Hitler's Austrian Power Grab: A Forced Takeover?

On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, learning of the conspiracy, met with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in the hopes of reasserting his country's independence but was instead bullied into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 11, Schuschnigg gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned. The next day, Hitler accompanied German troops into Austria, where enthusiastic crowds met them. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the annexation was proclaimed.

Hitler's meeting with Schuschnigg at Berchtesgaden

On 12 February 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg met with Adolf Hitler at the Berghof residence in Obersalzberg near Berchtesgaden. The meeting was arranged by Franz von Papen, the former ambassador to Austria. Schuschnigg hoped for a peaceful settlement with Hitler, but the power dynamics were skewed from the start.

Hitler, in his mountaintop retreat, was joined by three of Germany's top generals: Wilhelm Keitel, Chief of the High Command; Walter von Reichenau, Commander of Army troops along the German-Austrian border; and Air Force General Hugo Sperrle. Schuschnigg, on the other hand, was accompanied only by Papen.

The meeting was tense and confrontational. Hitler lambasted Schuschnigg, accusing him and Austria of avoiding friendly policies and engaging in acts of high treason. He asserted Germany's power and his determination to settle the "Austrian problem" by any means necessary. Schuschnigg, taken aback by Hitler's aggression, tried to calm the situation, expressing a willingness to improve relations. However, Hitler remained unrelenting and issued an ultimatum.

Hitler's demands, presented by Joachim Ribbentrop, the new German Foreign Minister, included the release of all Nazis jailed in Austria, the lifting of the ban on the Austrian Nazi Party, and the appointment of Arthur Seyss-Inquart, a pro-Nazi lawyer, as the new Minister of the Interior with full control of the police. Additionally, Nazis were to be appointed as Minister of War and Minister of Finance, and Austria's economy was to be assimilated into the German Reich.

Schuschnigg, under immense pressure, agreed to consider signing the agreement but sought assurances of non-interference in Austria's internal affairs. Ribbentrop and Papen provided these assurances, stating that Hitler would respect Austria's sovereignty if the demands were met. However, when Schuschnigg returned to meet Hitler, the atmosphere remained hostile. Hitler gave Schuschnigg three days to take the agreement to Austria and obtain the signature of President Wilhelm Miklas, or else he would order a march into Austria.

Schuschnigg left Berchtesgaden, accompanied by a somewhat embarrassed Papen, who tried to console him by attributing Hitler's behaviour to a temporary mood. However, Schuschnigg had just experienced Hitler's strong-arm tactics and intimidating diplomacy firsthand.

The German-Austrian Agreement of 1936

The key terms of the agreement included German recognition of Austria's complete independence and sovereignty. Hitler disavowed the National Socialist movement in Austria, and Germany agreed to not interfere in Austria's internal affairs, including the possible restoration of the Habsburg dynasty. The treaty also provided for the release of Austrian Nazi political prisoners.

The agreement was seen as a significant contribution to European peace, as it resolved one of the most potential war dangers in Europe at the time. It also paved the way for western European powers to settle their differences with Hitler. Additionally, the agreement was important because of its potential impact on Italo-German relations, as Italy was the avowed protector of Austrian independence.

However, the agreement did not satisfy Hitler, who continued to seek the unification of Germany and Austria. The agreement was a temporary measure that ultimately failed to prevent the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, known as the Anschluss.

Hitler's order to Austrian Nazis to create havoc

Hitler's order to create havoc was carried out by Austrian Nazis, who attempted to overthrow the government. Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was assassinated, but the coup failed when the Austrian military intervened to back up the government.

Hitler's strategy was to create chaos and then march German troops into Vienna to restore peace. He could then justify the invasion by claiming that Austrian law and order had broken down, despite being responsible for the chaos in the first place.

Hitler's order to create havoc was, therefore, a crucial step in his plan to annex Austria by force. By ordering Austrian Nazis to carry out acts of violence and destruction, he was able to create the instability and unrest needed to justify a German invasion. This ultimately led to the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938.

