Hitler's Justification For Annexing Austria: Understanding The Anschluss

The Anschluss was the annexation and formal union of Austria with Germany in 1938. The Nazis justified the invasion by claiming that Austria had descended into chaos, and that German troops were necessary to restore order. Hitler's dream was to create a 'Greater Germany' that enclosed all German speakers.

Hitler justified the invasion by claiming Austria had descended into chaos

Hitler justified the invasion of Austria by claiming that the country had descended into chaos. He ordered Austrian Nazis to create civil unrest, with the aim of justifying an occupation of Austria as the only way to guarantee order and public safety. Hitler circulated fake reports of rioting in Vienna and street fights caused by Communists, and German newspapers printed a phony telegram supposedly from the new Austrian chancellor, stating that German troops were necessary to restore order.

Hitler's invasion of Austria was met with no resistance, and many in Austria were sympathetic to the idea of joining Germany. However, there were also those who knew that their sovereignty would be lost for as long as Hitler was in power. Hitler was attracted to occupying Austria as it would give him access to new resources, such as manpower for the military, raw materials, and a large quantity of cash and gold.

Hitler created civil unrest to justify an occupation of Austria

Hitler had been invited to Austria by the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, in February 1938. Hitler forced Schuschnigg to agree to give the Austrian Nazis a free hand. Schuschnigg tried to strengthen his position by calling a referendum on the idea of the Anschluss with Germany. The vote was planned for 13 March 1938. Hitler was worried that the plebiscite would reveal a no vote to a union, so he ordered Austrian Nazis to create as much trouble as possible for the Schuschnigg government. The idea was to create such civil unrest that Germany could justify an occupation of Austria as the only way order and public safety could be guaranteed.

Hitler's military invasion met no resistance. The Nazis justified the invasion by claiming that Austria had descended into chaos. They circulated fake reports of rioting in Vienna and street fights caused by Communists. German newspapers printed a phony telegram supposedly from the new Austrian chancellor saying that German troops were necessary to restore order.

Hitler's speech in Vienna's Heldenplatz on 15 March was designed to demonstrate Austrian enthusiasm for the Anschluss and thus justify the illegal takeover of another country. When Hitler returned home to Berlin, he was greeted as a hero.

Hitler used propaganda to demonstrate Austrian enthusiasm for the Anschluss

Hitler was attracted to the idea of occupying Austria as it would give him access to new resources, such as manpower for the military, raw materials, and a large quantity of cash and gold. Many in Austria were sympathetic to the idea of joining Germany, but there were also those who knew their sovereignty would be lost for as long as Hitler was in power.

Hitler justified the invasion by claiming that Austria had descended into chaos, and that German troops were necessary to restore order. German newspapers printed a phony telegram supposedly from the new Austrian chancellor, requesting German troops.

Hitler was attracted to occupying Austria for its resources

Hitler was attracted to occupying Austria because the Anschluss would give him access to new resources. These included manpower for the military, raw materials, and a large quantity of cash and gold. Many in Austria were sympathetic to the idea of joining Germany, but there were also those who knew their sovereignty would be lost for as long as Hitler was in power.

Hitler justified the invasion by claiming that Austria had descended into chaos. He circulated fake reports of rioting in Vienna and street fights caused by Communists. German newspapers printed a phony telegram supposedly from the new Austrian chancellor saying that German troops were necessary to restore order. Hitler also ordered Austrian Nazis to create as much civil unrest as possible, so that Germany could justify an occupation of Austria as the only way order and public safety could be guaranteed.

Hitler's speech in Vienna's Heldenplatz on March 15, 1938, celebrated Nazi Germany's annexation of Austria. Film footage and photographs of the crowds appeared in German newsreels and newspapers. Their goal was to demonstrate Austrian enthusiasm for the Anschluss and thus justify the illegal takeover of another country. When Hitler returned home to Berlin, he was greeted as a hero.

Hitler's rise to power made Anschluss less attractive

Hitler justified the Anschluss between Germany and Austria by claiming that the country had descended into chaos. He circulated fake reports of rioting in Vienna and street fights caused by Communists, and German newspapers printed a phony telegram supposedly from the new Austrian chancellor saying that German troops were necessary to restore order. Hitler also used film footage and photographs of crowds in Heldenplatz, Vienna, to demonstrate Austrian enthusiasm for the Anschluss and thus justify the illegal takeover of another country.

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