Austria's Annexation: Joining Nazi Germany

The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, took place in March 1938. After a period of economic stagnation, political dictatorship, and intense Nazi propaganda inside Austria, German troops entered the country on 12 March 1938. The annexation was approved in a plebiscite the following month, which was manipulated to indicate that 99% of Austrians wanted the union. The Austrian Nazi Party had been growing in popularity since Hitler came to power in Germany, and the idea of Austria joining Germany was also gaining support.

The Austrian Nazi Party's popularity grew after Hitler came to power in Germany

Hitler's strategy, outlined in the Hossbach Memorandum, included the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland part of Czechoslovakia to gain Lebensraum ('living space'). After a prolonged period of economic stagnation, political dictatorship, and intense Nazi propaganda inside Austria, German troops entered the country on 12 March 1938. They received the enthusiastic support of most of the population. Austria was incorporated into Germany the next day. In April, this German annexation was retroactively approved in a plebiscite that was manipulated to indicate that about 99 per cent of the Austrian people wanted the union with Germany. Neither Jews nor Roma (Gypsies) were allowed to vote in the plebiscite.

A Nazi government in Austria, headed by Seyss-Inquart, was established. During the war, 800,000 Austrians volunteered for Nazi Germany in the Wehrmacht and a further 150,000 Austrians joined up to the Nazi party's military wing, known as the Waffen-SS.

The Austrian Nazi Party's military wing, the Austrian SS, was a terrorist organisation

The idea of Austria joining Germany grew in popularity, thanks in part to a Nazi propaganda campaign which used slogans such as Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer ("One People, One Empire, One Leader") to try to convince Austrians to advocate for an Anschluss to the German Reich. Anschluss might have occurred by democratic process had Austrian Nazis not begun a terrorism campaign. In 1937, it was clear to the Nazis that it would not be long before Austria was going to be incorporated into Nazi Germany. This was outlined in the Hossbach Memorandum, which included the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland part of Czechoslovakia to gain Lebensraum ("living space").

On 11 March 1938, two peremptory demands were made for the postponement of the plebiscite and for the resignation of Schuschnigg. Schuschnigg gave way, and German troops, accompanied by Hitler himself, entered Austria on 12 March. A Nazi government in Austria, headed by Seyss-Inquart, was established. The next day, Austria was incorporated into Germany. In April, this German annexation was retroactively approved in a plebiscite that was manipulated to indicate that about 99% of the Austrian people wanted the union (known as the Anschluss) with Germany. Neither Jews nor Roma (Gypsies) were allowed to vote in the plebiscite.

Hitler's Austrian and German armies were fully integrated after the Anschluss

The Austrian Nazi Party failed to win any seats in the 1930 general election, but its popularity grew in Austria after Hitler came to power in Germany. The idea of Austria joining Germany also grew in popularity, thanks in part to a Nazi propaganda campaign. The Austrian Nazi party's military wing, the Austrian SS, was an active terrorist organisation.

On March 11, 1938, two peremptory demands were made for the postponement of the plebiscite and for the resignation of Schuschnigg. Schuschnigg gave way, and German troops, accompanied by Hitler himself, entered Austria on March 12. A Nazi government in Austria, headed by Seyss-Inquart, was established; it collaborated with Hitler in proclaiming the union (known as the Anschluss) with Germany. Austria was incorporated into Germany the next day. In April, this German annexation was retroactively approved in a plebiscite that was manipulated to indicate that about 99 percent of the Austrian people wanted the union. Neither Jews nor Roma (Gypsies) were allowed to vote in the plebiscite.

The British government did not oppose the union of Austria with Germany

Hitler's strategy, outlined in the Hossbach Memorandum, included the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland part of Czechoslovakia to gain Lebensraum ('living space')'. In March 1938, German troops, accompanied by Hitler himself, entered Austria. They received the enthusiastic support of most of the population. Austria was incorporated into Germany the next day. In April, this German annexation was retroactively approved in a plebiscite that was manipulated to indicate that about 99 per cent of the Austrian people wanted the union. Neither Jews nor Roma (Gypsies) were allowed to vote in the plebiscite.

After the Anschluss, Hitler's Austrian and German armies were fully integrated. During the war, 800,000 Austrians volunteered for Nazi Germany in the Wehrmacht and a further 150,000 Austrians joined up to the Nazi party's military wing, known as the Waffen-SS.

German troops entered Austria on 12 March 1938

German troops, accompanied by Hitler himself, entered Austria on 12 March 1938. This was the result of a prolonged period of economic stagnation, political dictatorship, and intense Nazi propaganda inside Austria. The Austrian Nazi Party failed to win any seats in the November 1930 general election, but its popularity grew in Austria after Hitler came to power in Germany. The idea of the country joining Germany also grew in popularity, thanks in part to a Nazi propaganda campaign which used slogans such as 'Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer' ('One People, One Empire, One Leader'). The Austrian Nazi party's military wing, the Austrian SS, was an active terrorist organisation.

Hitler's strategy, outlined in the Hossbach Memorandum, included the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland part of Czechoslovakia to gain Lebensraum ('living space'). The British government had made it known for some time that it would not oppose the union of Austria with Germany. On 11 March 1938, two peremptory demands were made for the postponement of the plebiscite and for the resignation of Schuschnigg. Schuschnigg gave way, and the German troops entered Austria the next day. A Nazi government in Austria, headed by Seyss-Inquart, was established; it collaborated with Hitler in proclaiming the union (known as the Anschluss) with Germany. The next day, Austria was incorporated into Germany. In April, this German annexation was retroactively approved in a plebiscite that was manipulated to indicate that about 99% of the Austrian people wanted the union. Neither Jews nor Roma (Gypsies) were allowed to vote in the plebiscite.

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