Leslie Massey
During the 1930s, Austria underwent a series of significant political and social changes. The country was marked by violent strife between left-wing and right-wing groups, with Austrian politics characterised by infighting and instability. The rise of the Austrian Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, gained momentum in the early 1930s, and by 1933, Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss established an authoritarian regime. Despite initial weakness, the Austrian Nazi Party grew in popularity, and in March 1938, Nazi Germany annexed Austria, an event known as the Anschluss. This marked the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany and led to the persecution of Austria's Jewish population, with the establishment of concentration camps and the enforcement of anti-Jewish legislation. The annexation was met with enthusiasm by many Austrians, and during World War II, Austrians actively participated in the Nazi war machine and the mass murder of Jews.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Nazi Germany's annexation of Austria | 11–13 March 1938 |
| Nazi Germany's first act of territorial aggression and expansion | Annexation of Austria |
| Violated treaties | Treaty of Versailles, Treaty of Saint-Germain |
| Austrian population in 1938 | 6.5 million |
| Jewish population in 1938 | 192,000 |
| Percentage of Jewish population in 1938 | 4% |
| Austrian Jews living in Vienna in 1938 | 9% |
| Number of Jews remaining in Vienna by December 1939 | 57,000 |
| Nazi camp established in Austria in the summer of 1938 | Mauthausen concentration camp |
| Number of prisoners worked to death in Mauthausen and its subcamps | Thousands |
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What You'll Learn
The Austrian Nazi Party gained supporters in 1931–1932
The Austrian Nazi Party's early years were marked by disarray and ineffectiveness. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the party was weak, divided, and internally conflicted about their relationship with Hitler and the German Nazis. However, the party's fortunes began to change in 1931, as they started gaining supporters and recognition.
By 1931, a significant portion of Austrian Nazis acknowledged Hitler as their leader. Hitler responded by appointing a German Nazi to bring the Austrian party in line with his agenda. The Austrian Nazi Party's growing support can be attributed to several factors, including Hitler's rising popularity in Germany, the economic crisis, and effective propaganda campaigns. The slogan "500,000 Unemployed – 400,000 Jews – Simple way out; vote National Socialist" exploited economic anxieties and antisemitism, attracting disaffected Austrians to the party.
Hitler's appointment as German chancellor in January 1933 further bolstered the Austrian Nazi Party's popularity. This development, coupled with the rise of the Nazis in 1933, exacerbated the instability in Austrian politics, which was already fraught with infighting and violence. Taking advantage of the situation, Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss transformed Austria into a right-wing authoritarian regime under his control.
The idea of unification with Germany, or the "Anschluss," had been proposed as early as the 1920s and gained support from Austrians across the political spectrum, including prominent Social Democrat leader Otto Bauer. However, by 1931, regional patriotism seemed to outweigh pan-German sentiment, and the Austrian government pursued a customs union with Germany instead of full unification. Despite this, the Austrian Nazi Party's increasing popularity and Hitler's aggression would eventually lead to the annexation of Austria in 1938, marking the regime's first act of territorial expansion.
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Engelbert Dollfuss transformed Austria into a right-wing authoritarian regime under his control
In the early 1930s, Austria was facing significant political and economic turmoil, which created a fertile ground for the rise of authoritarianism. Engelbert Dollfuss, an Austrian politician and leader of the Christian Social Party, seized the opportunity to establish a right-wing authoritarian regime that consolidated power under his control. Here's how Dollfuss transformed Austria during this tumultuous period:
Dollfuss became chancellor of Austria in 1932, at a time when the country was facing a severe economic crisis and rising political tensions. He immediately set out to consolidate power and establish his authoritarian rule. One of his first moves was to disband the parliament and govern by decree, effectively concentrating decision-making power in his own hands. He justified these actions by claiming that they were necessary to maintain order and stability in the face of the ongoing crisis.
Dollfuss was a staunch anti-communist and believed in the importance of maintaining traditional social hierarchies. He sought to preserve the power of the Catholic Church and the influence of landed aristocracy, while also promoting the interests of small and medium-sized businesses. To this end, he established corporatist economic policies that organized key sectors of the economy into state-controlled interest groups, effectively sidelining the free market and reducing the power of large capital.
