Ruqayyah Snyder
On March 12, 1938, Hitler accompanied German troops into Austria, marking a significant step towards his vision of creating a Greater German Reich. This annexation, known as the Anschluss, saw Austria become a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II. The events leading up to the invasion involved a series of ultimatums and political manoeuvring by Hitler, who demanded the resignation of Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg and the appointment of Arthur Seyss-Inquart, an Austrian Nazi, as his replacement. Despite some initial resistance, the Austrian government ultimately conceded to Hitler's demands, and the German troops were met with cheers and flowers from enthusiastic Austrians.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Hitler's troops entering Austria | 12 March 1938 |
| Number of troops | 25,000 |
| Time of entry | 5 am |
| Austrian response | Austrians welcomed Hitler warmly with flowers and cheers |
| Hitler's action before entering Austria | Threatened invasion, demanded Chancellor von Schuschnigg's resignation and the appointment of Arthur Seyss-Inquart as his replacement |
| Hitler's action after entering Austria | Appointed a new Nazi government, Annexed Austria to Germany |
| Austria's status after annexation | Remained a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II |
| Austria's status after World War II | Regained independence after Allied powers declared the annexation void |
| Year Austria became independent after World War II | 1955 |
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What You'll Learn
- Hitler's troops entered Austria on 12 March 1938
- The Austrian government was forced to appoint Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as chancellor
- The annexation of Austria was proclaimed on 13 March 1938
- Hitler's plan was to unite all ethnic Germans and territories lost by the German Empire
- The Allied powers declared the annexation void after World War II
Hitler's troops entered Austria on 12 March 1938
The prelude to this invasion began in early 1938, when Austrian Nazis conspired to seize control of the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, aware of this plot, met with Hitler, but was coerced into appointing Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, Schuschnigg called for a national referendum on the issue of annexation, hoping to reaffirm Austria's independence. However, facing pressure from Hitler and his own reluctance to shed blood, Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, urging Austrian forces not to resist a German invasion.
Hitler, determined to press his advantage, ordered the invasion to commence at dawn on March 12. About 25,000 heavily armed German troops and police crossed the Austrian border, encountering no armed resistance. Instead, they were greeted by cheering crowds, with Austrians welcoming Hitler warmly as he travelled to Linz and then Vienna. On March 13, the annexation of Austria to Germany was officially proclaimed, and Hitler celebrated with a speech in Vienna's Heldenplatz, marking the realisation of the "Anschluss".
The annexation of Austria was a critical development, emboldening Hitler's regime and marking the first major step towards the Second World War. It also set a precedent for Nazi Germany's expansionist policies, demonstrating Hitler's willingness to use military force to achieve his ideological goals. The international community's failure to prevent this annexation would have far-reaching consequences, as it encouraged Hitler to pursue further aggressive actions, ultimately leading to the global conflict that would claim millions of lives.
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The Austrian government was forced to appoint Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as chancellor
On March 11, 1938, Hitler gave the Austrian government an ultimatum: Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg must call off the plebiscite on Austrian independence, and Austrian President Wilhelm Miklas must appoint Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as the new chancellor. If these demands were not met, Hitler threatened to invade Austria with the German military.
Schuschnigg initially sought support for Austrian independence from France and Britain, but to no avail. He eventually conceded to Hitler's demands and announced his resignation in a radio address on the evening of March 11. In his address, Schuschnigg pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist a German invasion.
After Schuschnigg left office, President Miklas was forced to ask Arthur Seyss-Inquart to form a new government as per Hitler's orders. Seyss-Inquart was not installed as Chancellor until after midnight on March 12, and within minutes of his appointment, swastika armbands and flags appeared on the streets.
On March 12, heavily armed German troops and police crossed the Austrian frontier, with about 25,000 troops in total. They were met not with resistance, but with cheers and flowers. Hitler himself accompanied the troops into Austria and was warmly welcomed by the Austrians. On March 13, 1938, the annexation of Austria to Germany was officially proclaimed, and Austria became a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II.
The annexation of Austria, known as the "Anschluss," was among the first major steps in Austrian-born Hitler's desire to create a Greater German Reich that included all ethnic Germans and territories lost by the German Empire after World War I. The idea of Austria joining Germany gained popularity among Austrians due to Nazi propaganda campaigns and the economic crisis at the time.
