Austria's Historical Ties To German Rule

Austria was under German rule during World War II, from 1938 to 1945, when it was annexed by Nazi Germany under Hitler. This annexation, known as the Anschluss, was an aggressive act by Hitler to unite Austria and Germany to form a Greater Germany. While the act was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles, it was met with little resistance and even some support from Austria.

The Anschluss

In the 1920s, the proposal for a unified Austria and Germany gained strong support in both countries, particularly from Austrian citizens of the political left and center. However, support for unification faded over time. In 1933, when Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany, the desire for unification was associated with the Nazis, for whom it was an integral part of their "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept.

In early 1938, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced that there would be a referendum on a possible union with Germany versus maintaining Austria's sovereignty, to be held on March 13. Hitler, portraying this as defying the popular will in Austria and Germany, threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign. On March 11, the day before the planned referendum, the German Army crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. On March 12, Hitler accompanied German troops into Austria, where they were met by enthusiastic crowds. A plebiscite was held on April 10, in which the ballot was not secret, and threats and coercion were employed to manipulate the vote, resulting in 99.7% approval for the Anschluss.

Austria's annexation into the German Reich

The annexation of Austria into the German Reich, known as the Anschluss, took place on March 12, 1938. The idea of a union between Austria and Germany, resulting in a “Greater Germany”, first arose after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria. The proposal gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and the subsequent formation of the Republic of German-Austria. The new republic attempted to unite with Germany, but this was forbidden by the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and the Treaty of Versailles.

In the 1920s, the proposal for a union was supported by many Austrian citizens, particularly those on the political left and center. However, this popularity faded over time. After Adolf Hitler rose to power in 1933, the desire for unification became associated with the Nazis, for whom it was an integral part of their "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept.

In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite the nation with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, upon learning of the plot, 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 to resolve the question of annexation once and for all. Before the vote could take place, Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, pleading with Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance".

On March 12, Hitler entered Austria with German troops, where they were greeted by enthusiastic crowds. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the annexation was proclaimed. A plebiscite held on April 10, 1938, resulted in a 99.7% approval for the annexation, although it is estimated that about 70% of Austrians would have voted to preserve Austrian independence. Austria remained a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied Powers declared the annexation void and reestablished an independent Austria.

Austria's role in the Final Solution

Austria was annexed into Germany in 1938 under the Nazi regime, in what was known as the Anschluss. This was seen as a reunification of the two countries, which shared a history and language.

The role of Austrians in the Final Solution was significant and extensive. Austrians made up a disproportionate number of the bureaucrats who implemented the Final Solution. According to Professor Thomas Berger, Austrians represented about 8% of the population of the Third Reich, but they comprised about 13% of the SS, about 40% of concentration camp personnel, and as much as 70% of concentration camp commanders were of Austrian background. Political scientist David Art also states that 75% of concentration camp commanders were Austrian.

The Mauthausen-Gusen complex was the largest concentration camp in Austria, with more than 50 subcamps. Mass murder was also practised in Hartheim Castle near Linz, and in Am Spiegelgrund clinic in Vienna, where over 700 handicapped children were murdered.

Prominent Austrian Nazis who played an active part in the Nazi regime and the Final Solution included: Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, Odilo Globocnik, Franz Josef Huber, August Eigruber, Alexander Löhr, Hermann Neubacher, Lothar Rendulic, Wolfgang Abel, Heinrich Gross, Alois Brunner, Karl Silberbauer, and Otto Skorzeny.

In addition to those who actively participated in the Nazi regime, the majority of Austrians supported or acquiesced to the annexation of their country into Nazi Germany. While the population's true opinions are unknown, it has been estimated that about 70% of Austrians would have voted to preserve Austrian independence if a free and fair referendum had been held. However, the plebiscite that was held in April 1948, one month after the annexation, was subject to large-scale Nazi propaganda and the abrogation of the voting rights of about 360,000 people, mainly political enemies and those of Jewish or Romani origin. The official result showed 99.7% approval for the annexation.

After World War II, many Austrians sought comfort in the myth of Austria as the first victim of the Nazis, and the country did not undergo the same thorough process of denazification as post-war Germany. It was not until the 1980s and 1990s that Austrians began to confront their mixed past and acknowledge their collective responsibility for the crimes committed during the Nazi occupation.

Austrian resistance to Nazism

The Austrian resistance groups were often ideologically separated and reflected the spectrum of political parties before the war. In addition to armed resistance groups, there was a strong communist resistance group, groups close to the Catholic Church, Habsburg groups, and individual resistance groups in the German Wehrmacht. Most resistance groups were exposed by the Gestapo and their members executed.

The most spectacular individual group of the Austrian resistance was the one led by the priest Heinrich Maier. This resistance group sought to re-establish a Habsburg monarchy after the war. It played a large role in providing the Allies with information on the production sites of the V-1, V-2 rockets, Tiger tanks, and aircraft such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet. The intelligence they provided, later uncovered by the Gestapo, was necessary in enabling the Allies to conduct precise airstrikes, minimizing civilian casualties. The group maintained contact with Allen Dulles, head of the U.S. OSS in Switzerland, and their information contributed to key operations such as Operation Crossbow and Operation Hydra, both of which were precursors to Operation Overlord. The Maier group was also one of the earliest to report the mass murder of Jews, utilizing contacts at the Semperit factory near Auschwitz.