The annexation of Austria was a significant development in Hitler's expansionist agenda. It added seven million people and an army of 100,000 to the German Reich, along with valuable resources such as steel, iron ore, and foreign exchange reserves. It also brought Hitler closer to his goal of uniting all German-speaking nations in Europe under German rule.

The rigged referendum

On April 10, 1938, a plebiscite was held in Germany and Austria to approve the union of the two countries. The result showed an overwhelming majority of 99% in favour of the union. However, the referendum was rigged to ensure a positive outcome for Hitler.

In the lead-up to the referendum, the voting rights of around 360,000 people were abrogated, mainly political enemies such as former members of left-wing parties and Austrian citizens of Jewish or Romani origin. The referendum was also not a secret ballot, with officials present directly beside the voting booths to receive the voting slips by hand.

The plebiscite was preceded by a major propaganda campaign by the Nazis. Hitler, Joseph Goebbels, Hermann Göring, Rudolf Hess, and many other leading figures of the Nazi regime held speeches in support of a "Yes" vote for the "Reunion of Germany and Austria". The controlled press and radio also campaigned for a "Yes" vote.

Prominent Austrians like Cardinal Theodor Innitzer, who signed a declaration with "Heil Hitler", and the Social Democrat Karl Renner also promoted the approval of the union. Austria's bishops endorsed the Anschluss, and on the day before the referendum, all the churches in Austria tolled their bells in support of Hitler.

The referendum was held a month after Hitler's troops had marched into Austria unopposed. The Austrian population had been eaten alive by Nazi agitators, with mobs tearing down the Austrian flag and raising the swastika banner while the police, under the control of the Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart, stood by and watched. The Austrian Nazis had also taken to the streets amid wild shouts of 'Sieg Heil!' and 'Heil Hitler!'

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 he received during his triumphal tour caused him to change course and absorb Austria directly into the Reich.

Hitler's invasion of Austria

In the years leading up to the invasion, Hitler, himself an Austrian, had been agitating for the unification of Austria with Germany. This idea, known as the Anschluss, had strong support among many Austrians and Germans, especially those on the political left and center. However, the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I, specifically forbade the unification of the two countries. Despite this, Hitler and the Nazis continued to push for the annexation of Austria, seeing it as an integral part of their ""Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept.

The situation in Austria came to a head in 1938 when the Austrian Chancellor, Kurt Schuschnigg, announced plans for a referendum on Austrian independence, to be held on March 13. Hitler, furious at this turn of events, demanded that Schuschnigg cancel the referendum and resign. Schuschnigg initially resisted, but ultimately, in the face of threats of invasion and with no guarantee of support from Italy, France, or Britain, he conceded.

On March 11, 1938, Schuschnigg resigned, and the Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart was appointed Chancellor of Austria. The following day, German troops crossed the border and entered Austria unopposed. They were greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers. Hitler himself rode in a car across the border at his birthplace, Braunau am Inn, and gave an emotional speech in Linz, declaring his mission to restore his homeland to the German Reich.

The annexation of Austria was formalized on March 13, 1938, with the passing of a law for the reunion of Austria with Germany. A referendum was held on April 10, with 99.7% of voters approving the union. However, the referendum was neither free nor secret, and the voting rights of around 360,000 people, mainly political enemies and minorities, were abrogated.

The invasion of Austria had significant geopolitical consequences. It shifted the balance of power in southeastern Europe in favor of Germany and left Czechoslovakia surrounded by German forces on three sides. It also added seven million people and an army of 100,000 to Hitler's Reich, along with valuable resources such as steel, iron ore, and foreign exchange reserves.

The invasion of Austria was a clear demonstration of Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions and his willingness to use force to achieve his goals. It was also a precursor to further invasions and annexations, including that of Czechoslovakia later in 1938.

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