Hitler's Austrian Roots: How Did He Rise?

Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn in 1889 as an Austrian citizen. However, he considered himself ethnically German and served in the Imperial German Army on the Western Front during World War I. After the war, he joined the DAP, later known as the Nazi Party, and gained national notoriety with a failed putsch in Munich in 1923. In 1924, Hitler applied to be released from his Austrian citizenship, and in 1925, he became stateless. In 1932, he finally became a German citizen and was able to run for political office.

Hitler's rise to power in Germany was facilitated by his popularity as a public speaker, his ability to place blame for Germany's economic woes on Jewish and communist minorities, and his promise to restore prosperity and create civil order. By 1932, the Nazis were the largest political party in the Reichstag, and in 1933, Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany.

Hitler's first act of territorial aggression and expansion was the annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, which took place from March 11-13, 1938. This event was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, and Austrian Nazis carried out a terror campaign to undermine the Austrian government and facilitate the unification. The Anschluss was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order, as it violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany.

Hitler's ability to rise to power and commit atrocities was made possible by the support of the powerful German officer class and millions of German citizens who voted for the Nazi Party.

Hitler's Austrian citizenship and naturalisation as German

Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria, in 1889, making him an Austrian citizen by birth. He served in the Imperial German Army during World War I, and in 1919, he joined the German Workers' Party (DAP), which later became the Nazi Party. In 1923, Hitler led a failed coup in Munich, which resulted in his imprisonment for treason. After his release in 1924, Hitler's legal status became a matter of public discussion, and he publicly declared that he considered himself German, not Austrian.

Hitler's attempts to acquire German citizenship began in 1925 when he applied to be released from his Austrian citizenship. After becoming stateless, Hitler tried various methods to gain German citizenship, including attempting to become a German civil servant, which would have automatically resulted in naturalisation. However, it wasn't until 1932, after several failed attempts and seven years of statelessness, that Hitler finally obtained German citizenship through an arrangement with the Free State of Brunswick. This allowed him to run for political office, and he was appointed chancellor in 1933.

Hitler's rise to power in Germany was facilitated by the support he gained in his homeland. In 1938, he annexed Austria, uniting it with Germany in what was known as the Anschluss. This act of territorial expansion was a significant step in Hitler's goal of creating a Greater Germany and was made possible by his Austrian citizenship and the support he garnered from Austrians.

Hitler's popularity in Austria

In conclusion, Hitler's popularity in Austria was a complex mix of factors, including nationalism, economic concerns, and personal charisma. While some Austrians supported Hitler and his policies, others opposed him and tried to preserve their independence. Ultimately, Hitler's popularity in Austria was strong enough to allow him to absorb the country into the Third Reich, but it is important to remember that there were also many Austrians who disagreed with his policies and fought against them.

Austria's political landscape in the 1920s and 1930s

The First Austrian Republic, officially the Republic of Austria, was created after the signing of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye on 10 September 1919. The Republic's constitution was enacted on 1 October 1920 and amended on 7 December 1929. The government was dominated by the anti-Anschluss Christian Social Party, which had close ties to the Roman Catholic Church. The party's first chancellor, Ignaz Seipel, came to power in May 1922 and attempted to forge a political alliance between wealthy industrialists and the Church.

After the legislative elections of October 17, 1920, the Social Democrats lost their parliamentary majority and remained in opposition until 1934, when they were banned by Engelbert Dollfuss, who became chancellor in 1932. The Christian Socials won 85 seats, the Social Democrats 69, the Greater Germany Party 20, and the Peasants Union 8. Michael Hainisch was elected Federal President.

In the 1930s, the Austrian Nazi Party gained supporters as Hitler's popularity in Germany increased. In 1931, the bulk of Austrian Nazis recognised Hitler as their leader, and in 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. Austrian politics became increasingly unstable, and Engelbert Dollfuss transformed Austria from a democratic republic into a right-wing authoritarian regime. This government is known as the Corporate State (Ständestaat) or Austrofascist state. Dollfuss's government was diplomatically aligned with Fascist Italy and authoritarian Hungary.

In 1933, the Austrian Nazis waged a propaganda and terror campaign, staging disruptive protests and brawls with political opponents and the police. They set off explosives and tear gas bombs in public places and Jewish-owned businesses. In response, the Dollfuss regime banned the Austrian Nazi Party and its affiliates in June 1933, but the Austrian Nazis continued to operate illegally, and thousands fled across the border into Germany, where they formed a paramilitary unit known as the Austrian Legion.

In July 1934, Austrian Nazis attempted to overthrow the Austrian government. They shot and killed Chancellor Dollfuss, and other plotters seized control of the state radio station in Vienna, prematurely announcing the coup. However, the majority of Austrians remained loyal to the government, and the coup attempt failed.

Dollfuss was succeeded by Kurt Schuschnigg, who continued Dollfuss's authoritarian policies. In 1936, Schuschnigg banned Austria's national paramilitary force, the Heimwehr. In February 1938, Schuschnigg travelled to meet with Hitler, who made a series of demands, including that Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart be placed in charge of policing and security matters. Schuschnigg gave in and signed the Berchtesgaden Agreement, which undermined Austrian sovereignty and independence.

In March 1938, Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence by calling a plebiscite (referendum) on Austrian independence. However, Hitler gave the Austrian government a series of ultimatums, demanding that Schuschnigg cancel the plebiscite, resign as chancellor, and appoint Seyss-Inquart as the new chancellor. Schuschnigg gave in, and on 11 March, Austrian Nazis stormed the Federal Chancellery and forced Schuschnigg to resign. The next day, German troops crossed the border and Austria ceased to exist as an independent country.

