Leslie Massey
The annexation of Austria by Germany, known as the Anschluss, took place on March 12, 1938, when German troops entered the country. The annexation was the culmination of a prolonged period of economic stagnation and intense Nazi propaganda in Austria, as well as the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis in Germany. Hitler, himself an Austrian, had written in his 1925 book Mein Kampf that German-Austria must return to the great German motherland. Austria was rich in raw materials and labour, supplying Germany with magnesium and the products of the iron, textile and machine industries. It also had gold and foreign currency reserves, many unemployed skilled workers, and large potential hydroelectric resources.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Annexation | March 12, 1938 |
| German Troops Enter Austria | March 12, 1938 |
| Plebiscite | April 10, 1938 |
| Plebiscite Results | 99.75% in favour of union with Germany |
| Austrian Chancellor | Kurt von Schuschnigg |
| German Leader | Adolf Hitler |
| Nazi Propaganda | Intense |
| Economic Stagnation in Austria | Yes |
| Political Dictatorship in Austria | Yes |
| German Interest in Annexation | Austria's raw materials and labour force |
| German Goal | Expansion of the Third Reich |
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's nationalist ideas and desire for a union with Austria
Hitler's desire for an Austro-German union was an integral part of the Nazi "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept, which sought to incorporate as many Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans outside Germany) as possible into a "Greater Germany". This was a key step in Hitler's desire to create a Greater German Reich that would include all ethnic Germans and all the lands and territories that the German Empire had lost after the First World War.
Hitler's nationalist ideas were also reflected in his support for the Austrian branch of the German National Socialist party, founded by Richard Suchenwirth in Vienna in 1926. However, in the 1927 General Election, the Austrian National Socialists linked to Hitler received only 779 votes and failed to enter Parliament. It was only after 1930, due to the economic crisis, that Hitler's party began to gain more support in Austria, doubling its membership every year.
Hitler's desire for a union with Austria was also influenced by practical considerations. By 1937, rapid German rearmament increased Berlin's interest in annexing Austria, which was rich in raw materials and labour, supplying Germany with magnesium and the products of the iron, textile, and machine industries. It also had gold and foreign currency reserves, many unemployed skilled workers, and large potential hydroelectric resources.
Despite his previous assurances to the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, that Germany did not intend to interfere in Austria's internal affairs or seek an annexation, Hitler changed course in February 1938. He demanded that von Schuschnigg appoint members of Austria's Nazi Party to his cabinet and give them full political rights, threatening an invasion by the German army if he did not comply. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, and the annexation was formally approved by Austria's parliament.
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Austria's economic stagnation and vulnerability
Austria's economy, like Germany's, was suffering from the effects of the Great Depression, with high unemployment and unstable commerce and industry. In 1937, Germany's rapid rearmament increased Berlin's interest in annexing Austria, which was rich in raw materials and labour. It supplied Germany with magnesium and the products of the iron, textile and machine industries. It also had gold and foreign currency reserves, many unemployed skilled workers, hundreds of idle factories, and large potential hydroelectric resources.
Austria had endured a prolonged period of economic stagnation, political dictatorship, and intense Nazi propaganda before its annexation by Germany in 1938. The Nazis justified their invasion by claiming that Austria had descended into chaos, spreading fake news of rioting and street fights caused by Communists. They also printed a phony telegram from the Austrian chancellor requesting German troops to restore order.
The vulnerability of Austria's economy, coupled with intense Nazi propaganda and the boycott's damaging effects, created an environment conducive to Germany's annexation plans. The prospect of economic improvement under Hitler's rule also played a role in shaping public opinion towards the annexation.
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Nazi propaganda and fake news
Nazi Germany's annexation of Austria in 1938, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial expansion by the regime. The idea of a union between Austria and Germany, or a "Greater Germany", had been around since the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria and Austrian Germans. The Nazis justified their invasion by claiming that Austria had descended into chaos, circulating fake reports of rioting and street fights caused by Communists. They also printed a phony telegram from the Austrian chancellor saying that German troops were necessary to restore order.
The Nazis used propaganda and fake news to great effect in the lead-up to the annexation. In 1933, they allowed Austrian residents to vote, and pro-Nazi Austrians were brought in by special trains, boats, and trucks to Passau, where the SS staged a ceremonial welcome. This was part of a propaganda campaign to try to convince Austrians to support the unification of Austria and Germany. The slogan "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" ("One People, One Empire, One Leader") was used to promote the idea of a united German Reich. The Nazis also spread fear among Austrians with tales of Soviet soldiers committing atrocities.
The annexation itself was preceded by a failed coup attempt in 1934, when Austrian Nazis assassinated the Austrian chancellor. Hitler, who had approved the coup, publicly denied any intention to annex Austria in a speech to the Reichstag in 1935. However, in 1938, he met with the new Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, and demanded that he appoint members of the Austrian Nazi Party to his cabinet, threatening an invasion by the German army. On March 9, 1938, Schuschnigg called for a plebiscite on Austrian independence, but he was pressured to cancel the vote and resign on March 11. The next day, German troops entered Austria, and the annexation was proclaimed on March 13.
