Germany's Annexation Of Austria: Pros, Cons, And Implications

On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This event, known as the Anschluss, saw German troops encounter no resistance as they crossed the border. The next day, Austria was incorporated into Germany, and it existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II. The idea of the Anschluss was not new, as the unification of Austria and Germany had been proposed and supported by many Austrians and Germans for decades. However, the annexation was met with mixed reactions internationally, with some countries choosing to remain silent and others verbally protesting the act.

The annexation of Austria into the German Reich

In the 1920s, the proposal for unification gained strong support in both Austria and Germany, particularly from Austrian citizens of the political left and center. However, by the early 1930s, support for unification had faded, and regional patriotism was stronger than pan-German sentiment. In 1933, when Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany, the desire for unification became associated with the Nazis, for whom it was an integral part of their ideology.

In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg learned of the plot and met with Hitler, hoping to reassert his country's independence. However, he was coerced into appointing several Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, Schuschnigg called for a national vote on the issue of annexation, but before the vote could take place, he resigned under pressure from Hitler.

On March 12, German troops entered Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military, and were greeted by enthusiastic crowds. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the annexation was officially proclaimed. Austria became a province of Germany, known as Ostmark, and existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II.

The annexation was followed by widespread antisemitic actions and political violence. Leading Austrian politicians were imprisoned, and anyone opposing Nazi rule was subject to arrest, torture, and death. Jews were particularly targeted, with their belongings looted, their businesses seized, and those who refused to surrender their property arrested. German anti-Jewish legislation was applied, forcing Jews out of the country's economic, social, and cultural life. By December 1939, only 57,000 Jews remained in Austria, with tens of thousands having fled Nazi persecution.

In April 1938, a plebiscite was held in which 99.7% of voters approved the annexation. However, this vote was manipulated, with Jews and Roma excluded from participating, and threats and coercion employed to influence the outcome.

The rise of antisemitism in Austria

The 19th Century

In the late 19th century, anti-Semitism rapidly increased in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This sudden rise was due to an electoral reform that extended voting rights to more men, allowing more artisans to participate in elections. One of the politicians who benefited from this was Georg von Schoenerer, who propagated anti-Catholic sentiments, expressed strong views against the Habsburgs, and called for the annexation of German-speaking areas to the German Reich. Schoenerer denounced censorship, demanded democracy, and advocated racial anti-Semitism.

Another politician who used anti-Semitism to gain support was Karl Lueger, the Christian-Social Mayor of Vienna from 1897 to 1910. Lueger wanted to unite all Christians and nationalities of the monarchy against the common Jewish enemy, but his anti-Semitism was opportunistic and motivated by economic, religious, and cultural factors rather than racial hatred. Lueger's brand of religious, cultural, and economic anti-Semitism became the integrating force of political Catholicism in Vienna for half a century.

The Early 20th Century

During the First World War, Jewish loyalty to Austria and the Emperor was particularly strong, given that the state's main enemy during the first two years of the war was Russia, a dangerous place for Jews. About 300,000 Jewish men served in the Austrian military.

However, in the aftermath of the war, the First Republic of Austria (1919-1934) denied citizenship to former Habsburg monarchy Jews during the interwar period. This led to a brain drain, with many Jews emigrating from Austria. Additionally, violent attacks by German National and National Socialist students against Jewish and socialist classmates increased at the University of Vienna in the 1920s.

In the 1930s, the Austrian Civil War broke out, and the new Fatherland Front and the Federal State of Austria were fascist. While this regime did not worsen the situation for the Jewish population, the rise of Nazism in Germany would soon have devastating consequences for Austrian Jews.

The Nazi Annexation of Austria

In March 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany (the "Anschluss"), and thousands of Austrians and Austrian Jews who opposed Nazi rule were sent to concentration camps. The German racial Nuremberg Laws were immediately applied to Austria, and Jews were expelled from all cultural, economic, and social life. Jewish businesses were 'aryanised' and either sold or seized, and Jewish citizens were humiliated and forced to perform menial tasks.

On November 9, 1938, the "Night of Broken Glass" (Kristallnacht) was carried out in Germany and Austria, with synagogues looted and burned, Jewish shops vandalised, and Jewish homes destroyed. In Vienna, all synagogues except one were destroyed, and at least 27 Jews were murdered in Austria, with many others beaten.

After the Anschluss, all Jews were effectively forced to emigrate from Austria, but the process was deliberately made extremely difficult by the Central Office for Jewish Emigration under Adolf Eichmann. Jews were not allowed to take cash, stocks, valuable items, antiques, or artworks, and had to pay a large departure 'tax'. By the summer of 1939, 110,000 Jews had departed the country, and almost all remaining Jews were murdered in the Holocaust.

The role of the Austrian Nazis

The Austrian Nazis played a crucial role in the annexation of Austria by Germany, known as the Anschluss, which took place from March 11 to March 13, 1938. Here is a detailed overview of their actions and their impact:

The Rise of the Austrian Nazi Movement

The Austrian Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, began as a small and disorganized group in the late 1920s. However, by 1931, the bulk of Austrian Nazis recognized Hitler as their leader. As Hitler's popularity in Germany grew, so did the support for the Austrian Nazis. This was particularly noticeable after Hitler became the German Chancellor in 1933. The Austrian Nazis gained supporters from various segments of Austrian society, including those who favored unification with Germany and those who were dissatisfied with the political and economic situation in Austria at the time.

