The German Annexation Of Austria: A Historical Overview

Austria was part of Nazi Germany from 13 March 1938 until 27 April 1945, when Allied-occupied Austria declared independence from Nazi Germany. This period is known as the Anschluss, which translates to 'union by connection' and was the name given to the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany.

Austria was part of Nazi Germany from 13 March 1938 until 27 April 1945

During World War II, 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces. Many other Austrians also participated in the Nazi administration, from death camp personnel to senior Nazi leadership. The majority of the bureaucrats who implemented the Final Solution were Austrian. After the war, many Austrians sought comfort in the myth of Austria as the first victim of the Nazis. This slogan was first used at the Moscow Conference in 1943 and became the ideological basis for Austria during the periods of the allied occupation of 1945-1955 and the sovereign state of the Second Austrian Republic (1955–1980s).

The Anschluss in 1938 was an act of military aggression by Nazi Germany, interrupting Austrian statehood. As a result, the newly revived Austria of 1945 could not and should not be held responsible in any way for the Nazis' crimes. On 27 April 1945, a provisional government in Allied-occupied Austria declared the Anschluss "null und nichtig" (null and void). From then on, Austria was recognised as a separate country, although it remained divided into occupation zones and controlled by the Allied Commission until 1955, when the Austrian State Treaty restored its sovereignty.

The annexation of Austria was known as the Anschluss

The Wehrmacht drafted more than 1.3 million Austrians between 1938 and 1945, 242,000 of whom never returned home. During World War II, 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces. Other Austrians participated in the Nazi administration, from death camp personnel to senior Nazi leadership; the majority of the bureaucrats who implemented the Final Solution were Austrian.

After World War II, many Austrians sought comfort in the myth of Austria as the first victim of the Nazis. This was a political slogan first used at the Moscow Conference in 1943, which became the ideological basis for Austria during the periods of the allied occupation of 1945-1955 and the sovereign state of the Second Austrian Republic (1955–1980s). The founders of the Second Austrian Republic interpreted this slogan to mean that the Anschluss was an act of military aggression by Nazi Germany. Austrian statehood had been interrupted and therefore the newly revived Austria of 1945 could not and should not be responsible in any way for the Nazis' crimes.

On 27 April 1945, a provisional government in Allied-occupied Austria declared the Anschluss "null und nichtig" (null and void). Henceforth, Austria was recognised as a separate country, although it remained divided into occupation zones and controlled by the Allied Commission until 1955, when the Austrian State Treaty restored its sovereignty.

Austria was an integral part of the Third Reich

The annexation of Austria was supported by the majority of the Austrian population. Karl Renner, an Austrian socialist politician who was the provisional prime minister of the first post-Nazi government, welcomed the Anschluss. More than 1.3 million Austrians were drafted into the Wehrmacht between 1938 and 1945, and 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces during World War II.

After the war, many Austrians sought comfort in the myth of Austria as the first victim of the Nazis. This slogan was first used at the Moscow Conference in 1943 and became the ideological basis for Austria during the periods of the allied occupation of 1945-1955 and the sovereign state of the Second Austrian Republic (1955–1980s). The founders of the Second Austrian Republic interpreted this slogan to mean that the Anschluss was an act of military aggression and that the newly revived Austria of 1945 could not be held responsible for the Nazis' crimes.

Austria was recognised as a separate country in 1945, but remained divided into occupation zones until 1955

Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, an event known as the Anschluss. The annexation was met with enthusiasm by most Austrians, and many Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces during World War II. However, after the war, many Austrians sought comfort in the myth of Austria as the 'first victim' of the Nazis. This slogan was first used at the Moscow Conference in 1943 and became the ideological basis for Austria during the periods of Allied occupation (1945-1955) and the sovereign state of the Second Austrian Republic (1955–1980s).

On 27 April 1945, a provisional government in Allied-occupied Austria declared the Anschluss 'null und nichtig' (null and void), and Austria was once again recognised as a separate country. However, it remained divided into occupation zones controlled by the Allied Commission until 1955, when the Austrian State Treaty restored its sovereignty.

During the early days of Nazi control, Hitler's regime began to tighten its grip on Austrian society, with mass arrests taking place as thousands of Austrians tried to escape. At the same time, other Austrians welcomed the German troops entering their territory. The Republic of Austria ceased to exist as an independent state after the Anschluss, and Austria became an integral part of the Third Reich, with 10% of the population joining the Nazi Party.

The annexation of Austria was an act of military aggression by Nazi Germany

The annexation of Austria was a significant event in the lead-up to World War II. Prior to the annexation, Nazi Germany had remilitarized the Rhineland, and the Saar region had been returned to Germany after 15 years of occupation. The Anschluss marked the end of the Republic of Austria as an independent state, and Austria became an integral part of the Third Reich.

The annexation was carried out with the overwhelming support of the Austrian population. Many Austrians welcomed the German troops entering their territory, and thousands of Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces during World War II. However, there were also Austrians who tried to escape Nazi rule, and some who participated in the resistance.

The founders of the Second Austrian Republic, which was established after the war, interpreted the annexation as an act of military aggression. They argued that Austrian statehood had been interrupted, and therefore the newly revived Austria of 1945 could not be held responsible for the Nazis' crimes. This interpretation was reflected in the political slogan "Austria – the Nazis' first victim", which was first used at the Moscow Conference in 1943.

After World War II, Austria remained divided into occupation zones and controlled by the Allied Commission until 1955, when the Austrian State Treaty restored its sovereignty.

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