On 12 March 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the country for the Third Reich. The annexation, known as the Anschluss, was the culmination of years of political tension and intimidation by Hitler, who had risen to power in Germany in 1933. The Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, attempted to maintain his country's independence but was bullied into naming top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet and pressured into resigning. Hitler then accompanied German troops into Austria, where they were met by enthusiastic crowds. A referendum was held on 10 April, resulting in a 99.7% approval for the annexation. However, the referendum was neither free nor secret, and the voting rights of around 360,000 people were abrogated.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Date of annexation | 13 March 1938 |
Event name | Anschluss |
Countries involved | Austria, Germany |
Countries' leaders | Adolf Hitler (Germany), Kurt von Schuschnigg (Austria) |
Austrian chancellor's response | Schuschnigg was bullied into naming Austrian Nazis to his cabinet and resigned on Hitler's demand |
Hitler's actions | Threatened invasion, forced Schuschnigg to agree to his demands, accompanied German troops into Austria |
Austrian population's response | Enthusiastic crowds met German troops, supported the Anschluss |
International response | Verbal and moderate, no military confrontation |
What You'll Learn
Hitler's meeting with Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg
On February 12, 1938, Hitler met with Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg at his mountaintop residence in Berchtesgaden. Schuschnigg had hoped for a peaceful settlement with Hitler, but the meeting was a humiliating capitulation. Schuschnigg was lambasted by Hitler, who yelled, "You have done everything to avoid a friendly policy!" and "I am absolutely determined to make an end of this."
Hitler demanded that all Nazis imprisoned in Austria be freed, the ban on the Austrian Nazi Party be lifted, and that Austrian Nazis be appointed as Minister of the Interior, Minister of War, and Minister of Finance. He also wanted preparations to be made for the assimilation of Austria's economy into the German Reich.
Schuschnigg initially tried to appease Hitler, saying, "We will do everything to remove obstacles to a better understanding, as far as it is possible." However, Hitler was unmoved and continued to threaten Schuschnigg, saying, "I have a historic mission, and this mission I will fulfill because Providence has destined me to do so."
Hitler also pointed out Austria's diplomatic isolation, noting that Italy, England, and France would not interfere with his plans. Eventually, Schuschnigg gave in to Hitler's demands, but informed him that only the Austrian president, Wilhelm Miklas, could ratify such an agreement. Hitler was furious and demanded that Schuschnigg guarantee his demands would be met.
Schuschnigg was given three days to take the agreement back to Austria and get it signed by President Miklas. Upon his return, Schuschnigg announced a plebiscite to be held on March 13, 1938, to allow Austrians to vote on whether their country should remain independent from Germany. Hitler, upon hearing this, flew into a rage and decided to invade Austria to prevent the vote.
On March 11, Schuschnigg cancelled the plebiscite and offered to resign to avoid bloodshed. Hitler demanded that President Miklas appoint Arthur Seyss-Inquart, an Austrian Nazi, as the new chancellor. Miklas initially refused but eventually gave in, and on March 12, German soldiers crossed the border and were met with no resistance.
Hitler had successfully annexed Austria without firing a single shot.
Glocks in Austria: Superior Quality or Standard Production?
You may want to see also
The Berchtesgaden Agreement
On February 12, 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg travelled to Berchtesgaden, a town in the Bavarian Alps, to meet with Hitler. Schuschnigg hoped for a peaceful settlement with Hitler, but the meeting was a hostile one. Hitler bullied and intimidated Schuschnigg, making a series of demands, including that Austria's foreign and military policies were to be coordinated with Germany's, that Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart was to be placed in charge of policing and security matters, and that Austrian Nazis who had been imprisoned by the Austrian government were to be amnestied.
Hitler used the presence of several German generals to intimidate Schuschnigg, who eventually gave in and signed the agreement. The agreement, named after the town where it was signed, is known as the Berchtesgaden Agreement. It undermined Austrian sovereignty and independence and paved the way for the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany.
The annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, took place on March 13, 1938. This event marked the beginning of World War II in Europe and was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany.
Austria's Evolution: Post-Cold War Transformations
You may want to see also
Hitler's ultimatum to Schuschnigg
On February 12, 1938, Hitler presented Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg with an ultimatum, demanding that he hand over power to the Austrian Nazis. Hitler's terms included the appointment of Arthur Seyss-Inquart, a Nazi sympathiser, as Minister of Security, which would give him control of the police. Hitler also demanded the appointment of Dr Hans Fischböck, another pro-Nazi, as Minister of Finance to prepare for economic union between Germany and Austria. In addition, a hundred officers were to be exchanged between the Austrian and German armies, and all imprisoned Nazis were to be amnestied and reinstated.
In return, Hitler would publicly reaffirm the treaty of July 11, 1936, and Austria's national sovereignty. Schuschnigg was coerced into signing the agreement, but upon his return to Austria, he, President Miklas, and a few key Cabinet members considered their options. They ultimately decided that Schuschnigg would remain in his post while carrying out Hitler's demands.
