Hitler's Unification: Austria And Germany's Fateful Union

In the 1930s, Nazi Germany pursued an aggressive foreign policy, which included the unification of Austria and Germany, known as the Anschluss. This event, which took place between March 11 and 13, 1938, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi regime, and a significant breach of the post-World War I international order. The unification was widely popular in both Germany and Austria and was the culmination of Hitler's long-expressed desire for an Austro-German union, as outlined in his book, 'Mein Kampf'.

Hitler's expansionist foreign policy

• Revising the Treaty of Versailles: Hitler aimed to throw off the restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, which had caused outrage and humiliation among patriotic Germans. He sought to end the humiliations of the treaty, such as the demilitarized Rhineland and the limitations on German armaments.
• Uniting all German-speaking people into one Reich: Hitler wanted to unite all Germans in a Nazi German empire. This included annexing Austria, which occurred in 1938 and was known as the Anschluss. This was the first act of territorial aggression committed by Nazi Germany.
• Expanding Eastwards to achieve Lebensraum: Hitler believed that Germany required Lebensraum (living space) to survive, and that this could only be gained in the east, specifically from Russia and Ukraine. This would also involve the enslavement or expulsion of the "inferior" Slavic population in these territories.

Hitler's foreign policy was also characterised by opportunism and flexibility. He pursued a moderate policy until 1935, increased activity between 1935 and 1937, and adopted a more confident stance after 1937, certain that there would be little opposition to his plans.

The Treaty of Versailles

The treaty required Germany to disarm, make territorial concessions, extradite alleged war criminals, put Kaiser Wilhelm on trial, recognise the independence of states whose territory had previously been part of the German Empire, and pay reparations to the Entente powers. The treaty also created the League of Nations, which would serve as an international forum and an international collective security arrangement.

The United States President, Woodrow Wilson, was a strong advocate of the League of Nations, believing it would prevent future wars. However, the US Senate strongly opposed the treaty, and it was never ratified by the US. The treaty was also unpopular in Germany, where it was seen as overly punitive, and it fuelled the rise of the Nazi Party.

Hitler's ideology and Mein Kampf

Hitler's ideology, as outlined in his book Mein Kampf, was rooted in antisemitism, racism, and a desire for German expansionism.

Hitler's political manifesto, Mein Kampf (German for "My Struggle"), was published in two volumes in 1925 and 1926. It became the bible of National Socialism (Nazism) in Germany's Third Reich. In it, Hitler identifies the Aryan race as the "genius" race and the Jews as "parasites". He calls for the elimination of Jews, which, he writes, "must necessarily be a bloody process". Hitler also promotes the idea of Germans seeking Lebensraum (living space) in the East, at the expense of Slavs and Marxists in Russia.

Hitler began writing Mein Kampf in 1924 while imprisoned in Landsberg after the failed Beer Hall Putsch coup in 1923. The book was part autobiography and part political treatise. Hitler's original title was 4 1/2 Jahre Kampf gegen Lüge, Dummheit und Feigheit (4 1/2 Years of Struggle Against Lies, Stupidity and Cowardice), but it was shortened to Mein Kampf. The first volume, Die Abrechnung ("The Settlement [of Accounts], or "Revenge"), discusses Hitler's youth, his experiences in World War I, and Germany's "betrayal" in its collapse in 1918. The second volume, Die Nationalsozialistische Bewegung ("The National Socialist Movement"), outlines the terrorist methods and political program that National Socialism must pursue to gain and maintain power.

Mein Kampf was not an immediate bestseller, but its popularity grew alongside that of Hitler and the Nazi Party. By 1939, it had sold 5.2 million copies and had been translated into 11 languages. After Hitler became chancellor in 1933, Mein Kampf's popularity soared, and it became required reading in Germany. Copies were given as wedding gifts to newlyweds, and by the end of 1944, more than 12 million copies had been printed.

Hitler's ideology, as laid out in Mein Kampf, had a profound impact on Nazi policies and actions. His belief in the superiority of the Aryan race and the need for Lebensraum led to the persecution and murder of millions of Jews, Slavs, and other groups during World War II.

The Austrian Nazi Party

In the early 1920s, the Austrian Nazi Party was weak and disorganized, with internal disagreements over their relationship with Adolf Hitler and the German Nazi Party. However, by 1931, the majority of Austrian Nazis recognized Hitler as their leader. As Hitler's popularity in Germany grew, so did the support for the Austrian Nazi Party.

In 1933, Engelbert Dollfuss, the Austrian chancellor, banned the Austrian Nazi Party and its affiliates, making it illegal. Despite this, Austrian Nazis continued to operate clandestinely within the country and many fled to Germany, where they formed the Austrian Legion, a paramilitary unit that received military training from German Nazis.

In July 1934, Austrian Nazis attempted a coup, during which they assassinated Dollfuss. However, the majority of Austrians remained loyal to the government, and the coup attempt failed. The Austrian Nazi Party continued to face opposition and was unable to gain control of the country until 1938, when Hitler colluded with them to orchestrate the annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss.

Following the Anschluss, Austrian Nazis actively participated in the persecution of Austria's Jewish population and the implementation of Nazi policies. Many Austrians held important positions in the Nazi regime, including Arthur Seyss-Inquart, who became the chancellor of Austria during the annexation, and Ernst Kaltenbrunner, who led the Reich Security Main Office.

The Anschluss

The idea of unifying Austria and Germany into a "Greater Germany" had been proposed after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. The proposal gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles and Treaty of Saint-Germain, which forbade unification and stripped Austria of some of its territories.

After Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933, unification became associated with the Nazis, for whom it was an integral part of their "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept. Hitler, himself an Austrian German by birth, had expressed his desire for an Austro-German union in his earliest writings and speeches.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Austrian Nazi Party was weak and ineffective. However, by 1931, the bulk of Austrian Nazis recognised Hitler as their leader. The popularity of unification grew in Austria, in part due to a Nazi propaganda campaign. In 1933, Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was assassinated by Austrian Nazis in a failed coup attempt. This led to many leading Austrian Nazis fleeing to Germany, where they continued to push for unification.

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. On March 12, German troops crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. A plebiscite was held on April 10, resulting in a 99.7% approval for the Anschluss.

The annexation of Austria transformed the country almost overnight. Austrian and German Nazis rapidly carried out the Nazification of Austrian life, and Austrians participated in the persecution of the country's Jewish population. The Anschluss was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order, and the failure of other European powers to intervene or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked.

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