Austria's Conscripts: The Third Reich's Forced Army

On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. The annexation, known as the Anschluss, was supported by most Austrians, and the next day, Austria was incorporated into Germany. The Austrian population was very pleased to see the German soldiers and police, and the Austrian parliament formally approved the annexation. A referendum was held on April 10, 1938, to ratify the annexation, and 99.75% of Austrian voters supported a union with Germany. During 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. The majority of the bureaucrats who implemented the Final Solution were Austrian.

Hitler's Mein Kampf and its influence on the annexation of Austria

Hitler's Mein Kampf, published in 1925, outlined his desire to create a Greater Germany that included all German speakers. In the book, he described the need for Lebensraum ("living space") for the German people – new lands where they could prosper. This imperialist vision set the stage for the annexation of Austria, which Hitler saw as a natural extension of the German nation.

Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf:

> "German-Austria must return to the great German motherland" and "common blood belongs in a common Reich".

He also stated that he would create a union between his birth country, Austria, and Germany "by any means possible." This early expression of his expansionist ideology provides important context for understanding his actions as Chancellor of Germany.

Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, and he quickly established a dictatorship. He pursued an aggressive foreign policy, seeking to overturn the territorial provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, which had concluded World War I. Hitler's ambitions for a Greater Germany were well-known, and his rise to power caused concern among Austria's leaders, who wished to maintain their country's independence.

However, there were also many Austrians sympathetic to the idea of joining Germany, particularly those who shared Hitler's nationalist ideology. The Nazi Party had supporters in Austria, and they played a significant role in the events leading up to the annexation.

In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite the nation with Nazi Germany. This was not their first attempt, as a similar plot had been thwarted in 1934. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, hoping to reassert his country's independence, met with Hitler but was bullied into appointing several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet.

As tensions escalated, Schuschnigg called for a national vote on the question of annexation, or "Anschluss." However, before the plebiscite could take place, he succumbed to pressure from Hitler and resigned on March 11, 1938. The next day, German troops marched into Austria, and Hitler appointed a new Nazi government. The annexation was proclaimed on March 13, and Austria became a federal state of Germany.

The annexation of Austria was a significant step in Hitler's plan for a Greater Germany and a demonstration of his aggressive territorial ambitions. It was also a watershed moment in Nazi Germany's foreign policy, as it showed the international community's failure to intervene or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties. This emboldened Hitler to continue his expansionist agenda, leading to the invasion of Czechoslovakia and the outbreak of World War II.

The Austrian chancellor's attempted referendum to maintain Austrian independence

In March 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg attempted to hold a referendum on Austrian independence in a bid to prevent the German annexation of Austria. However, on March 11, 1938, the Germans pressured Schuschnigg to cancel the plebiscite and resign. This was preceded by a series of events that began with Austrian Nazis conspiring to seize the Austrian government and unite the nation with Nazi Germany. When Schuschnigg learned of the plot, he met with Adolf Hitler to assert Austria's independence but was coerced into appointing several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet.

On March 9, Schuschnigg called for a national vote to settle the issue of Anschluss, or "annexation," once and for all. However, before the plebiscite could take place, he succumbed to pressure from Hitler and resigned on March 11. In his resignation speech, under duress from the Nazis, he urged Austrian forces not to resist a German incursion into the country.

The following day, March 12, German troops marched into Austria, receiving a warm welcome from the majority of the population. Hitler entered Austria with the troops and appointed a new Nazi government. On March 13, the Anschluss was officially proclaimed, and Austria became a federal state of Germany.

The referendum on the Anschluss with Germany was eventually held on April 10, 1938, after Austria had already been occupied by German troops. The official result showed 99.73% in favour of the union, with a 99.71% turnout. However, it is important to note that the referendum was a sham, as political opponents, socialists, communists, and Austrian citizens of Roma or Jewish origin were not allowed to vote. The ballot design and widespread Nazi propaganda further influenced the outcome.

The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany had far-reaching consequences. Many Austrians participated in the Nazi administration and the Nazi war machine. After World War II, Austria declared independence from Nazi Germany, and the Allied powers recognised an independent Austria.

The role of the Austrian Nazi Party in the annexation

The Austrian Nazi Party played a significant role in the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, also known as the Anschluss. The party's activities and propaganda campaigns helped create the conditions that enabled the annexation to occur.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Austrian Nazi Party was weak, divided, and ineffective. However, by 1931, the bulk of Austrian Nazis recognised Hitler as their leader, and he appointed a German Nazi to bring the Austrian party in line. The Austrian Nazis gained supporters in 1931-1932 as Hitler's popularity in Germany increased, and this was even more noticeable across Austria after Hitler was appointed German chancellor in January 1933.

Austrian Nazis waged a propaganda and terror campaign beginning in May 1933, which was encouraged and funded by Germany. They staged disruptive protests, brawls with political opponents and the police, and set off explosives and tear gas bombs in public places and Jewish-owned businesses. The goal was to undermine the Dollfuss regime by making it look incompetent. The Germans claimed that the Austrian government was treating the Austrian Nazis unfairly, and in late May 1933, the German government announced an economic sanction against Austria, crippling its tourism industry.

