International Response To Hitler's Austria Invasion

On March 11-13, 1938, Hitler invaded Austria, annexing the country into the German Reich. This event is known as the Anschluss, which translates to 'joining' or 'connection' in German. The international community's response to this act of aggression was only verbal and moderate. No military confrontation took place, and even the strongest voices against the annexation, such as Fascist Italy, France, and Britain, chose to remain at peace.

The international community's lack of intervention

The other European powers, particularly France and Britain, did not intervene or punish Hitler for these violations. This lack of response was due in part to the belief that an Austro-German union was inevitable and that it was not worth fighting for Austria. Additionally, the brutal repression of Austrian Social Democrats by the Dollfuss-Schuschnigg regime had alienated potential supporters in countries like Britain and France.

The failure to intervene had far-reaching consequences. It emboldened Hitler to continue his aggressive actions, leading to the invasion of Czechoslovakia and the start of World War II. The international community's inaction during the Anschluss set a precedent for appeasement and non-intervention, which contributed to the escalation of conflict and the eventual global war.

The lack of intervention by the international community can be attributed to several factors:

• Acceptance of the Inevitable: France and Britain, in particular, seemed to accept that an Austro-German union was inevitable and, therefore, chose not to intervene.
• Lack of Treaty Obligations: Britain's Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain noted that his country had no treaty obligations with Austria, reducing the incentive to take action.
• Isolation of Austria: By the time of the Anschluss, Austria had become diplomatically isolated, with even its former ally, Italy, moving closer to Nazi Germany.
• Internal Political Concerns: France and Britain, still recovering from the devastating effects of World War I, were reluctant to get involved in another conflict and risk further bloodshed.
• Failure to Recognize the Threat: Many failed to comprehend the true extent of Hitler's ambitions and the danger he posed, hoping that appeasement would be enough to satisfy his demands.
• Inadequate Response Mechanisms: The international community lacked effective mechanisms to respond to such acts of aggression, and their verbal protests carried little weight.

The consequences of the international community's lack of intervention were significant:

• Escalation of Conflict: Hitler's aggression escalated, leading to the invasion of Czechoslovakia and the start of World War II.
• Emboldened Expansionism: The lack of consequences emboldened Hitler and sent a message that territorial violations would be tolerated, encouraging further expansionist actions.
• Weakening of the Treaty System: The violation of treaties without repercussions weakened the post-World War I international order and the effectiveness of treaties as a tool for maintaining peace.
• Normalization of Appeasement: The policy of appeasement became normalized, with Britain's Chamberlain famously declaring "peace for our time" after the Munich Agreement, which conceded the Sudetenland to Germany.
• Long-term Impact on Austria: Austria's independence was not restored until 1955, and the country struggled with its complicity in Nazi crimes and the legacy of Nazism for decades.

The appeasement of Hitler

The annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. It was also the first step in Hitler's plan to create a Greater German Reich that would include all ethnic Germans and territories lost after World War I.

The idea of a union between Austria and Germany, or Anschluss, was not new. It had gained support after World War I, when the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain stripped Austria of territories and forbade unification with Germany. By the 1920s, the proposal had strong support in both countries, particularly among Austrian citizens of the political left and center. However, over time, popular support for unification faded.

When Hitler rose to power in 1933, the desire for unification became associated with the Nazis, for whom it was an integral part of their ideology. Hitler, himself an Austrian, had written in his 1925 book, Mein Kampf, that he would unite all Germans in a Nazi German empire by any means possible. He colluded with Austrian Nazis to orchestrate the annexation of Austria, which took place from March 11 to 13, 1938.

In the lead-up to the invasion, Hitler met with Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg on February 12, 1938, and demanded that members of the Austrian Nazi Party be appointed to his cabinet. Fearing a loss of independence, von Schuschnigg called for a national plebiscite to take place on March 13, so Austrians could vote on whether to remain independent or join the Third Reich. Hitler, upon hearing this, decided to invade immediately to prevent the vote.

On March 11, von Schuschnigg cancelled the plebiscite and offered to resign to avoid bloodshed. Hitler then demanded that the president of Austria, Wilhelm Miklas, appoint an Austrian Nazi as the new chancellor. When Miklas refused, Hitler ordered the invasion to begin at dawn on March 12. German soldiers in tanks and armored vehicles crossed the border, encountering no resistance.

The Nazis justified their invasion by claiming that Austria had descended into chaos and circulated fake reports of rioting and street fights caused by Communists. They also printed a phony telegram supposedly from the new chancellor requesting German troops to restore order. On March 13, Austria's parliament formally approved the annexation, and the country ceased to exist as a sovereign nation. It had become a province of Germany.

On April 10, 1938, a plebiscite was held under the supervision of the German army, and 99.75% of Austrian voters supported a union with Germany. This overwhelming support can be attributed to several factors, including relief that bloodshed had been avoided, satisfaction that the humiliations of World War I had been overcome, hope for improved economic conditions, and the desire to resolve the "Jewish Question."

The international community's response to the annexation was moderate, and no military confrontation took place. Even Benito Mussolini, who had previously defended Austria's independence, now backed Hitler. Other world leaders, like British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, felt that Austria was not worth fighting for. Winston Churchill, then a member of Parliament, was a notable exception, 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.

