Europe's Response To Austria's Invasion: A United Front?

The invasion of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938 was met with a mixed response from Europe. Fascist Italy sent troops to the Austrian border to deter a German invasion, while Anglo-American troops entered Austria from Germany and Italy. Austria was divided into four occupation zones by France, Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union. Despite this, Austria avoided some of the worst aspects of Germany's fate, such as territorial loss and ethnic cleansing.

Hitler's threats to invade Austria

In February 1938, Hitler threatened to invade Austria if Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg went ahead with a referendum on a possible union with Germany versus maintaining Austria's sovereignty. Hitler demanded that Schuschnigg resign and that the Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart be appointed in his place. Hitler's plan was for Seyss-Inquart to call for German troops to rush to Austria's aid, restoring order and giving the invasion an air of legitimacy.

Hitler sent an ultimatum to Schuschnigg on 11 March, demanding that he hand over all power to the Austrian Nazis or face an invasion. The ultimatum was set to expire at noon, but was extended by two hours. Without waiting for an answer, Hitler had already signed the order to send troops into Austria at one o'clock. The German Army crossed the border into Austria on 12 March, unopposed by the Austrian military.

The German Army's crossing of the Austrian border

On 12 March 1938, the German Army crossed the Austrian border, unopposed by the Austrian military. The invasion was ordered by Hitler, who had been threatening to invade Austria for some time. The German ambassador in Vienna, Franz von Papen, had arranged a meeting between Hitler and Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, at which Hitler threatened to invade Austria and forced Schuschnigg to implement measures favourable to Austrian Nazism.

Hitler mobilised the 8th Army for the planned invasion, and ordered troops to the Austrian border. However, he was initially torn between going ahead with the invasion and pulling off the border, as he realised that the German Army was not prepared to take on both the Austrians and the Italian Army, which had sent troops to the Austrian border at Brenner to deter a possible invasion.

Eventually, Hitler decided to go ahead with the invasion, and the German Army crossed the border into Austria on 12 March, the day before a planned referendum on a possible union with Germany. A plebiscite was held on 10 April, in which the ballot was not secret, and threats and coercion were employed to manipulate the vote, resulting in 99.7% approval for the Anschluss.

Following the German invasion, Austria was occupied by the Red Army and Anglo-American troops, and was divided into four occupation zones by France, Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union. Although Moscow treated Austria as a defeated Axis power, it also adhered to the line that Austria was a victim of Germany, and so Austria avoided some of the worst aspects of Germany's fate, such as the expulsion and deportation of ethnic Germans from Eastern Europe.

Austria's avoidance of the worst aspects of Germany's fate

Austria avoided some of the worst aspects of Germany's fate. Unlike Germany, Austria did not lose any territory, despite Yugoslavia's claims to Carinthia, a province in the south of the country. Austrians also avoided the fate of the Volksdeutsche, ethnic Germans from Eastern Europe who were expelled to Germany or rounded up and deported to the Soviet Union for slave labour. Similarly, Austrians did not become victims of ethnic cleansing, like Germans from the Third Reich's territories incorporated into Poland and the Soviet Union.

In 1938, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced that there would be a referendum on a possible union with Germany versus maintaining Austria's sovereignty. Hitler threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign. The German Army crossed the border into Austria on 12 March, unopposed by the Austrian military. A plebiscite was held on 10 April, in which the ballot was not secret, and threats and coercion were employed to manipulate the vote, resulting in 99.7% approval for the Anschluss.

Hitler ordered troops to the Austrian border, prepared for a full-scale military assault into Austria to support the National Socialists. Fascist Italy was more closely tied to the regime in Vienna and sent troops to the Austrian border at Brenner to deter German troops from a possible invasion of Austria. Hitler realised that the German Army was not prepared to take on both the Austrians and the Italian Army, and ordered the force to be pulled off the Austrian border.

The Soviet Union's occupation of Austria

Although Moscow treated Austria as a defeated Axis power, it also acknowledged that the country was a victim of Germany. This meant that Austria avoided some of the harsher consequences of defeat, such as territorial loss or ethnic cleansing.

The Soviet occupation of Austria followed the country's invasion by Germany in 1938. In early 1938, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany, which was opposed by Hitler. The German Army crossed the border into Austria on 12 March, unopposed by the Austrian military. A plebiscite was held on 10 April, with 99.7% approval for the union, or *Anschluss*.

The division of Austria into four occupation zones

In early 1938, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced that there would be a referendum on a possible union with Germany versus maintaining Austria's sovereignty. Hitler threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign. On 12 March 1938, a day before the planned referendum, the German Army crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military.

After the invasion, Austria was divided into four occupation zones by France, Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union. The Red Army occupied only parts of Austria, including the capital, while Anglo-American troops entered from Germany and Italy. Although Moscow treated Austria as a defeated Axis power, it also acknowledged that Austria was a victim of Germany. As a result, Austria avoided some of the harshest consequences of Germany's defeat, such as territorial loss and ethnic cleansing.

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