In response to the Nazi terrorism, the Austrian government banned the Austrian Nazi Party and its affiliates in June 1933. However, the Austrian Nazis continued to operate illegally within the country, and thousands fled across the border into Germany, where they formed a paramilitary unit known as the Austrian Legion.

On July 25, 1934, Austrian Nazis attempted a coup, assassinating Chancellor Dollfuss. However, the majority of Austrians remained loyal to the government, and the coup attempt failed. Hitler denied any involvement, and the fallout from the plot made it clear that the Nazis would have to wait to gain control of Austria.

In February 1938, Hitler met with Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg and bullied him into making a series of concessions, including appointing Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as Minister of Public Security.

Faced with increasing pressure from pro-unification activists and ever-expanding German demands, Schuschnigg called a referendum on Austrian independence, to be held on March 13, 1938. Infuriated, Hitler threatened an invasion and demanded Schuschnigg's resignation and the appointment of Seyss-Inquart as his replacement. On March 11, 1938, the day before German troops crossed the border, Hitler delivered an ultimatum to Schuschnigg, demanding that he hand over all power to the Austrian Nazis or face an invasion. Without waiting for an answer, Hitler ordered the invasion to commence at dawn on March 12.

The Austrian Nazi Party's activities played a crucial role in creating the conditions that enabled the annexation to occur. Their propaganda campaigns and terror tactics undermined the Austrian government, and their flight to Germany after the failed 1934 coup allowed them to continue their efforts from exile. The party's support for Hitler and their willingness to use violence to achieve their goals ultimately contributed to the fall of independent Austria and its incorporation into Nazi Germany.

Hitler's invasion of Austria to prevent the referendum

Hitler's invasion of Austria in 1938 was a premeditated move to prevent a referendum on Austrian independence and to annex the country to Germany.

In early 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany versus maintaining Austrian sovereignty, to be held on 13 March. Portraying this as defying the popular will in Austria and Germany, Hitler threatened an invasion and secretly pressured Schuschnigg to resign. On 9 March, in the face of rioting by the Austrian Nazi Party and ever-expanding German demands on Austria, Schuschnigg called a referendum (plebiscite) on the issue, to be held on 13 March. Infuriated, on 11 March, Hitler threatened an invasion of Austria and demanded Schuschnigg's resignation and the appointment of the Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as his replacement.

Hitler's plan was for Seyss-Inquart to call immediately for German troops to rush to Austria's aid, restoring order and giving the invasion an air of legitimacy. In the face of this threat, Schuschnigg informed Seyss-Inquart that the plebiscite would be cancelled. Hitler sent an ultimatum to Schuschnigg on 11 March, demanding that he hand over all power to the Austrian Nazis or face an invasion. The ultimatum was set to expire at noon, but was extended by two hours. Without waiting for an answer, Hitler had already signed the order to send troops into Austria at one o'clock.

On the morning of 12 March 1938, German troops marched into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. Hitler now had control of Austria. A month later, Hitler held a rigged referendum. The results showed that the Austrian people approved of German control of their country.

The Austrian population's support for the annexation

The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, was met with enthusiasm by most of the Austrian population. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria and were greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers. The invasion, which was not met with any resistance, was thus dubbed the Blumenkrieg, or "Flower War".

The popularity of the Anschluss among Austrians can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, there was a genuine and spontaneous enthusiasm for the idea of a unified German state, which was viewed as a completion of the complex and long-overdue unification of all Germans. This sentiment was particularly strong among Austrian citizens of the political left and center, who believed that Austria, stripped of its imperial land, was not economically viable as an independent state. Secondly, the populace was relieved that bloodshed had been avoided, and memories of wartime solidarity and the humiliations of 1918 were revived. Thirdly, Austrians hoped for an improvement in their everyday lives, as they were aware of Hitler's economic achievements in Germany. Finally, the Anschluss was welcomed as an opportunity to pursue the so-called ""Jewish Question", and the subsequent antisemitic violence perpetrated by Austrian Nazis and their accomplices further enhanced the popularity of the regime.

However, it is important to note that support for the Anschluss was not unanimous. While the official plebiscite result showed 99.7% approval, this vote was neither free nor secret, and around 360,000 people, mainly political enemies and those of Jewish or Romani origin, were disenfranchised. Additionally, British historian Donny Gluckstein notes that Austrian socialists reacted with "disgust" to the endorsement of the Anschluss by Karl Renner, the leader of the Social Democratic Party of Austria, which prompted many to defect to other parties. Furthermore, the endorsement of the Anschluss by Cardinal Theodor Innitzer, the highest representative of the Roman Catholic Church in Austria, was reportedly despised by Austrian workers, and Catholic protests were held under the slogan "Our Führer is Christ". According to Hungarian historian Oszkár Jászi, the idea of the Anschluss was opposed by most political circles in Austria, including Austrian socialism, Catholicism, Jews, old Habsburgist officers and officials, and a considerable part of Austrian capitalism.

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