Uniting Neighbors: Germany And Austria's Defining Event

The unification of Germany and Austria has been a topic of discussion since the 19th century. The idea of grouping all Germans into one nation-state, known as Greater Germany, gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. However, the unification of the two countries was prohibited by the Versailles and St. Germain treaties. Despite this, in March 1938, German troops marched into Austria and annexed the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich, an event known as the Anschluss. This was achieved through annexation by Adolf Hitler, who forced Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to agree to give the Austrian Nazis more power.

The Anschluss

In the 1920s and 1930s, the proposal for a united Austria and Germany gained strong support in both countries, particularly from those who considered themselves ethnically German and wanted to restore the empire. The Nazis also wanted to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe and considered the international borders unfair. They believed that Germans had been denied the right of self-determination. The unification of Austria and Germany was an integral part of the Nazi "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept, which aimed to incorporate as many ethnic Germans as possible into a "Greater Germany".

In the early 1930s, the Austrian Nazi Party gained popularity, and in July 1934, Austrian and German Nazis attempted to overthrow the Austrian government. This coup attempt failed, and the Austrian Nazi Party was banned, driving its members to operate illegally or flee to Germany, where they formed the paramilitary Austrian Legion. Despite the ban, support for the unification of Austria and Germany remained in Austrian political discourse.

In February 1938, Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg was forced by Hitler to agree to give the Austrian Nazis more power. Schuschnigg later announced a plebiscite (referendum) on the question of Austrian independence, but he was pressured to cancel it and resign. On March 12, the German army invaded Austria, and the annexation was completed on March 13. A controlled plebiscite held on April 10 showed 99.7% approval for the union, but this vote was manipulated through threats and coercion.

Austria-Germany relations

Austria and Germany have historically had close relations due to their shared history, language, and ethnicity. In the 19th century, discussions emerged regarding the unification of Germany and Austria, with two proposed solutions: the Kleindeutsche Losung (excluding Austria) and the Grossdeutsche Losung (including Austria). The former, or "small Germany" solution, was ultimately adopted in the Peace of Prague, leading to the establishment of the North German Confederation in 1866 and the German Empire in 1871, both of which excluded Austria.

Despite this, the idea of uniting Austria and Germany, known as the "Anschluss," persisted and gained support after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. In March 1938, Nazi Germany, under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, annexed Austria, marking a significant event in the history of Austria-Germany relations. This annexation was prohibited by the Versailles and St. Germain treaties but was nonetheless enforced by Hitler, who aimed to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe.

In the years leading up to the annexation, Austria faced internal struggles as Austrian Nazis attempted to seize power. In 1933, the Dollfuss regime banned the Austrian Nazi Party, leading to illegal operations and the formation of the Austrian Legion in Germany. In 1934, Austrian Nazis attempted a coup, which was unsuccessful due to the intervention of loyal police and army units, as well as Italian support for Austrian independence. However, by 1936, strategic collaboration between Italy and Germany left Austria isolated.

In February 1938, Hitler pressured Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to include Nazi ministers in his government. Schuschnigg initially called for a plebiscite on the Anschluss but ultimately canceled the vote and resigned under coercion from the Nazis. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, and Hitler annexed the country, uniting it with Nazi Germany. This event was met with enthusiasm from some Germans living in Austria and Czechoslovakia, who felt suppressed across borders.

Following the annexation, Jews in Austria faced increasing persecution and were gradually robbed of their freedoms, blocked from professions, and forced to emigrate. By the end of 1941, 130,000 Jews had left Vienna, with many becoming victims of the Holocaust.

After World War II, there were no serious efforts to unite Germany and Austria, and the Austrian State Treaty forbids such a union. Austria developed a separate national identity, and military occupation of Germany led to the formation of West Germany and East Germany. Despite this, the two countries maintained close cooperation in economic and cultural fields during the Cold War.

German annexation of Austria

The German annexation of Austria, also known as the Anschluss, was the incorporation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany. This event, which took place on 12 March 1938, was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany.

Background

The idea of uniting Austria and Germany dated back to the 19th century. After the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire, the notion of a Greater Germany gained support. The desire for an Austro-German union was also expressed in Adolf Hitler's earliest writings and speeches, with the first point of the Nazi Party Platform (1920) stating:

> We demand the union of all Germans in a Greater Germany (Großdeutschland) on the basis of the right of national self-determination.

