Austria's Response To Hitler: Exploring Historical Actions And Decisions

Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, an event known as the Anschluss. The annexation was the first act of territorial aggression by Nazi Germany, and it was widely popular in both Germany and Austria. Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss banned the Austrian Nazi Party in 1933, but this did not stop the Nazis from continuing to operate illegally within the country. In 1934, a pro-Nazi group tried to overthrow the Austrian government, resulting in the assassination of Dollfuss. Despite this, Hitler claimed in 1935 that he had no intention of interfering in Austrian affairs or pursuing an Anschluss. However, in 1938, Hitler changed course and demanded that Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg appoint members of the Austrian Nazi Party to his cabinet. Fearing an invasion, Schuschnigg called for a national plebiscite to allow Austrians to vote on their nation's independence. Hitler responded by ordering the German military to invade Austria, and Schuschnigg was forced to cancel the plebiscite and resign. German troops entered Austria on March 12, 1938, encountering no resistance, and Austria became a province of Germany. A referendum was held on April 10, 1938, to legitimize the annexation, with more than 99% of Austrians voting in favour.

Austria's chancellor was assassinated by a pro-Nazi group in July 1934

On 25 July 1934, Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was assassinated by a group of Austrian Nazis, including Otto Planetta, Franz Holzweber, Ernst Feike, Franz Leeb, Josef Hackl, Ludwig Maitzen, Erich Wohlraab, and Paul Hudl. The assassins entered the Chancellery building and shot Dollfuss, who died a few hours later from his wounds.

This event marked a significant turning point in Austrian history and set off a series of consequential events. Dollfuss, who served as Chancellor and Dictator of Austria from 1932 to 1934, was a strong opponent of Adolf Hitler's goal to absorb Austria into the Third Reich. He had banned the Austrian Nazi Party and established a one-party dictatorship based on Austrofascism, which was modelled after Italian fascism and opposed unification with Germany as long as the Nazi Party remained in power.

Dollfuss's assassination was part of a failed coup attempt by Nazi agents, which included seizing control of the state radio station in Vienna and prematurely announcing the coup. However, the majority of Austrians remained loyal to the government, and the Austrian military and police forces quickly defeated the conspirators. The coup's failure led to the arrest and execution of several conspirators, with Hudl being sentenced to life in prison and the others sentenced to death.

The assassination of Dollfuss had far-reaching consequences and heightened tensions between Italy and Germany. Benito Mussolini, a longtime patron of the Dollfuss dictatorship, was outraged by the coup attempt and assassination. He mobilised Italian troops to guarantee Austrian independence and took steps to break with Hitler. Mussolini's actions demonstrated the international repercussions of the assassination and the complex geopolitical dynamics at play.

Following Dollfuss's death, Kurt Schuschnigg became the new Chancellor of Austria. Schuschnigg continued many of his predecessor's authoritarian policies and ruled mostly by decree. However, he faced significant challenges, including managing the economy of a nearly bankrupt state and dealing with armed paramilitary forces within Austria. Despite his efforts, Schuschnigg ultimately failed to preserve Austria's independence, and in 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in an event known as the Anschluss.

Hitler demanded that Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg call off the plebiscite

On the 11th of March 1938, Hitler gave the Austrian government a series of ultimatums, including that Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg must call off the plebiscite, Schuschnigg must resign as chancellor, and Austrian president Wilhelm Miklas must appoint Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as the new Austrian chancellor.

Hitler's demands were a direct response to Schuschnigg's attempts to assert Austrian independence. On the 9th of March, Schuschnigg had called for a plebiscite (referendum) to be held on the 13th of March, asking voters to support or reject Austrian independence. The referendum question was:

> "For a free and German, independent and social, Christian and united Austria! For peace and work and the equality of all who profess the Volk and Fatherland."

Hitler was infuriated by the plebiscite and decided to act. He gave the Austrian government a series of ultimatums, including that Schuschnigg must call off the plebiscite. That evening, Austrian radio announced the cancellation of the upcoming plebiscite on Austrian independence. Schuschnigg also announced his resignation, stating that he was unwilling to fight a war or spill blood for Austrian independence.

