Germany's Annexation Of Austria: Understanding The Past

On 12 March 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the country for the Third Reich. This event, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. The idea of uniting Austria and Germany to form a 'Greater Germany' had been around since the unification of Germany in 1871, but it gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918.

The 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles

The treaties were signed after the 1871 unification of Germany excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. The idea of a union between the two countries, known as the Anschluss, gained support after the Austro-Hungarian Empire fell in 1918. The new Republic of German-Austria attempted to form a union with Germany, but this was forbidden by the two treaties.

Despite the treaties, the idea of the Anschluss continued to gain support in the following decades. In the 1930s, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite their nation with Nazi Germany. In March 1938, German troops marched into Austria and annexed the country for the Third Reich. This event was the culmination of almost twenty years of Austrian dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Saint Germain, as well as the lack of consistent political and economic support from the western democracies.

Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg's meeting with Hitler

The annexation of Austria by Germany, known as the Anschluss, took place on 12 March 1938. The idea of uniting Austria and Germany to form a "Greater Germany" had been around since the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians. The movement gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and the 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.

In the 1930s, Nazi Germany pursued an aggressive foreign policy, which eventually led to World War II. Once Adolf 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. In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite their nation with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, learning of the conspiracy, met with Hitler in the hopes of reasserting his country's independence. However, he was bullied into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. Hitler accompanied his troops as they rushed towards Vienna, and the next day, Austria's parliament formally approved the annexation.

Hitler's birthplace at Braunau am Inn

The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, took place on 12 March 1938. The idea of uniting Austria and Germany to form a "Greater Germany" had been around since the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians. The annexation of Austria was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi regime. It was the culmination of almost 20 years of Austrian dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Saint Germain, which forbade the union of Austria and Germany.

The Austrian parliament's formal approval of the annexation

The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, was formalised on 12 March 1938. The idea of a union between Austria and Germany had been around since the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the German Empire. The concept gained popularity after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and the Republic of German-Austria attempted to unite with Germany. However, the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles prohibited this union and stripped Austria of some of its territories.

In the 1930s, Nazi Germany pursued an aggressive foreign policy, which eventually led to World War II. Once Adolf Hitler came to power, he drastically changed German policy towards Austria, abandoning a gradual revision of Austria's political status in favour of radical expansionism and annexation. In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Hitler, hoping to reassert his country's independence, but was forced to appoint several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet.

On 9 March 1938, Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of the Anschluss once and for all. As German troops rushed towards Vienna, Hitler accompanied them to his birthplace at Braunau am Inn and then on to Linz, where he attended school. In Linz, Hitler called for an immediate Anschluss. The next day, Austria's parliament formally approved the annexation.

The Anschluss was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi German regime and was widely popular in both Germany and Austria. However, it resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population.

The outbreak of public violence against Austria's Jewish population

The idea of the Anschluss had gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and once Adolf Hitler came to power, he pursued a policy of radical expansionism towards Austria. In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg attempted to reassert his country's independence but was forced to appoint several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet.

On March 9, 1938, Schuschnigg called for a national vote to resolve the question of the Anschluss once and for all. However, before the vote could take place, German troops marched into Austria on March 12, 1938, annexing the country for the Third Reich. The Nazis justified their invasion by claiming that Austria had descended into chaos, circulating fake reports of rioting and street fights caused by Communists.

The annexation was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, but it had devastating consequences for Austria's Jewish population. The outbreak of public violence against them was a direct result of the annexation, as millions of Jewish people now found themselves under German control.

Frequently asked questions