Austria experienced economic turbulence during the Great Depression, and by 1937, rapid German rearmament increased Berlin's interest in annexing Austria, which was rich in raw materials and labour.

Attempts to Preserve Austrian Sovereignty

In June 1933, the Austrian government banned the Austrian Nazi Party and its affiliates in response to a fatal Nazi bombing. However, Austrian Nazis continued to operate illegally, and many fled to Germany, where they formed the paramilitary Austrian Legion. On 25 July 1934, Austrian Nazis attempted to overthrow the Austrian government, resulting in the assassination of Chancellor Dollfuss. Despite these challenges, his successor, Kurt Schuschnigg, maintained a similar political course, using the police to suppress Nazi supporters.

The Annexation

On 11-13 March 1938, German troops invaded Austria, and a plebiscite held on 10 April resulted in a manipulated vote with 99.7% approval. The annexation was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, but it was met with violence against Austria's Jewish population. Over 6,000 Jews were arrested, and the Nuremberg Laws applied in Austria, gradually robbing Jews of their freedoms and forcing them to emigrate.

The German annexation of Austria violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of the two countries. This act demonstrated Nazi disdain for the post-World War I European order and allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked.

Austrian Nazis

The DNSAP was banned in 1933 under Engelbert Dollfuss, who served as Chancellor of Austria from 1932 to 1934. In June 1933, Dollfuss outlawed the DNSAP and its affiliates in response to a fatal Nazi bombing. Despite the ban, Austrian Nazis continued to operate illegally, and many fled to Germany, where they formed the paramilitary Austrian Legion (Österreichische Legion). On July 25, 1934, Austrian Nazis attempted a coup, seizing the Austrian chancellery and assassinating Dollfuss. Kurt von Schuschnigg replaced Dollfuss as chancellor but struggled to maintain Austrian independence in the face of Nazi aggression.

The German annexation of Austria occurred on March 12, 1938, with the German army crossing the border a day before a planned referendum. A plebiscite held in April 1938 indicated overwhelming support for the union, although the results were manipulated, and Jews and Roma were excluded from voting. The Anschluss led to widespread persecution of Jews, with over 6,000 arrested overnight and sent to concentration camps. Anti-Jewish legislation forced Jews out of the country's economic, social, and cultural life, leading to a mass exodus.

The union with Germany was generally well-received by the Austrian population, but it also sparked debates about Austria's role in Nazi crimes. For decades after World War II, Austria portrayed itself as "Hitler's first victim" and avoided confronting its complicity in Nazi atrocities. It was not until the late 20th century, with incidents like the Waldheim Affair, that Austria began to reckon with its Nazi past and acknowledge its involvement in World War II and the resulting injustices.

Austria's sovereignty

In the 19th century, the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and the subsequent break-up of the German Confederation raised questions about the possibility of a united Germany and Austria. The Austrian Empire, under the House of Habsburg, favoured a "Greater Germany Solution", which would have united all German states, including the non-German regions of Austria, under their leadership. However, this idea was opposed by Prussia, which sought to dominate the German Empire that emerged in 1871 and did not include Austria.

The desire for a united Austria and Germany persisted, particularly after World War I. The fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 led to the establishment of the Republic of German-Austria, which sought to unite with Germany. However, the Treaty of Saint Germain and the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 expressly forbade this union and stripped Austria of some of its territories.

In the lead-up to World War II, Austria's sovereignty was once again threatened by Nazi Germany. Adolf Hitler and the Nazis sought to redraw the map of Europe and considered the postwar international borders illegitimate. On March 12, 1938, the German Army crossed the border into Austria, and a plebiscite was held on April 10, resulting in the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany. This event, known as the "Anschluss", was a significant step in Hitler's plan to create a "Greater Germany".

After World War II, Austria was jointly occupied by the Western Allies and the Soviet Union until 1955. During this period, the Allies agreed in the Declaration of Moscow in 1943 to treat Austria as a liberated and independent country, recognizing its sovereignty. Finally, on May 15, 1955, the Austrian State Treaty, or Austrian Independence Treaty, was signed in Vienna, officially re-establishing Austria as a sovereign, independent, and democratic state. The treaty came into force on July 27, 1955, and all occupation forces were withdrawn by October 25. On October 26, Austria declared its perpetual neutrality, which it has maintained ever since.

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