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

Hitler's demands and the subsequent German annexation of Austria (known as the Anschluss) were widely popular in both Germany and Austria. However, the Anschluss was also an act of territorial aggression and expansion, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. The international community did not intervene or punish Nazi Germany for these violations, allowing Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked.

Hitler ordered the invasion of Austria to begin at dawn on March 12, 1938

Hitler's invasion of Austria was a premeditated step in his plan to wage aggressive wars against other countries. The invasion was ordered to begin at dawn on March 12, 1938, and was justified by claims of chaos and rioting in Vienna. German newspapers printed a phony telegram from the Austrian chancellor requesting German troops to restore order.

Hitler's troops crossed the Austrian border early in the morning, encountering no resistance. The Austrian population welcomed Hitler warmly as he travelled to Linz and then on to Vienna. The invasion was the first step in Hitler's plan to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe and unite all Germans in a Nazi empire.

Hitler had long expressed his desire for an Austro-German union. In his 1925 book, Mein Kampf, he wrote:

> German-Austria must return to the great German motherland, and not because of economic considerations of any sort. No, no: even if from the economic point of view this union were unimportant, indeed, if it were harmful, it ought nevertheless to be brought about. Common blood belongs in a common Reich.

Hitler's invasion of Austria was the first step in his plan to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe and unite all Germans in a Nazi empire. The invasion was also a violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany.

The international community did not intervene to stop the invasion or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties. This was a significant act of appeasement, which allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked.

German soldiers in tanks and armoured vehicles crossed the Austrian border

On the morning of March 12, 1938, German soldiers in tanks and armoured vehicles crossed the Austrian border, encountering no resistance. The previous day, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg had cancelled a plebiscite on Austrian independence and offered to resign to avoid bloodshed. The German invasion was ordered by Hitler, who demanded that the Austrian president, Wilhelm Miklas, appoint a member of the Austrian Nazi Party as the nation's next chancellor. When Miklas refused, Hitler ordered the invasion to begin at dawn.

The German soldiers were greeted with cheers and flowers as they crossed the border. Austrians welcomed Hitler warmly as he travelled first to Linz and then on to Vienna. The invasion was justified by the Nazis, who claimed that Austria had descended into chaos and that German troops were necessary to restore order. They circulated fake reports of rioting in Vienna and street fights caused by Communists. German newspapers printed a phony telegram, supposedly from the new Austrian chancellor, stating that German troops were needed to restore order.

The invasion was the culmination of years of political tension and violence between Austrian Nazis and the Austrian government. Hitler had long desired an Austro-German union, writing in his 1925 book, Mein Kampf, that "German-Austria must return to the great German motherland". In July 1934, a pro-Nazi group tried to overthrow the Austrian government with Hitler's approval and assistance from German officials. Although the group assassinated Austria's chancellor, Engelbert Dollfuss, the coup failed when Austrian military leaders did not support it.

Hitler's invasion of Austria was the first step in his plan to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe. By annexing Austria, the Nazis violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. The annexation was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, with most Austrians enthusiastically supporting the Nazification of their country. However, a small minority of Austrians actively participated in the resistance against Nazism.

Hitler gave a speech in Vienna, declaring Austria part of the German Empire

On March 15, 1938, two days after the annexation of Austria, Hitler gave a speech from the balcony of the Hofburg, a former Habsburg palace in Vienna. The square below, Heldenplatz, was filled with hundreds of thousands of Austrians, some of whom climbed two famous monuments—Prinz Eugen and Archduke Karl—to get a better view.

Hitler's speech focused on the future of the German Reich and Austria, his motherland. He declared that the reunification of Germany and Austria was a "life task to be carried out by all means" and that "people of the same blood should be in the same Reich."

Hitler's speech was part of a series of celebrations within the streets of Vienna, including military parades along the Ringstrasse, the heart of the capital. The next day, units of the newly formed Austrian SS paraded in Heldenplatz, near the Hofburg Palace.

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