Austria's Annexation: Understanding The Meaning Of Anschluss

The Anschluss, which took place on 12 March 1938, was the annexation of Austria into the German Reich. The word 'Anschluss' is German for 'joining' or 'connection', and the event was also known as the 'Annexation of Austria'. The idea of a unified Germany and Austria had been proposed after the unification of Germany in 1871 excluded Austria, and it gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. The annexation was carried out by Adolf Hitler, who had risen to power in Germany in 1933. The Anschluss was the first act of territorial aggression by Nazi Germany, and it was widely popular in both Germany and Austria. However, it was also met with resistance, and many Austrians tried to flee the country. The annexation was a violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which forbade the unification of Germany and Austria.

The annexation of Austria into the German Reich

Background to the Annexation

The idea of uniting Austria and Germany, or the "Anschluss," emerged after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and German Austrians from the new German Empire. The concept gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, as the new Republic of German-Austria sought to unite with Germany. However, the Treaty of Saint Germain and the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 forbade this union and stripped Austria of some of its territories. This left Austria in an economically vulnerable state, making the idea of unification with Germany more appealing to many Austrians.

Rise of Hitler and Nazi Influence

In 1933, with the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis in Germany, the desire for unification intensified. The Nazis strongly advocated for the "Heim ins Reich" concept, aiming to incorporate ethnic Germans outside of Germany into a "Greater Germany." Nazi agents worked to cultivate pro-unification sentiments in Austria and undermine the Austrian government, which was controlled by the Austrofascist Fatherland Front opposing unification. In 1934, Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was assassinated by Austrian Nazis during a failed coup attempt. This prompted many leading Austrian Nazis to flee to Germany, where they continued their efforts.

Events Leading to Annexation

In early 1938, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, facing pressure from pro-unification activists, announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany, to be held on March 13, 1938. Hitler, portraying this as defying the popular will, threatened an invasion and secretly pressured Schuschnigg to resign. On March 12, 1938, the day before the planned referendum, German troops crossed the border into Austria unopposed by the Austrian military.

The Annexation and its Aftermath

The annexation of Austria was a significant step in Hitler's vision of creating a "Greater German Reich." It provided access to raw materials, labour, and economic resources, strengthening Germany's position before the outbreak of World War II. The international response to the annexation was relatively muted, with only verbal protests and no military confrontation. This emboldened Hitler to pursue further aggressive territorial ambitions, leading to the invasion of Czechoslovakia and other neighbouring countries.

Hitler's expansion of the Third Reich

The Anschluss, or the annexation of Austria, was a key part of Hitler's expansion of the Third Reich. The idea of a union between Germany and Austria was not new and had been proposed after the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria. The proposal gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and by the 1920s, the idea had strong support in both countries. However, after Hitler's rise to power in 1933, the proposal became less attractive, as it was now associated with the Nazis.

Hitler had long harboured ambitions to build a German empire or 'Greater Germany', which he outlined in his book, Mein Kampf, published in 1925. In it, he described the need for Lebensraum (living space) for the German people and new lands where they could prosper. Hitler's expansionist goals were also driven by a desire to reverse the points of the Treaty of Versailles, which he felt were holding Germany back from achieving its full potential.

Hitler's first attempt to unify Germany and Austria came in 1934, when sympathetic Austrian Nazis planned a coup d'etat. However, this attempt failed, and an authoritarian right-wing government took power in Austria, keeping perhaps half the population from voicing legitimate dissent. In July 1936, Hitler and Mussolini, the fascist dictator of Italy, signed a gentlemen's agreement, which Hitler used to pressure the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg. Hitler sought to preserve the facade of legality while applying political pressure, threatening the use of force.

In February 1938, Hitler invited Schuschnigg to Germany and forced him to agree to give the Austrian Nazis virtually a free hand. Schuschnigg tried to strengthen his government and position with Hitler by calling a referendum on the idea of the Anschluss. However, Hitler was shocked at this development and, worried that the plebiscite would reveal a no vote to a union, had to act fast. He ordered Austrian Nazis to create civil unrest and mobilised the German army, which entered Austria on March 12, 1938, unopposed. The enthusiasm that followed gave Hitler the cover to annex Austria outright on March 13. A controlled plebiscite on April 10 gave a 99.7 percent approval.

Austria's raw materials, currency reserves, and strategic position were additional reasons for Nazi Germany to absorb Austria. Possession of Austria improved Germany's strategic position in Europe and allowed for an easier invasion of neighbouring states, particularly in the Balkans and Czechoslovakia. Austria was also rich in raw materials, with deposits of iron ore, oil, and magnesite, which could be transported to factories in Germany.

The annexation of Austria was one of the first major steps in Hitler's expansion of the Third Reich and was followed by the invasion of Czechoslovakia, the occupation of Poland, and the invasion of other European countries.

Violation of the Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles, signed on 28 June 1919, was the primary treaty produced by the Paris Peace Conference at the end of World War I. The treaty was signed in the Palace of Versailles, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, which had led to the war. The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty between the Allied and associated powers and Germany. It ended the state of war between Germany and most of the Allied Powers.

The Treaty of Versailles was a violation of the Fourteen Points, which were a set of proposals for world peace, including free trade, open agreements, democracy, and self-determination, outlined by President Woodrow Wilson on 8 January 1918. The Fourteen Points were based on the research of the Inquiry, a team of about 150 advisors led by foreign-policy advisor Edward M. House.