The Terror Campaign and the Failed Coup

Beginning in May 1933, the Austrian Nazis, with encouragement and funding from Germany, carried out a propaganda and terror campaign against the Austrian government led by Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss. They staged disruptive protests, brawls, and violent attacks, including bombings and tear gas bombings in public places and Jewish-owned businesses. This campaign aimed to destabilize and discredit the Dollfuss regime, portraying it as incompetent and unable to maintain order. The violence and intimidation tactics employed by the Austrian Nazis created a sense of unrest and insecurity in the country.

In July 1934, the Austrian Nazis attempted a coup to overthrow the Austrian government. They succeeded in assassinating Chancellor Dollfuss but failed to seize control of the country. The majority of Austrians remained loyal to the government, and the coup was suppressed by the Austrian military and police. This failed coup attempt forced many leading Austrian Nazis to flee to Germany, where they continued their efforts to promote unification.

The Rise of Kurt Schuschnigg

After the failed coup, Kurt Schuschnigg became the new Chancellor of Austria. He continued the authoritarian policies of his predecessor and tried to maintain Austria's independence. However, he faced increasing pressure from pro-unification activists, including Austrian Nazis, who wanted to join Germany. Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austria's independence by calling for a referendum on the issue, scheduled for March 13, 1938.

Intimidation and Threats

Hitler, determined to annex Austria, responded to Schuschnigg's referendum plans with threats and intimidation. He demanded that Schuschnigg cancel the referendum, resign as chancellor, and appoint a pro-Nazi, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, as his replacement. Hitler also mobilized the German army, preparing for a potential invasion of Austria. Faced with overwhelming pressure and the threat of military force, Schuschnigg ultimately gave in to Hitler's demands. He cancelled the referendum and resigned on March 11, 1938, just one day before the scheduled vote.

The Role of Austrian Nazis in the Annexation

The Austrian Nazis played a crucial role in the actual annexation process. On March 12, 1938, German troops crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. Austrian Nazis, along with members of the SS and SA, occupied public buildings and offices throughout the country. They seized power without firing a single shot, taking control of the country and facilitating the annexation. The Austrian Nazis enthusiastically welcomed the German troops and Hitler, who entered Austria triumphantly.

The Impact of Austrian Nazis on the Society

The Austrian Nazis actively participated in the Nazification of Austrian society. They persecuted Jews, enacted Nazi policies, and fought in World War II. They also played a significant role in the violence against Austria's Jewish population, enacting discriminatory laws and participating in pogrom-like attacks. Additionally, many Austrian Nazis held positions of power in the Nazi regime, both in Austria and across the Third Reich.

In conclusion, the Austrian Nazis were instrumental in the annexation of Austria by Germany. They worked to destabilize the Austrian government, promoted unification, and ultimately facilitated the seizure of power by the Nazis. Their actions had far-reaching consequences, contributing to the transformation of Austrian society and the persecution of minorities under Nazi rule.

The impact on the Jewish population

On 12 March 1938, German troops entered Austria and annexed it into the German Reich. This event is known as the Anschluss. The annexation was the result of a prolonged period of economic stagnation, political dictatorship, and intense Nazi propaganda inside Austria. The Austrian population, most of whom considered themselves ethnically German, welcomed the German troops with Nazi salutes, flags, and flowers.

The persecution of Jews was immediate and violent. Jews were driven through the streets of Vienna, and their homes and shops were plundered. Jewish men and women were forced to wash away pro-independence slogans painted on the streets of Vienna ahead of the failed 13 March plebiscite. Jewish actresses were forced to clean toilets by the SA. The Aryanisation process began, and Jews were driven out of public life within months.

The persecution reached a climax in the Kristallnacht pogrom of 9–10 November 1938. All synagogues and prayer houses in Vienna were destroyed, as well as in other Austrian cities such as Salzburg. Most Jewish shops were plundered and closed. Over 6,000 Jews were arrested overnight, and the majority were deported to concentration camps in the following days.

The Mauthausen concentration camp was established in the summer of 1938, after the German annexation of Austria. It became the main Nazi camp in Austria, with a harsh regime that forced inmates to carry heavy stone blocks up 186 steps from the camp quarry. Thousands of prisoners were worked to death.

The Nazis also began the process of isolating and deporting Austrian Jews. In October 1939, the deportation of Austrian Jews to Poland began as part of a larger plan to gather all of Europe's Jewish population into one territory. The deportation of Jews to death camps began in February 1941 and was accelerated after the Wannsee Conference in January 1942. By November 1942, only about 7,000 Jews remained in Austria, and the deportations continued until March 1945.

As a result of the Holocaust, between 60,000 and 65,000 Austrian Jews were murdered—almost the entire Jewish population of those who did not leave before the war.

The international response

In Britain, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain reminded Parliament that the country had no treaty obligations with Austria. However, Winston Churchill, then a member of Parliament, disagreed, declaring:

> The gravity of the event of March 12 cannot be exaggerated. Europe is confronted with a program of aggression . . . unfolding stage by stage, and there is only one choice open, not only to us but to other countries who are unfortunately concerned—either to submit, like Austria, or to else take effective measures while time remains to ward off the danger and, if it cannot be warded off, to cope with it.

On March 18, 1938, the German government communicated to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations about the inclusion of Austria. The following day, in Geneva, the Mexican Delegate to the International Office of Labor, Isidro Fabela, voiced an energetic protest, stronger than that expressed by European countries, denouncing the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany.

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