Under Dollfuss' regime, Austria became a one-party state, with all other political parties banned or severely restricted. He established a new party, the "Fatherland Front," which became the sole legal political organization in the country. The Fatherland Front promoted a conservative, nationalist, and Catholic ideology, and it served as a vehicle for Dollfuss to maintain control over the population and suppress dissent. He also cultivated a cult of personality, with his image and that of the Fatherland Front being prominently displayed in propaganda posters and rallies.
Dollfuss' regime employed strict censorship and surveillance measures to control the flow of information and suppress opposition. He established a powerful security apparatus, including a secret police force, to monitor and intimidate political opponents, particularly those on the left. Newspapers and other media outlets were tightly controlled, and any criticism of the government or its policies was swiftly punished. This created an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship, effectively stifling dissent and solidifying Dollfuss' hold on power.
Additionally, Dollfuss sought to instill a sense of national unity and pride through the promotion of traditional Austrian culture and values. He emphasized the importance of religion, family, and patriotism, and encouraged social conservatism and obedience to authority. This cultural policy aimed to create a sense of cohesion and shared identity, while also marginalizing and stigmatizing those who did not conform to the regime's ideals, particularly the country's Jewish minority.
In terms of foreign policy, Dollfuss aligned Austria closely with Italy under Benito Mussolini. He sought to balance the influence of Nazi Germany, which was a significant threat to Austrian independence. However, his regime also adopted some of the racist and nationalist rhetoric of the Nazis, particularly in its treatment of Jews and its promotion of an ethnonationalist vision of Austrian identity. Ultimately, Dollfuss' efforts to maintain Austrian independence would prove futile, as he was assassinated by Nazi sympathizers in 1934, and Austria would eventually be annexed by Germany in 1938.
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The Austrian Civil War took place in 1934
The Austrian Civil War, also known as the February Uprising, took place in February 1934. It was sparked by the constant search for weapons deposits kept by the outlawed Republikanischer Schutzbund, the paramilitary wing of the Social Democratic Workers' Party. On 12 February 1934, police officers attempted to raid the Hotel Schiff in Linz, a property belonging to the Social Democratic Party, leading to an exchange of gunfire. The conflict quickly spread to other cities and towns in Austria, including Vienna, where members of the Protection League barricaded themselves in city council housing estates.
The Austrian Civil War was a result of the increasingly violent strife between those with left-wing and right-wing views in Austria during the early 20th century. The First Austrian Republic, created in 1919 after the end of World War I, was marked by political instability and violence. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Engelbert Dollfuss became Chancellor and transformed Austria from a democratic republic into a right-wing authoritarian regime under his control. He suspended parliament and used emergency laws to rule by decree, abolishing civil liberties and restricting freedom of the press and assembly. Tensions escalated when the Communist Party of Austria was banned in May 1933, followed by the Republican Protection League in July.
On 11 February 1934, the leader of the Heimwehr, a paramilitary formation of the Christian Social Party, declared his support for Chancellor Dollfuss. In response, the commander of the paramilitary Socialist Schutzbund in Upper Austria, Richard Bernaschek, sent a letter to the party leadership in Vienna, stating that they would resist any weapon searches in Upper Austria. The following day, police officers raided the Linz party headquarters of the Social Democrats, and members of the Protection League opened fire, sparking the Austrian Civil War.
The fighting was particularly intense in Vienna, where it was considered "the pinnacle of urban warfare for the time". The battles were fought for control of the large municipal housing estates, including Karl-Marx-Hof, Reumannhof, and Sandleiten. The Austrian Civil War ended on 15 February 1934, with the defeat of the Protection League by the Austrian government forces, including the police, Army, and Heimwehr divisions. The final death toll from the conflict is estimated to be between 350 and 370 people, with the largest number of deaths occurring in Vienna.
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Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938
In the years leading up to the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, the country was in a state of political turmoil. The First Austrian Republic, established in 1919, was marked by violent strife between those with left-wing and right-wing views. The country also faced serious economic problems, including hyperinflation and the loss of industrial areas and natural resources. The rise of the Austrian Nazi Party in the early 1930s further destabilized the situation, with Austrian Nazis carrying out terrorist attacks against governmental institutions.
On March 11-13, 1938, Nazi Germany officially annexed Austria, an event known as the "Anschluss," which means "connection" or "joining" in German. This was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany and violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of the two countries. The annexation was the culmination of Nazi Germany's aggressive foreign policy and was widely popular in both Germany and Austria.