In addition to armed resistance, numerous individuals provided support to Jewish families during the Holocaust. These efforts included hiding individuals, managing or exchanging their property to generate funds, and aiding their escape from Nazi persecution. These actions carried immense personal risk, as assisting Jews was punishable by imprisonment or death in Nazi concentration camps. Among these individuals were Rosa Stallbaumer and her husband, Anton. Arrested by the Gestapo in 1942, they were sent to Dachau concentration camp. Although Anton survived, Rosa Stallbaumer did not; transferred to Auschwitz, she died there at the age of 44.

One major league of 200–300 fighters called the Koralmpartisanen extended their activities from 1944 to Western Styria. They attacked municipal offices and gendarmerie, as well as sabotaging militarily important facilities such as bridges and railways.

Also in Styria, in the area around the Erzberg, in the area of Ennstal, there were different resistance groups. The aim of the actions was mainly to paralyze rail transport and the front replenishment. The communist group centered around the miners Martin Michelli, Johann Pech, Siegfried Pichler, and Alexander Soukup planned, among other things, the demolition of bridges of Erzbergbahn, but was arrested by the Gestapo in late 1941 and the members were largely sentenced to death.

The so-called Salzkammergut partisans under the direction of the communist Spain fighter Sepp Plieseis hid in a hideout ("hedgehog"/"Igel") at the "Ischler Hütte" (Ischler cottage) in the Totes Gebirge and maintained close contact with resistance circles in the area. The difficult and dangerous supply was done by dedicated women from the valley. In fact, in order to avoid reprisals against the civilian population, the group did not have an armed man, combat taken or violent actions set. Karl Feldhammer from Bad Aussee was, however, shot by the Gestapo in January 1945.

The Austrian resistance was involved in the Battle of Castle Itter, in the Austrian village of Itter in the North Tyrol, fought on May 5, 1945, only three days before Germany's unconditional surrender came into effect. Troops of the 23rd Tank Battalion of the US 12th Armored Division, anti-Nazi German Army soldiers, and imprisoned French VIPs defended the castle against an attacking force from the 17th Waffen-SS Panzer Grenadier Division until relief from the American 142nd Infantry Regiment arrived.

Austrian society has had an ambivalent attitude both toward the Nazi government and the few that actively resisted it. Since large portions of Austrian society either actively or tacitly supported the Nazi regime, the Allied forces treated Austria as a belligerent party in the war and maintained occupation of it after the Nazi capitulation. On the other hand, the Moscow Declaration labeled Austria as a free and democratic society before the war and considered its capture an act of liberation.

Austria's independence after WWII

Austria's path to independence after the Second World War was a complex and protracted process, shaped by the competing interests of the victorious Allied powers and Austria's own desire to restore sovereignty and rebuild its nation. Here is an overview of Austria's journey towards independence in the post-WWII era:

The End of World War II and the Occupation of Austria:

As World War II drew to a close in 1945, Austria found itself under the control of the Allied forces, which included the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union. The Moscow Declaration of 1943 had already determined that Austria, considered a victim of Nazi aggression, would be liberated and restored to an independent and democratic state. However, the realities of the Cold War would complicate this process. The country was divided into four occupation zones, with each Allied power administering one zone: the Soviet Union in the east, the United States in the south, the United Kingdom in the north, and France in the west. Vienna, Austria's capital, was also divided into four sectors, with the sector boundaries running through the city.

The Path to Independence:

The Allied Control Council, consisting of the four occupying powers, governed Austria during the initial post-war years. This council oversaw the denazification process, the restoration of democratic institutions, and the rebuilding of the country's economy. While the Western Allies generally favored a rapid reunification and independence for Austria, the Soviet Union was more cautious, concerned about the potential loss of influence in the country. In 1947, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France presented the Austrian government with the Marshall Plan for economic recovery, which was also offered to other European countries. However, the Soviet Union prevented Austria from accepting this plan until 1949, when the Soviet Union withdrew its objection as a goodwill gesture.

The Austrian State Treaty:

The turning point for Austria's independence came with the signing of the Austrian State Treaty on May 15, 1955, in Vienna. This treaty was negotiated between the four occupying powers and the Austrian government, led by Chancellor Julius Raab. The treaty recognized Austria as an independent and sovereign state, and the occupying powers committed to withdrawing their troops within 90 days of its ratification. Additionally, the treaty affirmed Austria's commitment to permanent neutrality, meaning it would not join any military alliances such as NATO. This neutrality was seen as a guarantee of Austria's independence and a way to bridge the differences between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union.

Independence and Rebuilding:

On October 26, 1955, the last foreign troops left Austria, marking the official end of the occupation and the restoration of full independence. The country quickly set about rebuilding its economy and re-establishing its place in the international community. Austria joined the United Nations in 1955 and focused on strengthening its diplomatic relations with other nations. The country also experienced significant economic growth and social transformation in the post-war decades, benefiting from its neutrality and its position as a bridge between East and West during the Cold War.

In summary, Austria's independence after World War II was a complex and prolonged process influenced by the Cold War dynamics between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. Through the Austrian State Treaty and its commitment to neutrality, Austria regained its sovereignty and embarked on a path of reconstruction and international reintegration. This period marked a new beginning for the country, allowing it to shape its own future and recover from the devastation of the war years.

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