Austria's Annexation: Prelude To World War Ii

The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938 was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi regime. Known as the Anschluss, it was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, and led to an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population. The annexation was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order, and was followed by further acts of aggression by Nazi Germany, including the invasion of Czechoslovakia and Poland, which started World War II.

The annexation of Austria was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany

In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg tried to reassert his country's independence by meeting with Hitler, but was forced to name several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of the Anschluss once and for all. The Austrian population was subjected to intimidation and suppression of the political opposition, and the German army had already occupied Austria, making the annexation a 'fait accompli'.

The Anschluss was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, and it resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population. It marked a significant breach of the post-World War I international order and was the first step in Nazi Germany's aggressive foreign policy, which culminated in World War II. Just six months later, Nazi Germany manufactured a crisis in the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia, which was ceded to them by world leaders from Italy, France, and Great Britain. In March 1939, Nazi Germany broke this agreement and occupied the Czech lands, including Prague. Finally, in September 1939, they invaded Poland, an act of territorial aggression and expansion that started World War II.

The annexation was widely popular in both Germany and Austria

The annexation of Austria by Germany, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. It marked a significant breach of the post-World War I international order. The idea of the Anschluss was to unite Austria and Germany to form a "Greater Germany". This idea gained support after the Austro-Hungarian Empire fell in 1918, and the new Republic of German-Austria attempted to form a union with Germany. However, the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles forbade both the union and the continued use of the name "German-Austria". They also stripped Austria of some of its territories, such as the Sudetenland.

The annexation led to an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population

The German annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. It marked a significant breach of the post-World War I international order. The annexation was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, and the Austrian population was subjected to extensive intimidation and suppression of the political opposition. The Social Democratic Party of Austria leader Karl Renner and the highest representative of the Roman Catholic church in Austria, Cardinal Theodor Innitzer, both endorsed the Anschluss. This resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population.

The idea of the Anschluss, or the unification of Austria and Germany to form a "Greater Germany", arose after the 1871 unification of Germany 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 the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles forbade both the union and the continued use of the name "German-Austria".

On March 9, 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of the Anschluss once and for all. However, the Austrian population was given no choice as the German army had already occupied Austria and integrated it into Germany. American historian Evan Bukey argues that there was a genuine German nationalist feeling in Austria among at least a part of the population, and those holding antisemitic views were more than ready to "fulfill their duty" in the "Greater German Reich". The annexation of Austria brought the country under Nazi control, and the subsequent expansion of Nazi territory eventually brought millions of Jewish people under German control.

The annexation was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order

The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order. The idea of the Anschluss was not new, as the unification of Germany in 1871 had excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the German Empire. The fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 and the subsequent attempts by the Republic of German-Austria to unite with Germany were forbidden by the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and the Treaty of Versailles. These treaties also stripped Austria of some of its territories.

The annexation of Austria was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany, and it occurred on March 12, 1938. It was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, with two-thirds of Austrians potentially voting for it. However, the Austrian population was subjected to intimidation and suppression of the political opposition, and the German army had already occupied Austria before the annexation.

The Anschluss was followed by further acts of aggression by Nazi Germany, including the occupation of the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia in September 1938, which was ceded to them by world leaders. In March 1939, Nazi Germany broke this agreement and occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia, including Prague. Finally, in September 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, an act of territorial aggression that started World War II.

The annexation was the result of Austrian Nazis conspiring to seize the Austrian government

The annexation of Austria was the result of Austrian Nazis conspiring to seize the Austrian government. In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite their nation with Nazi Germany. This was the second time in four years that such a conspiracy had been attempted. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg tried to reassert his country's independence by meeting with Adolf Hitler, but was instead forced to name several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet.

On March 9, Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of the annexation once and for all. The Austrian population was subjected to extensive intimidation and suppression of the political opposition, and the German army had already occupied Austria and integrated it into Germany. The annexation was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, and it resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population.

The annexation of Austria marked a significant breach of the post-World War I international order. It was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany, and it set a precedent for further expansion. Just six months later, Nazi Germany manufactured a crisis in the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia. In September 1938, world leaders from Italy, France, and Great Britain met with Hitler in Munich to discuss the issue. They appeased Hitler by ceding the region to Nazi Germany on the condition that the rest of Czechoslovakia remained off-limits. However, in March 1939, Nazi Germany broke this agreement and occupied the Czech lands, including Prague. Finally, in September 1939, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, an act of territorial aggression and expansion that started World War II.

Frequently asked questions