The Anschluss: Nazi Germany's Takeover Of Austria

On March 12, 1938, Nazi Germany annexed Austria, an event known as the Anschluss. The idea of a union between the two countries, resulting in a Greater Germany, had been around since the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria. While the Anschluss was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, it was an act of territorial aggression and expansion, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of the two countries.

The Anschluss

In the 1920s, the proposal for a united Austria and Germany gained support from both countries, particularly from Austrian citizens of the political left and center. However, support for unification faded over time. After Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933, the desire for unification was associated with the Nazis, for whom it was an integral part of their ideology.

Hitler and the Nazis wanted to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe, considering the international borders unfair and illegitimate. They aimed to unite all Germans in a Nazi German empire and acquire "living space" in Eastern Europe. Hitler expressed his desire for an Austro-German union in his earliest writings and speeches, and the first point of the Nazi Party Platform (1920) stated:

> We demand the union of all Germans in a Greater Germany (Großdeutschland) on the basis of the right of national self-determination.

Hitler planned to achieve power in Austria through the Austrian Nazi Party, but the party was initially weak and ineffective. By 1931, however, the bulk of Austrian Nazis recognized Hitler as their leader. Hitler's popularity in Germany grew, and the idea of the country joining Germany gained popularity in Austria, partly due to a Nazi propaganda campaign.

In early 1938, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany, to be held on March 13. Hitler, portraying this as defying the popular will, threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign. On March 12, the day before the planned referendum, the German Army crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military.

On March 13, Austrian Nazi Chancellor Arthur Seyss-Inquart, who had been appointed the previous day, signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, formally incorporating Austria into Nazi Germany. Austria was now a province of Nazi Germany, initially referred to as the Ostmark. A plebiscite held on April 10, 1938, resulted in 99.7% approval for the Anschluss, although the population's true opinions are unknown.

Hitler's role in the annexation

> German-Austria must return to the great German motherland, and not because of economic considerations of any sort. No, no: even if from the economic point of view this union were unimportant, indeed, if it were harmful, it ought nevertheless to be brought about. Common blood belongs in a common Reich.

Hitler's desire for an Austro-German union was also expressed in his earliest speeches and in the 1920 Nazi Party Platform, which stated:

> We demand the union of all Germans in a Greater Germany (Großdeutschland) on the basis of the right of national self-determination.

Hitler's plan to achieve power in Austria was through the Austrian Nazi Party, which he recognised as being weak, divided, and ineffective in the late 1920s and early 1930s. However, by 1931, the bulk of Austrian Nazis recognised Hitler as their leader.

Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in January 1933, and although Germany was not yet ready to carry out his foreign policy goals, he began planning territorial expansion almost immediately. In May 1933, the Austrian Nazis, with encouragement and funding from Germany, began a propaganda and terror campaign to undermine the Dollfuss regime. This culminated in a failed coup in July 1934, during which Austrian Nazis assassinated Chancellor Dollfuss. Hitler denied involvement, but it is now clear that he ordered the coup.

Hitler's next step was to intimidate Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, who had taken over after Dollfuss's death, into agreeing to his demands. These included appointing members of the Austrian Nazi Party to his cabinet and giving them full political rights. When Schuschnigg called a plebiscite for March 13, 1938, to decide the question of unification once and for all, Hitler decided to invade Austria to prevent the vote. He issued a series of ultimatums, including that Schuschnigg must resign and that Austrian President Wilhelm Miklas must appoint a Nazi, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, as the new chancellor. When these demands were not met, Hitler ordered the invasion to commence at dawn on March 12.

Hitler accompanied the German troops as they crossed the Austrian border and was greeted by enthusiastic crowds. He then travelled to his birthplace, Braunau am Inn, and on to Linz, where he had attended school. There, he called for an immediate Anschluss. The next day, Austria's parliament formally approved the annexation, and Austria became a province of Germany.

The Austrian Nazi Party

In the early years, the Austrian Nazi Party was weak, divided, and ineffective. However, by 1931, the bulk of Austrian Nazis recognised Adolf Hitler as their leader. Hitler, himself an Austrian, appointed a German Nazi to bring the Austrian party in line with his vision. The Austrian Nazis gained supporters as Hitler's popularity in Germany increased, particularly after he became chancellor in 1933. The idea of a union between Austria and Germany also gained support due to the economic struggles Austria faced after losing territories following World War I.

Despite the failed coup, the Austrian Nazi Party continued to gain support, especially after Kurt Schuschnigg became chancellor in 1935. Schuschnigg attempted to maintain Austrian independence, but faced increasing pressure from Hitler and pro-unification activists. In early 1938, Schuschnigg announced a referendum on the possible union with Germany, to be held on March 13. Hitler, determined to prevent the referendum, threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign. On March 12, the German army crossed the border into Austria, and the next day, Schuschnigg's replacement, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, formalising the annexation.

While the Austrian Nazi Party played a significant role in advocating for the "Anschluss", it is important to note that they were not solely responsible for the unification. Complex historical factors, including economic crises, ethnic tensions, and the failure of international powers to intervene, all contributed to the eventual annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany.

The Austrian public's response

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

On the one hand, the Anschluss was widely popular in Austria, with many Austrians enthusiastically supporting the unification of their country with Germany. This support was driven by various factors, including a shared ethnic identity with Germans, a desire for economic stability, and a belief in Nazi ideology. Many Austrians welcomed Hitler with Nazi salutes, flags, and flowers when he entered Austria, and the Nazis claimed that the referendum on the Anschluss received 99.7% approval.

On the other hand, there was also opposition to the Anschluss among Austrians. The Austrian government, led by Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, initially resisted Hitler's demands and attempted to preserve Austrian independence. Additionally, some Austrians tried to flee the country as the Nazis took control, and there were isolated instances of anti-Nazi sentiment among the public. For example, Austrian socialists reacted with "disgust" to the endorsement of the Anschluss by the Social Democratic Party leader Karl Renner, and the Anschluss sparked Catholic protests under the slogan "Our Führer is Christ".

The true extent of Austrian support for the Anschluss is difficult to determine due to the presence of Nazi propaganda and coercion during the referendum. It has been estimated that about 70% of Austrians would have voted to preserve Austrian independence if the vote had been free and fair.

In the aftermath of World War II, many Austrians sought to distance themselves from responsibility for Nazi crimes by portraying Austria as the "first victim" of Nazi aggression. This "victim theory" was widely accepted for many years but has been re-examined in more recent times as Austrians have grappled with their country's role in the Nazi regime.

The international response

On 18 March 1938, the German government communicated to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations about the inclusion of Austria. The following day, in Geneva, the Mexican Delegate to the International Office of Labour, Isidro Fabela, voiced an energetic protest against the annexation, which was stronger than that expressed by European countries.

The loudest verbal protest was voiced by the government of Mexico. The French, Italians, and British (the "Stresa Front") remained at peace despite being among the strongest voices against the annexation.

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