The Austrian Nazi Party

Austrian Nazis waged a propaganda and terror campaign beginning in May 1933, which was encouraged and funded by Germany. They staged disruptive protests and brawls with political opponents and the police, set off explosives and tear gas bombs in public places and Jewish-owned businesses, and intimidated the Dollfuss regime. In response, the Dollfuss regime banned the Austrian Nazi Party and its affiliates in June 1933, but the Austrian Nazis continued to operate illegally within the country.

In July 1934, Austrian Nazis attempted to overthrow the Austrian government. Members of the Vienna SS took control of the Austrian chancellery, where the cabinet had been meeting, and shot and killed Chancellor Dollfuss. Other plotters seized control of the state radio station in Vienna and prematurely announced the coup. Outside Vienna, other Austrian Nazis also revolted against the government. However, the majority of Austrians remained loyal to the government, and the Austrian military and police forces quickly defeated the conspirators. The coup attempt failed, and Mussolini sent troops to the Austro-Italian border to defend Austrian sovereignty.

Hitler ordered the coup, probably sometime in June 1934, and when it failed, he denied any involvement. The fallout from the plot made it clear that the Nazis would have to wait to gain control of Austria. After Dollfuss's death, Kurt von Schuschnigg took over as Austrian chancellor and dictator, continuing many of his predecessor's authoritarian policies. The Austrian government arrested thousands of Austrian Nazis, including a number of the conspirators.

In February 1938, Hitler met with Schuschnigg and made a series of demands, including that Austrian foreign and military policies were to be coordinated with Germany's, that Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart was to be placed in charge of policing and security matters, and that Austrian Nazis who had been imprisoned by the Austrian government were to be amnestied. Schuschnigg gave in and signed the Berchtesgaden Agreement, which undermined Austrian sovereignty and independence.

In March 1938, Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence by calling a plebiscite (referendum) on Austrian independence. Hitler was infuriated and decided to take action. He gave the Austrian government a series of ultimatums: Chancellor Schuschnigg must call off the plebiscite, Schuschnigg must resign as chancellor, and Austrian president Wilhelm Miklas must appoint Seyss-Inquart as the new Austrian chancellor. If these demands were not met, the German military would invade Austria. Schuschnigg gave in, and that evening, Austrian radio announced the cancellation of the upcoming plebiscite. Shortly thereafter, Schuschnigg announced his resignation and instructed Austrians and the Austrian military not to resist German troops if they invaded.

Within minutes of Schuschnigg's resignation, swastika armbands and flags appeared on the streets, and Austrian Nazis attacked their political opponents and Jews without fear of repercussions. They seized power in government buildings and dominated the streets with torchlight parades, chants, and salutes to Hitler. Austrian Nazis took over the country without firing a single shot.

On 12 March 1938, President Miklas appointed Seyss-Inquart as chancellor of Austria, and he announced a new cabinet filled with Austrian Nazis. This was a domestic change of power brought on by external pressure from Nazi Germany. German troops crossed the border early that morning and were greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers. Austrians welcomed Hitler warmly as he travelled first to Linz and then on to Vienna.

On 13 March 1938, Austrian Nazi Chancellor Seyss-Inquart signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, which formally incorporated Austria into Nazi Germany. Austria was now a province of Nazi Germany, and the Nazis wanted to get rid of any traces of a separate Austrian identity. The law also mandated a new plebiscite on the issue of Austrian unification with Nazi Germany, which was held on 10 April.

The plebiscite was another propaganda opportunity for the Nazis, and they co-opted and mobilised a wide variety of Austrian institutions and leaders, including representatives of the Austrian working class and the Catholic Church. The result of the referendum seemed to indicate that around 99% of the Austrian people wanted to unite with Nazi Germany. However, between 300,000 and 400,000 Austrian citizens were forbidden to vote in the referendum, including Austrian Jews, Roma, and the Nazis' political opponents.

Hitler's rise to power in Germany

Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria, in 1889, and served in the Imperial German Army on the Western Front during World War I. After the war, he joined the DAP (later known as the Nazi Party) and quickly rose through its ranks, becoming a prominent and influential figure. Hitler was a gifted public speaker, and his charismatic oratory played a significant role in his rise to power. He advocated for a "New Order" in Germany, promising to restore the country's greatness and blaming its current woes on the influence of Jews and communists. This nationalist and racist ideology resonated with many Germans, who were disillusioned by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and the economic instability of the Weimar Republic.

Hitler's first attempt to seize power came in 1923 with the Beer Hall Putsch, a failed coup attempt that landed him in prison. However, he used this setback as an opportunity to write "Mein Kampf," which laid out his political ideology and future plans for Germany. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Nazi Party gained support as more and more Germans became disillusioned with the political and economic situation in the country. The worldwide economic depression, rising power of labour unions, and communist influence convinced many Germans to turn to the Nazi Party.

In 1932, the Nazis became the largest political party in the Reichstag, and in January 1933, Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. He quickly set about dismantling democratic institutions and consolidating his power. He exploited a fire at the Reichstag building to suspend civil liberties and crack down on political opponents. Hitler's military spending and public works programs helped restore prosperity, and his suppression of communist and socialist groups was welcomed by the middle class.

Hitler's expansionist agenda, which he had made clear in "Mein Kampf," soon came into action. In 1938, he colluded with Austrian Nazis to orchestrate the annexation of Austria (the "Anschluss"), and later that year, he forced Czechoslovakia to surrender the Sudetenland. These actions were enabled by the policy of appeasement adopted by other European powers, particularly Britain and France, who were eager to avoid another war.

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