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The annexation of Austria was proclaimed on 13 March 1938
Hitler had been planning for a full-scale military assault into Austria to support the National Socialists. He ordered troops to the Austrian border, but at first, he was unsure whether to go ahead with the invasion. He was aware that the German Army was not prepared to take on the Austrian and Italian armies, as Italy was closely tied to the regime in Vienna and had sent troops to the Austrian border. However, the Austrian Nazi Party, though small, was becoming increasingly vocal and demanding.
Hitler's plan was for Seyss-Inquart to call for German troops to rush to Austria's aid, thus providing a legitimate reason for invasion. On 12 March, heavily armed German troops and police crossed the Austrian frontier, and on 13 March, the annexation was proclaimed. The Austrian Nazi Chancellor Seyss-Inquart signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law. Hitler accompanied the troops into Austria, where they were met by enthusiastic crowds. Austria became a federal state of Germany and remained so until the end of World War II.
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Hitler's plan was to unite all ethnic Germans and territories lost by the German Empire
Hitler's plan to unite all ethnic Germans and territories lost by the German Empire was a key part of his foreign policy. This policy was driven by the goal of establishing a new racial order in Europe, dominated by the German "master race". Hitler aimed to overturn the military and territorial provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, which had been imposed on Germany after World War I. He sought to incorporate ethnically German territories into the Reich, as a step towards building a German empire in Europe.
Hitler's doctrine of Lebensraum envisaged the mass killings, enslavement, and ethnic cleansing of Slavic inhabitants in Eastern Europe, followed by the colonization of these lands with Germanic settlers. This plan, known as Generalplan Ost, was only partially implemented during World War II and resulted in the deaths of millions of people.
Hitler's expansionist policies began with the annexation of Austria in 1938. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, with Hitler himself among them, and were met with enthusiastic crowds. The annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was proclaimed on March 13, 1938. Hitler had pressured the Austrian chancellor, Kurt Schuschnigg, into signing the German-Austrian agreement, bringing Nazis into the Austrian cabinet. Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, under coercion from the Nazis, and pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance" into the country.
Hitler's annexation of Austria was followed by similar actions in Czechoslovakia, with the occupation of the Sudetenland in 1938 and the invasion of the Czechoslovak state in 1939. These actions were part of Hitler's plan to unite all ethnic Germans and territories, and they brought him closer to his goal of establishing a German empire.
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The Allied powers declared the annexation void after World War II
On March 12, 1938, Hitler accompanied German troops into Austria, where they were met with enthusiastic crowds. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the annexation of Austria, or the Anschluss, was proclaimed. Austria remained a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II.
After World War II, the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and re-established an independent Austria. The Soviet Union, as one of the Allied powers, played a significant role in the post-war occupation of Austria. In June 1941, Hitler's regime launched a genocidal war against the Soviet Union, leading to brutal combat and significant losses on both sides. As the war drew to a close, the Soviet troops approached Austria's border from Hungary in the winter of 1945. The Soviet occupation of Austria was guided by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, which guaranteed Austria's independence. Soviet commanders issued orders to discourage criminal conduct and respect Austrian civilians, recognizing Austria as Hitler's first victim.
The Allied powers included the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, who worked together during World War II to counter the Axis powers. The United States indirectly supported Britain's war effort until 1941 and played a significant role in the Pacific War against Japan. Great Britain, led by Winston Churchill, collaborated with the United States and the Soviet Union in post-war negotiations and conferences, such as the Yalta Conference in February 1945, to discuss the reorganization of post-war Europe.
The Soviet Union, led by Stalin, participated in the United Nations and agreed to join the Pacific War against Japan after Germany's defeat. However, tensions between the United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union intensified as the war concluded, marking the beginning of the Cold War and a divided Europe.
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Frequently asked questions
Hitler wanted to annex Austria to the Third Reich, and create a Greater German Reich that would include all ethnic Germans and the territories that the German Empire had lost after World War 1.
Hitler accompanied German troops into Austria on March 12, 1938, and was met with enthusiastic crowds. He appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the annexation was proclaimed.
Austrians welcomed Hitler and his troops with cheers and flowers. They expressed overwhelming enthusiasm for the Nazi takeover of their country.