The Nazis celebrated the annexation as the fulfillment of the German people's destiny, glorifying it in speeches and propaganda events. They also used the April 10 plebiscite as another propaganda opportunity, with German newsreel footage showing Austrians expressing enthusiasm for the union. The result of the plebiscite, in which 99.75% of Austrian voters supported a union with Germany, has been interpreted as a result of intimidation and suppression of the political opposition, as well as relief that bloodshed had been avoided and hope for improved economic conditions.
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German military might and the threat of force
The German annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was a significant event in the lead-up to World War II. It was the culmination of years of political intrigue, economic turmoil, and rising nationalist sentiment in both countries. By the time of the annexation in 1938, Germany had undergone a significant period of rearmament, and its military might played a crucial role in achieving Hitler's long-desired union with Austria.
Hitler's interest in annexing Austria was not a secret. In his 1925 book, Mein Kampf, he wrote about his desire to see German-Austria return to the German motherland, driven by nationalist ideology and a belief in the unity of common blood. Despite these stated intentions, Hitler initially had to proceed cautiously due to the failure of the 1934 putsch, in which Austrian Nazis attempted to seize power but were thwarted by the Austrian government.
Hitler's ambitions for Austria never wavered, and he continued to apply political pressure on Austria while seeking to maintain a facade of legality. In 1936, he reached an agreement with Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, in which Austria declared itself a "'German state' and agreed to follow Germany's lead in foreign policy. However, Hitler's true intentions became clear in 1938 when he demanded that Schuschnigg appoint Nazis to his cabinet and provide them with full political rights, threatening an invasion by the German army if his demands were not met.
The threat of force was a critical factor in the annexation. The presence of well-equipped German soldiers marching through Austria evoked memories of wartime solidarity and a sense of satisfaction that the humiliation of the post-World War I era had been overcome. The Austrian population, weary of economic stagnation and political instability, largely welcomed the German troops, hoping for improved material conditions and relief from the intense Nazi propaganda they had endured.
On March 12, 1938, German troops entered Austria, and the annexation was formalized the next day. A plebiscite was held in April, supervised by the German army, which claimed to show that 99.75% of Austrian voters supported the union. The German annexation of Austria was thus achieved through a combination of military might, political coercion, and the manipulation of public sentiment, setting the stage for further expansionist actions and the eventual outbreak of World War II.
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Support from Austrian Nazis and public opinion
Austrian Nazis played a crucial role in the German annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss. In 1933, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany, leading to the assassination of Chancellor Dollfuss in a failed coup. Despite this setback, they continued terrorist attacks on governmental institutions, causing over 800 deaths between 1934 and 1938.
In 1936, a gentlemen's agreement was reached between Germany and Austria, allowing Nazis imprisoned in Austria to be released and the Austrian government to maintain sovereignty. However, Austrian Nazis continued to push for unification. In 1938, Austrian Nazis pressured Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to appoint members of the Austrian Nazi Party to his cabinet and give them full political rights, threatening invasion otherwise. When Schuschnigg called for a plebiscite to decide on the annexation, he was forced to resign under coercion from the Nazis.
On March 12, 1938, German troops entered Austria, and the annexation was formally approved by the Austrian parliament the next day. A plebiscite held on April 10, 1938, under German army supervision, showed 99.75% support for the union, though it excluded Jews and Roma from voting. The high approval can be attributed to several factors, including relief that bloodshed had been avoided, satisfaction in overcoming the humiliations of 1918, and hopes for improved economic conditions under Hitler's leadership.
Public opinion in Austria played a significant role in the annexation. Initially, in 1933, Austrian public sentiment towards German annexation was largely against the idea, with at least 60% opposing it. However, by 1938, the economic stagnation, intense Nazi propaganda, and the presence of German troops contributed to a shift in public sentiment. The majority of Austrians welcomed the German troops with enthusiasm, and the annexation was viewed as a union of common blood and a return to the German motherland, as Hitler had advocated in his book "Mein Kampf."
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Frequently asked questions
On March 12, 1938, German troops occupied Austria, annexing the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This was the culmination of a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government and unite their nation with Nazi Germany.
Austrian Nazis had been pushing for unification with Germany since the Austrian government withdrew from economic ties in 1933. In 1934, Austrian Nazis assassinated chancellor Dollfuss in a failed coup. In 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force for the second time in four years.
Hitler approved the 1934 coup in advance and provided assistance from German officials. In 1938, he bullied Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg into accepting far-reaching demands, including appointing Austrian Nazis to his cabinet and giving them full political rights. Hitler also accompanied his troops to Austria and called for an immediate Anschluss.
Austria had endured a prolonged period of economic stagnation and intense Nazi propaganda before the annexation. The Austrian populace was also relieved that bloodshed had been avoided, and many hoped for improved material conditions under Hitler.