The acceptance of the Anschluss by other nations was a significant act of appeasement, allowing Hitler to continue his expansionist policies unchecked. It was also a watershed moment in Nazi Germany's foreign policy, emboldening Hitler toward further aggression. Just six months later, he manufactured a crisis in the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia, leading to the Munich Agreement in September 1938, where world leaders ceded the region to Nazi Germany to avoid war.

The violation of the Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles was signed on 28 June 1919, marking the end of World War I and placing several restrictions on Germany. The treaty was signed by the Allied and associated powers and by Germany in the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles, France. The treaty stripped Germany of 65,000 sq. miles of territory and 7 million people. It also required Germany to disarm, make territorial concessions, extradite alleged war criminals, recognise the independence of states whose territory had previously been part of the German Empire, and pay reparations to the Entente powers.

The Treaty of Versailles was violated by Hitler when he invaded Austria in 1938. The invasion, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. The unification of Austria and Germany was expressly forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain. The other European powers did not punish the Nazis for violating these international treaties.

The Treaty of Versailles was further violated by Hitler when he invaded Czechoslovakia in 1938, occupying the Sudetenland region. This was followed by the invasion of Poland in 1939, marking the start of World War II.

The violation of the Treaty of Saint-Germain

The Treaty of Saint-Germain was signed on September 10, 1919, by the victorious Allies of World War I and the Republic of German-Austria. The treaty officially registered the breakup of the Habsburg Empire, recognising the independence of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Yugoslavia. It also ceded eastern Galicia, Trento, southern Tirol, Trieste, and Istria.

The Treaty of Saint-Germain was violated by Hitler's annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, in 1938. The Anschluss was the Nazi German regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. The unification of Austria and Germany was expressly forbidden by the Treaty of Saint-Germain.

The Treaty of Saint-Germain had been signed to prevent the unification of Austria and Germany. The unification of all Germans in a Greater Germany was a central tenet of Nazi ideology. Hitler, himself an Austrian, had written in his autobiography and political treatise Mein Kampf that "German-Austria must be restored to the great German Motherland... People of the same blood should be in the same Reich."

Hitler's intention to violate the Treaty of Saint-Germain was clear from the outset of his time in power. In 1920, the 25-point programme of the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), of which Hitler was leader, included the demand: "We demand the unification of all Germans in the Greater Germany on the basis of the right of self-determination of peoples."

In 1937, Hitler told Goebbels that Austria would have to be taken "by force". In November of that year, Hitler held a meeting with his military leaders, at which he stated that the seizure of Austria and Czechoslovakia was part of his plan to acquire "living space" for Germany. Hitler's intention to invade Austria was reiterated in a speech to the Reichstag in May 1935, when he said: "Germany neither intends nor wishes to interfere in the internal affairs of Austria, to annex Austria or to conclude an Anschluss."

In February 1938, Hitler met with Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg and forced him to agree to a set of demands, including the appointment of Arthur Seyss-Inquart as Minister of Public Security. Hitler also pressured Schuschnigg to cancel a referendum on Austrian independence, which was to be held on March 13, 1938. When Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, Hitler ordered the invasion of Austria to commence at dawn the following day.

On March 12, 1938, German troops crossed the Austrian border and were greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers. The invasion was dubbed the Blumenkrieg ("Flower War") because no shots were fired. Hitler himself rode into Austria in a car, crossing the border at his birthplace, Braunau am Inn, and was given an enthusiastic welcome.

On March 13, 1938, Seyss-Inquart announced the abrogation of Article 88 of the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which prohibited the unification of Austria and Germany. The seizure of Austria demonstrated Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions and the failure of Britain and France to take action against him for violating the Treaty of Versailles.

The failure to prevent Hitler's expansionary policies

Firstly, the annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was a significant act of appeasement by other European powers. The Anschluss was the first act of territorial aggression committed by Nazi Germany, and it violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which explicitly prohibited the unification of Austria and Germany. However, the other European powers did not intervene or punish Hitler for these treaty violations. This allowed Hitler to continue his expansionist agenda without consequence.

Secondly, there was significant domestic support for unification in both Germany and Austria. Many Germans and Austrians favoured the idea of a "'Greater Germany,' which would unite all Germans into one nation-state. This sentiment was particularly strong among Austrian citizens of the political left and centre, who believed that a union was necessary for Austria's economic viability after losing its imperial lands. Additionally, Hitler's propaganda campaigns and charismatic oratory skills effectively mobilised public opinion in favour of unification.

Lastly, the international community failed to take decisive action to prevent Hitler's expansionary policies. Despite the clear signs of Hitler's aggressive intentions, the international response to the annexation of Austria was largely verbal and moderate. Britain, France, and Italy, part of the "Stresa Front," chose to remain at peace and did not intervene militarily. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, for example, stated that "nothing could have arrested what has actually happened [in Austria] unless this country and other countries had been prepared to use force." This lack of will to confront Hitler only served to embolden him further.

In conclusion, the failure to prevent Hitler's expansionary policies was a result of a combination of factors, including appeasement by European powers, strong domestic support for unification, and the ineffective and muted response from the international community. These factors allowed Hitler to pursue his agenda unchecked, ultimately leading to the outbreak of World War II in 1939.

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