The Swift Takeover: Germany's Austrian Conquest Timeline

The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, took place over a few days in March 1938. On 11 March 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg resigned under pressure from Hitler, and on 12 March 1938, heavily armed German troops and police crossed the Austrian frontier. The formation of the Greater German Reich was announced from the balcony of the Council House in Linz. Austria remained part of Nazi Germany until 27 April 1945, when Allied-occupied Austria declared independence.

The Anschluss

On 9 March 1938, Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of the Anschluss once and for all. However, before the vote could take place, Schuschnigg gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on 11 March. In his resignation address, he pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance" into the country.

On 12 March 1938, heavily armed German troops and police crossed the Austrian frontier. Supporters of the Austrian Nazi Party, together with members of the SS and SA, occupied public buildings and offices throughout Austria. The formation of the Greater German Reich was announced from the balcony of the Council House in Linz.

Austria was part of Nazi Germany from 13 March 1938 until 27 April 1945, when Allied-occupied Austria declared independence.

German troops entering Austria

On 12 March 1938, German troops and police crossed the Austrian frontier. In total, about 25,000 heavily armed soldiers entered the country. Large sections of the Austrian population were pleased to see them, and supporters of the Austrian Nazi Party, together with members of the SS and SA, occupied public buildings and offices throughout Austria.

The German invasion of Austria was the result of a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government by force and unite their nation with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg attempted to resist the conspiracy, but was forced to name several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On 9 March, Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of annexation once and for all. However, before the vote could take place, he gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on 11 March. In his resignation address, he pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist the German advance.

Hitler had been planning to invade Austria since at least the summer of 1937, when he told Goebbels that the country would have to be taken "by force". In February 1938, he met with Schuschnigg and threatened to invade Austria, forcing the Austrian chancellor to implement a range of measures favourable to Austrian Nazism. The Agreement of Gaden guaranteed the Austrian Nazi Party political freedom and assisted Arthur Seyß-Inquart in becoming Home Secretary.

Austria was part of Nazi Germany from 13 March 1938 until 27 April 1945, when Allied-occupied Austria declared independence. Throughout World War II, 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces, and many others participated in the Nazi administration, including death camp personnel and senior Nazi leadership.

Austrian Nazi Party supporters

The German annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, took place on 13 March 1938. On 12 March, 25,000 heavily armed German troops and police crossed the Austrian frontier. Large sections of the Austrian population were pleased to see them, and supporters of the Austrian Nazi Party occupied public buildings and offices throughout Austria.

Austrian Nazism or Austrian National Socialism was a pan-German movement that was formed at the beginning of the 20th century. The movement took a concrete form on 15 November 1903 when the German Worker's Party (DAP) was established in Austria. The Austrian Nazi Party was weak, divided, and ineffective in the late 1920s and early 1930s, but by 1931, the bulk of Austrian Nazis recognised Hitler as their leader. Hitler appointed a German Nazi to bring the Austrian party in line, and Austrian Nazis gained supporters in 1931-1932 as Hitler’s popularity in Germany increased. In 1933, Austrian politics were further destabilised by the rise of the Nazis. In 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite their nation with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Hitler in the hopes of reasserting his country’s independence but was forced to name several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On 9 March 1938, Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of Anschluss, but before the plebiscite could take place, he gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on 11 March. In his resignation address, he pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist a German “advance” into the country.

Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg

On 12 March 1938, heavily armed German troops and police crossed the Austrian frontier, marking the beginning of the Anschluss. This event, which saw Austria become part of Nazi Germany, lasted from 13 March 1938 until 27 April 1945, when Allied-occupied Austria declared independence.

Schuschnigg struggled to prevent the Nazi takeover of Austria. He considered Austria a "German state" and Austrians to be Germans, but he was strongly opposed to Adolf Hitler's goal to absorb Austria into the Third Reich and wished for it to remain independent. In February 1938, Hitler threatened to invade Austria and forced Schuschnigg to implement a range of measures favourable to Austrian Nazism. On 9 March 1938, Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of Anschluss, or “annexation,” once and for all. However, before the plebiscite could take place, Schuschnigg gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on 11 March. In his resignation address, under coercion from the Nazis, he pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist a German “advance” into the country. After the Anschluss, Schuschnigg was arrested, kept in solitary confinement, and eventually interned in various concentration camps.

Hitler's strategy

Hitler told Goebbels in the late summer of 1937 that Austria would have to be taken "by force". In February 1938, Hitler met with Schuschnigg at Obersalzberg in Gaden in Bavaria. Hitler threatened to invade Austria and forced Schuschnigg to implement measures favourable to Austrian Nazism. The Agreement of Gaden guaranteed the Austrian Nazi Party political freedom.

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 met with Hitler in the hopes of reasserting his country's independence but was instead bullied into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of Anschluss, or "annexation", but before the plebiscite could take place, he gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on March 11.

On the morning of March 12, heavily armed German troops and police crossed the Austrian frontier. Supporters of the Austrian Nazi Party, together with members of the SS and SA, occupied public buildings and offices throughout Austria. The formation of the Greater German Reich was announced from the balcony of the Council House in Linz. Austria was part of Nazi Germany from March 13, 1938, until April 27, 1945, when Allied-occupied Austria declared independence from Nazi Germany.

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