Hitler's Annexation Of Austria: A Gift Or Grab?

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, was the culmination of years of political tension and aggression by Nazi Germany towards its neighbour. The idea of a union between Austria and Germany (forming a Greater Germany) had been proposed since the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria. While the Anschluss was initially supported by many Austrians, the Nazi occupation was marked by outbreaks of anti-Jewish violence and the suppression of dissent.

Hitler's annexation of Austria

On March 12, 1938, Hitler annexed Austria, in what became known as the Anschluss. This was the first act of territorial aggression by the Nazi regime, and it was widely popular in both Germany and Austria.

The idea of a union between Austria and Germany, or Anschluss, had been around since the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the new Prussian-dominated German Empire. The idea gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and the subsequent Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles, which forbade a union between the two countries.

In the 1920s and 30s, the proposal for a union had strong support in both Austria and Germany, particularly from Austrian citizens of the political left and centre. However, by the time Hitler rose to power in 1933, the desire for unification was largely associated with the Nazis. Hitler himself was Austrian and had written about his desire to unite Austria and Germany in his autobiography, Mein Kampf.

Hitler's plan to take power in Austria involved the Austrian Nazi Party, which was initially weak and ineffective. However, by 1931, the bulk of Austrian Nazis recognised Hitler as their leader, and the party's popularity grew in Austria after Hitler came to power in Germany. Austrian Nazis attempted to seize the Austrian government by force twice in four years, assassinating Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss in 1934.

In early 1938, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, learning of another conspiracy by Austrian Nazis, met with Hitler in an attempt to reassert his country's independence. However, he was bullied into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. Schuschnigg then called a national vote to resolve the question of unification once and for all, but before the plebiscite could take place, he gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on March 11.

Hitler accompanied German troops as they marched into Austria on March 12, where they were greeted by enthusiastic crowds. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the Anschluss was proclaimed. Austria became a federal state of Germany and remained so until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and reestablished an independent Austria.

The Austrian chancellor's attempts to resist

The Austrian Chancellor at the time of the Anschluss was Kurt Schuschnigg, who had taken over from Engelbert Dollfuss after the latter's assassination by Austrian Nazis in July 1934. Schuschnigg attempted to resist Hitler's annexation of Austria in several ways.

Firstly, he tried to assert Austrian independence by calling a plebiscite (referendum) on the issue, to be held on 13 March 1938. However, Hitler threatened to invade Austria if the plebiscite went ahead. Schuschnigg also tried to negotiate with Hitler, meeting him at Berchtesgaden on 12 February 1938. However, Hitler bullied Schuschnigg into accepting a set of demands, including the appointment of Arthur Seyss-Inquart, a long-time supporter of the Nazis, as Minister of Public Security.

In the face of Hitler's threats of invasion, Schuschnigg resigned on 11 March 1938, pleading with Austrian forces not to resist a German advance. Hitler appointed Seyss-Inquart as the new Chancellor, and on 12 March, German troops marched into Austria.

Earlier, Engelbert Dollfuss had also attempted to resist the Nazis. He banned the Austrian Nazi Party in June 1933 and established a one-party dictatorship, the Austrofascist Fatherland Front, which opposed unification with Germany. However, Dollfuss was assassinated by Austrian Nazis in July 1934.

The role of other countries

The Anschluss, or annexation of Austria, was the first major step in Hitler's desire to create a Greater German Reich. However, it would not have been possible without the actions and inactions of other countries.

Hitler's first victim was the Austrian Chancellor, Dr. Kurt von Schuschnigg, who was bullied into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. Schuschnigg attempted to reassert Austrian independence by calling a national vote on the question of Anschluss, but he eventually gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on March 11, 1938.

Supporters of the Annexation

Hitler's rise to power in Germany was supported by many Austrians, particularly those on the political left and center. The idea of a united Austria and Germany, or "Greater Germany," gained support after World War I when the Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles forbade the union and stripped Austria of some of its territories.

Benito Mussolini, the leader of Italy, initially defended Austria's independence but later changed his position and backed Hitler. This shift can be attributed to Hitler's assurance that Germany would not seek territorial concessions from Italy and the formation of the Berlin-Rome Axis in 1937.

