Austria's Annexation: Understanding The Historical Context

The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938 was the culmination of almost twenty years of Austrian dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Saint Germain, which forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. The annexation, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany. It was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, and it allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked.

The Anschluss

Once Adolf Hitler came to power, he drastically changed German policy towards Austria, abandoning an evolutionary revision of Austria's political status in favour of radical expansionism and annexation. The annexation of Austria was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany, and it violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain. The other European powers did not punish the Nazis for violating these international treaties, which was a significant act of appeasement.

Austria's dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Saint Germain

Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938. This event is known as the Anschluss, which means 'joining' or 'connection' in German. The idea of the Anschluss was first proposed in 1919, after the 1871 unification of Germany excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire.

The Treaty of Saint Germain was signed on 10 September 1919 by the victorious Allies of World War I and the Republic of German-Austria. The treaty officially ended World War I for the successor states of the former Austro-Hungarian monarchy. It also formally confirmed the dissolution of the Austrian state, which had been a political reality since November 1918.

Austrian officials protested the violation of the principle of self-determination in the treaty, the placement of so many ethnic Germans under Czechoslovak and Italian rule, and the forbiddance of unity with Germany. The Austria created by the treaty was financially and militarily weak and therefore a chronic force of instability in Europe between the two World Wars. The treaty also limited the size of the Austrian army to 30,000 men, with reparations to be decided at a later stage. The Austrian national assembly accepted the terms of the treaty with protest, mainly against the territorial conditions. The treaty was signed with the greatest reluctance by representatives of the newly created Austrian Republic. For Austria, association with the harsh terms of the Treaty became a great subsequent burden and source of instability.

Anschluss had special significance for Hitler and his decision to abandon an evolutionary revision of Austria's political status to one of radical expansionism and annexation proved fatal to the independence of Austria.

Hitler's expansionist policies

The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial expansion committed by the Nazis. The idea of a union between Austria and Germany had been mooted since the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the new German Empire. The concept gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and the subsequent Republic of German-Austria attempted to form a union with Germany. However, the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles forbade the union and stripped Austria of some of its territories.

Once Hitler came to power, he drastically changed German policy toward Austria. The Anschluss had special significance for Hitler, and his decision to abandon an evolutionary revision of Austria's political status in favour of radical expansionism and annexation proved fatal to Austrian independence. The annexation of Austria was the culmination of almost twenty years of Austrian dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Saint Germain, the lack of consistent political and economic support by the western democracies, and the international instability of the 1930s. All these factors worked in favour of pro-Anschluss Germans and Austrians and to the handicap of the allies.

The Anschluss was the first step in Hitler's expansionist policies, and it demonstrated Nazi disdain for the post-World War I European order. By annexing Austria, the Nazis violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. The other European powers did not punish the Nazis for violating international treaties, and their acceptance of the Anschluss allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked.

The Nazification of Austria

The annexation of Austria was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany, and it violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain. It was the result of almost two decades of Austrian dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Saint Germain, a lack of consistent support from Western democracies, and international instability in the 1930s. Once Hitler came to power, he drastically changed German policy towards Austria, abandoning an evolutionary revision of Austria's political status in favour of radical expansionism and annexation.

The Anschluss was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, but it had devastating consequences for Austria's Jewish population, who were subjected to public violence. Almost overnight, the country of Austria ceased to exist, and Austrian and German Nazis worked to Nazify all aspects of Austrian life.

The international response to the Anschluss

The Anschluss was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, and it had been mooted by Austria in 1919. The idea of a union between the two countries had been around since the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. The new Republic of German-Austria attempted to form a union with Germany after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, but this was forbidden by the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles.

The Anschluss was the culmination of almost twenty years of Austrian dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Saint Germain, the lack of consistent political and economic support by the western democracies, and the international instability of the 1930s. All these factors worked in favour of pro-Anschluss Germans and Austrians and to the handicap of the allies. Once Hitler came to power, he drastically changed German policy toward Austria, abandoning an evolutionary revision of Austria's political status in favour of radical expansionism and annexation.

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