Hitler was not satisfied with this outcome and continued to pressure Schuschnigg. On March 9, 1938, Schuschnigg called for a referendum on Austrian independence, to be held on March 13. Infuriated, Hitler threatened to invade Austria and demanded Schuschnigg's resignation, insisting that Seyss-Inquart be appointed as the new chancellor. Under threat of immediate armed intervention, Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, and Seyss-Inquart was appointed chancellor. However, this did not stop the German troops from flooding into Austria, where they were greeted by enthusiastic crowds.
Austria's Fate: Napoleon's Impact on a Nation's Existence
You may want to see also
Schuschnigg's resignation
On March 11, 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg resigned from his office, two days before Adolf Hitler's troops marched unopposed into Austria. Schuschnigg's resignation came after a series of events that began on February 12, 1938, when he met with Hitler at his mountaintop retreat in Berchtesgaden. Schuschnigg had hoped for a peaceful settlement with Hitler, but instead, he was met with a set of demands and intimidated by the presence of three German generals.
Hitler's demands included the appointment of Nazi sympathiser Arthur Seyss-Inquart as Minister of Security, which controlled the police, and the naming of Dr Hans Fischböck as Minister of Finance to prepare for economic union between Germany and Austria. A hundred officers were to be exchanged between the Austrian and German armies, and all imprisoned Nazis were to be amnestied and reinstated. In return, Hitler would publicly reaffirm the treaty of July 11, 1936, and Austria's national sovereignty.
Schuschnigg was coerced into signing the agreement, but upon his return to Austria, he, President Wilhelm Miklas, and a few key Cabinet members considered their options. They ultimately decided that Schuschnigg would remain as Chancellor and carry out the agreement. However, Hitler was unhappy with this decision and immediately appointed a new Gauleiter for Austria—a Nazi Austrian army officer who had just been released from prison per the terms of the Berchtesgaden agreement.
On February 20, Hitler delivered a speech before the Reichstag, which was broadcast live and, for the first time, relayed by the Austrian radio network. The key phrase in the speech was: "The German Reich is no longer willing to tolerate the suppression of ten million Germans across its borders." This speech caused concern in Austria and led to demonstrations by both pro and anti-Nazi elements.
In an attempt to resolve the political uncertainty and demonstrate that the people of Austria wished to remain independent, Schuschnigg, with the agreement of President Miklas and other political leaders, decided to hold a plebiscite on March 13. However, the wording of the referendum was controversial, and it excluded Austrians under the age of 24 from voting, which would shut out most of the Nazi sympathisers in the country. Knowing he was in a bind, Schuschnigg held talks with the leaders of the Social Democrats and agreed to legalise their party and their trade unions in return for their support of the referendum.
Hitler was infuriated by the plebiscite and demanded that it be cancelled. When Schuschnigg reluctantly agreed, Hitler demanded his resignation and insisted that Seyss-Inquart be appointed as the new Chancellor. Under the threat of immediate armed intervention, President Miklas reluctantly endorsed this demand as well. Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, but his resignation did not stop the German invasion, and German troops were received by enthusiastic and jubilant crowds.
Shopping on Austrian Websites: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
German troops march into Austria
On the morning of March 12, 1938, German troops crossed the border into Austria. The 8th Army of the German Wehrmacht was met by cheering Austrians, who greeted them with Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers. The Austrian government had ordered the Austrian Bundesheer not to resist.
The invasion was the first big test of the Wehrmacht's machinery. Although the invading forces were badly organized and coordination among the units was poor, it mattered little because of the Austrian government's order not to resist.
That afternoon, Hitler, riding in a car, crossed the border at his birthplace, Braunau am Inn, with a 4,000-man bodyguard. In the evening, he arrived at Linz and was given an enthusiastic welcome. 250,000 Austrians gathered in Linz to meet Adolf Hitler and support the Anschluss. The enthusiasm displayed toward Hitler and the Germans surprised both Nazis and non-Nazis, as most people had believed that a majority of Austrians opposed Anschluss. Many Germans from both Austria and Germany welcomed the Anschluss as they saw it as completing the complex and long-overdue unification of all Germans into one state.
Hitler had originally intended to leave Austria as a satellite state with Seyss-Inquart as head of a pro-Nazi government. However, the overwhelming reception caused him to change course and absorb Austria directly into the Reich. On March 13, Seyss-Inquart announced the abrogation of Article 88 of the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which prohibited the unification of Austria and Germany, and approved the replacement of the Austrian states with Reichsgaue. The seizure of Austria demonstrated once again Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions, and, once again, the failure of the British and the French to take action against him for violating the Versailles Treaty. Their lack of will emboldened him toward further aggression.
Exploring Hallstatt, Austria: Can You Drive In?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Hitler took Austria without a shot fired.
The Austrian chancellor who met with Hitler in 1938 was Kurt von Schuschnigg.
The agreement that Hitler forced Schuschnigg to sign was called the Berchtesgaden Agreement.
The annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, took place on March 13, 1938.
The international community's reaction to the annexation of Austria was only verbal and moderate. There was no military confrontation, and even the strongest voices against the annexation, such as Fascist Italy, France, and Britain, remained at peace.