were either powerless to stop it or, in the case of Italy, appeased.

In Britain, the reaction to the Anschluss was mixed. While the British population was against the idea of another European war, anti-appeasers like Winston Churchill were alarmed by Germany's annexation of Austria. They believed that if Hitler had a legitimate claim to Austria, he should have used negotiation and diplomacy rather than force. The British government, led by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, was determined to appease Hitler, and there was no political will to oppose Germany. Chamberlain noted that the British ambassador in Berlin had objected to the use of "coercion, backed by force" against Austria, but he also acknowledged that nothing could have stopped the annexation unless Britain and other countries had been prepared to use force.

In France, the entire government had resigned just two days before the German invasion of Austria, so the country was not in a position to oppose it.

The international community's passive reaction to the Anschluss had significant consequences. It allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked and emboldened him toward further aggression. Just six months later, Nazi Germany manufactured a crisis in Czechoslovakia, which ultimately led to the Munich Agreement in September 1938 and the annexation of the Sudetenland. The relatively bloodless Anschluss paved the way for the Treaty of Munich and reinforced appeasement as the approach for Britain and other countries in dealing with Hitler's Germany.

The persecution of Austrian Jews

The process of Aryanisation began, and Jews were driven out of public life within months. They were stripped of their assets and properties, which were transferred to non-Jews. Jews were also prohibited from emigrating, and those who remained in Austria after 1941 were mostly murdered in the Holocaust.

The Mauthausen concentration camp, established in 1938, became the main Nazi camp in Austria. Thousands of prisoners were worked to death, and the camp was known for its cruelty and barbarism. The Kristallnacht pogroms in November 1938 were particularly brutal in Austria, with most synagogues in Vienna destroyed and Jewish businesses vandalised and ransacked.

The Holocaust in Austria resulted in the murder of an estimated 70,000 Jews and the forced exile of 125,000 more. It decimated the once-thriving Jewish community in the country, reducing the population from about 192,000 in 1938 to just 57,000 by December 1939 due to emigration.

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