Opponents of the Annexation

The only country to formally protest the annexation of Austria was Mexico, whose government lodged an ultimately futile protest with the secretary-general of the League of Nations.

Silence of Other Countries

The British government, led by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, had made it known that it would not oppose the union of Austria and Germany. Chamberlain reminded Parliament that Britain had no treaty obligations with Austria and chose to pursue a policy of appeasement to preserve peace. Winston Churchill, a member of Parliament at the time, disagreed with this approach and declared:

> 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.

France also protested against Hitler's methods but ultimately accepted the annexation. The United States followed a similar policy of appeasement.

Hitler's motivations

• Pan-Germanism and Unification: Hitler was a strong advocate of Pan-Germanism, the idea of unifying all German-speaking peoples into one nation. In his book "Mein Kampf," Hitler wrote about the need for German-Austria to return to the "great German motherland." He believed that all Germans should be united in one state, known as the "Greater Germany." This ideology was a driving force behind his desire to annex Austria.
• Personal Connection: Hitler was born in Austria and considered himself a German-Austrian. He had a personal connection to the country and believed that it rightfully belonged as part of Germany. In his speeches, he often referred to Austria as his homeland.
• Economic and Strategic Gains: Austria had significant economic and strategic value. It possessed raw materials such as iron ore and magnesium, as well as skilled labour and idle factories. Additionally, Austria shared a border with the Sudetenland, a largely German-speaking region within Czechoslovakia that Hitler also sought to control. By annexing Austria, Hitler gained access to these resources and expanded Germany's influence in the region.
• Destabilization and Opportunism: Hitler deliberately worked to destabilize Austria by encouraging pro-Nazi agitators to create chaos. He took advantage of the political instability and the presence of Nazi supporters within Austria to justify his actions. He also exploited the lack of international opposition, particularly from Britain, France, and Italy, knowing that they were unlikely to intervene.
• Fulfillment of Ambitions: Hitler had a strong desire to fulfill his ambitions and expand German territory. He saw the annexation of Austria as a stepping stone to further conquests and a way to demonstrate his power on the global stage.
• Anti-Semitism: Hitler's strong anti-Semitic beliefs also played a role in his motivations. He knew that Austria had a significant Jewish population, and by annexing the country, he could further his goal of persecuting and marginalizing Jews.
• Propaganda and Popular Support: Hitler understood the power of propaganda and sought to exploit it. He knew that by presenting the annexation as a popular decision, he could gain support from the Austrian people and bolster his reputation. In reality, the plebiscite held in April 1938 was heavily manipulated and did not reflect the true will of the Austrian population.

The aftermath

Austria was completely absorbed into Germany and any official memory of Austrian existence was destroyed and suppressed. Austria was renamed Ostmark (Eastern March); Upper and Lower Austria became Upper and Lower Danube.

Immediately after the invasion, the Nazis arrested many leaders of the anti-Nazi Austrian political parties and a great number of political opponents, particularly communists and socialists. Many Austrians, especially those of Jewish origin, were forced into exile. The Nazis also began a campaign of anti-Semitic violence, forcing Jewish men and women to wash away pro-independence slogans painted on the streets of Vienna. Jewish actresses were forced to clean toilets, and synagogues and Jewish shops and apartments were destroyed and plundered.

The Nazis dissolved Jewish organisations and institutions, hoping to force Jews to emigrate. By the end of 1941, 130,000 Jews had left Vienna, 30,000 of whom went to the United States. The majority of the Jews who had stayed in Vienna eventually became victims of the Holocaust. Of the more than 65,000 Viennese Jews who were deported to concentration camps, fewer than 2,000 survived.

The Anschluss was given immediate effect by legislative act on 13 March 1938, subject to ratification by a referendum. Austria became the province of Ostmark, and Arthur Seyss-Inquart was appointed governor. The referendum was held on 10 April and officially recorded a support of 99.7% of the voters.

Austria remained part of Germany until the end of World War II. A provisional government in Allied-occupied Austria declared the Anschluss "null and void" on 27 April 1945. 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.

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