Austria's Fateful Alliance: Why Germany In Wwii?

Austria's involvement in World War II was largely due to its unification with Germany under Hitler. Hitler wanted to unite all German-speakers into one big country, including Austria and the German-speaking areas of Czechoslovakia. In 1938, German troops occupied Austria, and a plebiscite was held to vote on incorporating Austria into Germany. Sources claim that around 99% of Austrians voted yes, although this figure should be taken with a pinch of salt as people may have felt pressured to vote in favour of unification. During the war, hundreds of thousands of Austrians fought as German soldiers, and a substantial number served in the SS, the elite military corps of the Nazi Party.

Hitler's desire to unite all German-speakers into one country

After the First World War, the Treaty of Versailles stated that Germany and Austria were forbidden from forming a military alliance. Initially, Austria wanted to uphold this part of the treaty, but Hitler wanted to unite all German-speakers into one country, including Austria and the German-speaking areas of Czechoslovakia.

Austria was completely absorbed into Germany, and any official memory of Austrian existence was destroyed and suppressed. Hundreds of thousands of Austrians fought as German soldiers during the Second World War, and a substantial number served in the SS, the elite military corps of the Nazi Party. By the end of the war, approximately 250,000 Austrians had been killed or were missing in action. Many others were held as prisoners of war, often for years in camps in the Soviet Union.

The Western Allies successfully opposed the Kremlin's plans to impose war reparations on Austria, but they consented to Moscow's demand that the Soviets should be entitled to German assets in Austria in their zone of occupation. Despite this, Austrians avoided the fate of many ethnic Germans from Eastern Europe, who were expelled to Germany or deported to the Soviet Union for slave labour.

German troops occupying Austria in 1938

In 1938, German troops occupied Austria. This was part of Hitler's plan to unite all German-speakers into one big country, which would include Austria and the German-speaking areas of Czechoslovakia. After the occupation, elections were held to vote on incorporating Austria into Germany. Sources suggest that around 99% of Austrians voted yes, although this may not have been a true reflection of the population's wishes.

Following the occupation, increasing numbers of Austrian men were enlisted in the German army, and many thousands of Austrians served in the SS, the elite military corps of the Nazi Party. By the end of the war, approximately 250,000 Austrians had been killed or were missing in action, and many more were held as prisoners of war.

The Western Allies consented to Moscow's demand that the Soviets should be entitled to German assets in Austria in their zone of occupation. However, the Western Allies successfully opposed the Kremlin's plans to impose war reparations on Austria.

A plebiscite held throughout greater Germany, with 99% voting in favour of Hitler

After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles stated that Germany and Austria were not allowed to make any sort of military alliance. Hitler wanted to unite all German-speakers into one big country, including Austria and the German-speaking areas of Czechoslovakia. German troops occupied Austria in 1938 and then elections were held to vote on incorporating Austria into Germany.

A plebiscite held throughout greater Germany on 10 April 1938 recorded a vote of more than 99% in favour of Hitler. Austria was completely absorbed into Germany. Any official memory of Austrian existence was destroyed and suppressed.

The United States, Britain and France followed a policy of appeasement, and the Soviet Union demanded only that the West should stop further German aggression and that the Anschluss should be handled by the League of Nations. The government of Mexico was the only one that did not accept the Anschluss, lodging an ultimately futile protest with the secretary-general of the League of Nations.

During World War II, hundreds of thousands of Austrians fought as German soldiers; a substantial number of Austrians served in the SS, the elite military corps of the Nazi Party. By the end of the war, approximately 250,000 Austrians had been killed or were missing in action. An even greater number of Austrians were held as prisoners of war, many of them for years in camps in the Soviet Union. In addition, more than 20,000 Austrians were killed in U.S. and British bombing raids.

Austrian men enlisting in the German army

After the end of World War I, the Treaty of Versailles stated that Germany and Austria were not allowed to make any sort of military alliance. However, Hitler wanted to unite all German-speakers into one big country, including Austria and the German-speaking areas of Czechoslovakia. In 1938, German troops occupied Austria and elections were held to vote on incorporating Austria into Germany. Sources state that around 99% of Austrians voted yes, although this may have been due to fear of repercussions for voting otherwise. Austria was then completely absorbed into Germany, and any official memory of Austrian existence was destroyed and suppressed.

As a result of this union, Austrian men were enlisted in the German army. Hundreds of thousands of Austrians fought as German soldiers, with a substantial number serving in the SS, the elite military corps of the Nazi Party. By the end of the war, approximately 250,000 Austrians had been killed or were missing in action, and an even greater number were held as prisoners of war.

The enlistment of Austrian men in the German army had significant consequences for Austria's economy and workforce. The resultant lack of workers, together with the tremendous buildup of the armament industries, brought compulsory labour on a massive scale to Austria. Foreign workers from many European countries were forced to work in industry and agriculture during the war, as were thousands of concentration camp inmates.

Austrian soldiers in the German army were not only overrepresented on the battlefields but also in the system of terror against Jews. This involvement in Nazi atrocities had lasting repercussions for Austria and its people, both during and after World War II.

Austrian overrepresentation in the system of terror against Jews

Austria ended up with Germany in World War II because Hitler wanted to unite all German-speakers into one big country. German troops occupied Austria in 1938 and then elections were held to vote on incorporating Austria into Germany. Sources say around 99% of Austrians voted yes, although this shouldn't be taken too seriously since people were probably worried they'd be killed for voting otherwise. Austria was completely absorbed into Germany and any official memory of Austrian existence was destroyed and suppressed.

The overrepresentation of Austrians in the system of terror against Jews can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, as a result of the annexation of Austria into Germany, many Austrians became part of the German military and were thus involved in the implementation of Nazi policies, including the persecution of Jews. Secondly, there was a significant presence of anti-Semitism in Austria before and during World War II, which contributed to the active participation of some Austrians in the persecution of Jews. Finally, the Nazi regime exploited existing prejudices and grievances among the Austrian population to gain support for their policies, including the persecution of Jews.

The role of Austrians in the system of terror against Jews extended beyond military service. Many Austrians held positions of power within the Nazi regime, including high-ranking officials and officers in the SS. They were involved in the planning and execution of policies targeting Jews, such as the confiscation of Jewish property, the imposition of discriminatory laws, and the organisation of deportations to concentration camps. Additionally, Austrians were overrepresented among the personnel of concentration camps, where they participated in the abuse and murder of Jewish prisoners.

The legacy of Austrian involvement in the system of terror against Jews is complex and multifaceted. On the one hand, it highlights the complicity of Austrians in the crimes of the Nazi regime and the need for collective accountability. On the other hand, it also underscores the importance of recognising the diversity of experiences and perspectives within Austria during World War II, as not all Austrians supported or participated in the persecution of Jews.

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