The process of annexation began when Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced his intention to hold a referendum on the country's independence. In response, Hitler mobilized the 8th Army and demanded the postponement or abandonment of the referendum. Schuschnigg conceded and subsequently resigned under pressure from Hitler. He was replaced by Arthur Seyß-Inquart, a member of the Austrian Nazi Party, who formed a new government as demanded by the Germans.
Following the annexation, Austria's political leaders were imprisoned, and anyone opposing Nazi rule was arrested and tortured. There was also a wave of violence against the Jewish population, and many Jews decided to flee the country. The Nazis carried out the Nazification of all aspects of Austrian life, and the country ceased to exist as an independent state. Austrians enthusiastically participated in the Nazi regime, with many fighting for the Nazi German armed forces during World War II and others taking part in the administration and implementation of the Final Solution.
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Austrians persecuted the country's Jewish population
The persecution of Jews in Austria was part of a long history of antisemitism in the country, which found full expression in Adolf Hitler. In 1895, the Austrian anti-Semite Karl Luger won a majority of seats in the Vienna municipality and was appointed mayor of the capital. In the 1930s, Jews in Austria flourished, with leading figures in the sciences, the arts, business, industry, and trades. However, this prosperity ended with the death of Emperor Franz Joseph I and the annexation of Austria to Germany by the Nazis, which marked the start of the Holocaust in the country.
On March 11–13, 1938, Nazi Germany annexed Austria in an event known as the Anschluss, which means "connection" or "joining" in German. This was the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of the two countries. The annexation was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, with German troops greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes and flags.
The Anschluss resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population, with Austrians enthusiastically participating in the persecution. German racial laws were enacted, and Jews were disenfranchised. According to these laws, 220,000 people were now considered Jews in Austria, a larger figure than previously accepted. A forced reorganization of Jewish communities was carried out, led by Adolf Eichmann, resulting in the closure of all Jewish organizations and newspapers, with their leaders imprisoned. Jews were banned from using public transport and were subjected to acts of public humiliation, such as being forced to wash sidewalks and public toilets, sometimes with toothbrushes or their bare hands. They were also forced to eat grass at the Prater, a popular Viennese amusement park. During Kristallnacht in November 1938, anti-Jewish pogroms took place throughout Germany and Austria, with synagogues desecrated and destroyed, and Jewish homes and shops looted.
The persecution of Jews in Austria was systematic, with plunder and killings carried out by both German and Austrian Nazis. An estimated 70,000 Jews were murdered, and 125,000 were forced to flee as refugees. Jewish property was seized, resulting in a massive transfer of homes, businesses, real estate, financial assets, and artworks from Jews to non-Jews. The first systematic deportations of Jews from Vienna began in October 1941, with the first deportation of 995 persons directly to Auschwitz occurring in July 1942. The deportations continued into 1945, and by the end of the war, approximately 5,000 Jews remained in Austria.
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Frequently asked questions
The First Austrian Republic was created after the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye was signed on September 10, 1919, marking the end of World War I and the rump state of Republic of German-Austria. It ended in 1934 with the establishment of the authoritarian Federal State of Austria, led by Engelbert Dollfuss and the Fatherland Front.
The First Austrian Republic was marked by economic problems, hyperinflation, and increasing tension between different political groups. The country was barely able to feed itself and lacked a developed industrial base. The violence in Austria continued to escalate until the early 1930s, when Engelbert Dollfuss became Chancellor and transformed Austria into a right-wing authoritarian regime.
The Anschluss, which means "connection" or "joining" in German, refers to the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany on March 12-13, 1938. This act of territorial expansion violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which forbade the unification of Austria and Germany.
The Anschluss was widely popular in Austria, and most Austrians enthusiastically supported the Nazi takeover of their country. Austrians participated in the persecution of the country's Jewish population, enacted Nazi policies, and fought in World War II.
The Anschluss resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austrian Jews. The Mauthausen concentration camp, established in the summer of 1938, became the main Nazi camp in Austria, where inmates were subjected to harsh conditions and forced labor. The November 1938 Kristallnacht ("Night of Broken Glass") pogroms were particularly brutal in Austria, with synagogues, Jewish businesses, and properties being vandalized and destroyed.