The Treaty of Versailles contradicted the Fourteen Points in several ways. Firstly, the treaty required Germany to disarm, make territorial concessions, extradite alleged war criminals, and recognise the independence of states whose territory had previously been part of the German Empire. These requirements went against the Fourteen Points' call for a negotiated end to the war, international disarmament, and the redrawing of Europe's borders along ethnic lines.

Secondly, the Treaty of Versailles included the "War Guilt" clause, which stated that Germany accepted responsibility for causing all the loss and damage imposed upon the Allied and Associated Powers as a consequence of the war. This clause contradicted the Fourteen Points' aim to detach the war from nationalistic disputes and ambitions.

Finally, the Treaty of Versailles established the League of Nations, which provided for the creation of a league of nations to guarantee the political independence and territorial integrity of all states. This went against the Fourteen Points' proposal for the creation of a League of Nations to revise peace treaties and deal with problems that arose as a result of the peace and the rise of new states.

The Treaty of Versailles was also a violation of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which was a separate peace treaty signed between Germany and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic in March 1918. The Treaty of Versailles required Germany to renounce "all rights and title" over Polish territory and recognise the independence of Poland, which went against the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which amounted to a surrender that was highly favourable to Germany.

Additionally, the Treaty of Versailles violated the Treaty of Frankfurt of 1871, which pertained to the provinces of Alsace-Lorraine. The Treaty of Versailles restored these provinces to France, rescinding the treaties of Versailles and Frankfurt of 1871.

The Treaty of Versailles also led to the violation of other treaties, such as the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye and the Treaty of Trianon, which were signed with Austria and Hungary, respectively, as well as the Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine, which was signed with Bulgaria. These treaties included similar articles to the Treaty of Versailles, including the "War Guilt" clause and provisions for reparations.

The Treaty of Versailles set the stage for World War II by creating resentment in Germany, which was exploited by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. The treaty's harsh terms, including the "War Guilt" clause and the requirement for reparations, were used by Hitler to rally support for his nationalist agenda and the unification of all Germans into one state. This ultimately led to the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland, provoking an international crisis that led to the Munich Agreement in September 1938.

Austria's loss of sovereignty

The Anschluss, which took place on March 12, 1938, marked the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into the German Reich. This event, also known as the Annexation of Austria, was the culmination of a long-held desire for a Greater Germany that would unite Austria and Germany. While the idea of the Anschluss gained support in the 1920s, particularly among Austrian citizens of the political left and centre, it was the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis in 1933 that brought about its realisation.

The loss of Austrian sovereignty began with the increasing pressure from pro-unification activists, which led Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg to announce a referendum on a possible union with Germany. This was met with threats of invasion from Hitler, who also demanded Schuschnigg's resignation and the appointment of a pro-Nazi chancellor, Arthur Seyss-Inquart. On March 11, 1938, the day before the planned referendum, the German army crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military.

The loss of Austrian sovereignty was further solidified when, on March 12, Seyss-Inquart was appointed chancellor and signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, formally incorporating Austria into Nazi Germany. The country was renamed Ostmark, and Austrian civil servants and soldiers were required to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler. The Austrian government was dissolved, and the country's name, Österreich, was banned from public use.

The Nazis quickly moved to impose their ideology and suppress dissent. They imprisoned political opponents and rounded up Jews, subjecting them to humiliation and violence. The Nazis also seized control of Austrian banks and industries, gaining access to raw materials, labour, and financial reserves.

The international response to the loss of Austrian sovereignty was muted, with most governments expressing dissatisfaction but failing to take any significant action. This allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked. The loss of Austrian sovereignty marked a turning point, as Austria was transformed from an independent country into a province of Nazi Germany, with its people subjected to Nazi rule and its resources exploited to further Hitler's ambitions.

The beginning of World War II

The idea of the Anschluss was not new and had been proposed as early as the 19th century. After World War I, the desire for unification grew, especially among Austrian citizens of the political left and center, who believed that a union would improve Austria's economic situation. However, popular support for unification waned over time.

When Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933, the idea of the Anschluss took on a more sinister character, becoming an integral part of Nazi ideology. Hitler, himself an Austrian, had expressed his desire to unite all Germans in his book, "Mein Kampf," published in 1925. He saw Austria as a source of manpower, raw materials, and financial resources.

In the years leading up to the Anschluss, there were several failed attempts by Austrian and German Nazis to overthrow the Austrian government and establish a pro-Nazi regime. These included a coup attempt in 1934, which resulted in the assassination of Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss by Austrian Nazis. Despite these setbacks, Hitler continued to pursue his goal of uniting Germany and Austria.

In early 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, facing pressure from pro-unification activists, announced a referendum on the potential union with Germany. Hitler, fearing that the referendum would not go his way, threatened an invasion and forced Schuschnigg to resign. On March 12, 1938, German troops crossed the border into Austria unopposed, and a plebiscite held on April 10, 1938, resulted in a manipulated vote of 99.7% approval for the Anschluss.

The reaction of foreign powers to the annexation of Austria was muted, with most governments expressing only a mild dissatisfaction with Hitler's methods. This lack of response emboldened Hitler to continue his aggressive expansionist policies, leading to the Munich Agreement in September 1938, where Germany was permitted to annex the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia.

The annexation of Austria was a significant step towards World War II as it demonstrated Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions and the failure of the international community to take decisive action against him. It also provided Germany with valuable resources and strengthened its strategic position in Europe, setting the stage for further invasions and ultimately, the outbreak of World War II in 1939 with the German invasion of Poland.

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