Lexi Webster
The Anschluss, meaning 'joining' or 'connection' in German, refers to the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938. The idea of a union between Austria and Germany, which would form a Greater Germany, gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. The annexation of Austria was the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion, marking a significant breach of the post-World War I international order.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 March 1938 |
| German Troops Entered Austria | 12 March 1938 |
| Austrian Referendum | 13 March 1938 (planned but did not occur) |
| Austrian-German Reunification Law Signed | 13 March 1938 |
| Plebiscite | 10 April 1938 |
| Annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany | Completed by April 1938 |
| First Act of Nazi Territorial Aggression | Yes |
| International Intervention | No |
| International Punishment | No |
| Approx. No. of Jews in Austria | 200,000 |
| Union Supported by | Austrian Social Democrats, Austrian Population |
| Union Opposed by | Austrian Conservatives, French, British Anti-Appeasers |
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What You'll Learn
- The Anschluss was the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938
- The Austrian government ordered the Austrian Bundesheer not to resist German invasion
- The idea of unification was not overwhelmingly popular among Austrians in 1919
- The Anschluss was the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion
- The international community did not intervene to stop the Anschluss
The Anschluss was the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938
The Anschluss, which took place on March 12, 1938, was the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany. The German word 'Anschluss' translates to 'joining' or 'connection' in English. The idea of unifying Austria and Germany to form a "Greater Germany" emerged after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austrian and German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. Support for unification grew after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and the subsequent Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles, which stripped Austria of some of its territories.
In the lead-up to the Anschluss, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg attempted to preserve Austrian independence by cooperating with Hitler. He signed the German-Austrian Agreement of 1936, which recognised Austrian independence but required that its foreign policy align with Germany's. However, Hitler continued to pursue the unification of Austria and Germany. In February 1938, he invited Schuschnigg to Germany and forced him to agree to allow the Austrian Nazis a free hand in Austria.
Fearing a loss of independence, Schuschnigg announced a referendum on the issue, scheduled for March 13, 1938. Hitler, furious at the prospect of a referendum, threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign. On March 12, the day before the planned referendum, German troops crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. Hitler himself crossed the border that afternoon, greeted by enthusiastic Austrians and 4,000 bodyguards. The invasion, dubbed the "Flower War", was the first big test of the German Wehrmacht's machinery.
Hitler's triumphal tour of Austria culminated in Vienna on March 15, where he addressed a crowd of 200,000 German Austrians in the Square of Heroes. He declared:
> The oldest eastern province of the German people shall be, from this point on, the newest bastion of the German Reich. As leader and chancellor of the German nation and Reich I announce to German history now the entry of my homeland into the German Reich.
On March 13, Austrian Nazi Chancellor Seyss-Inquart signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, formally incorporating Austria into Nazi Germany. A referendum held on April 10, 1938, resulted in a 99.7% approval for the union, although the ballot was not secret, and threats and coercion were employed to manipulate the vote. The annexation of Austria marked the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion and was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order.
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The Austrian government ordered the Austrian Bundesheer not to resist German invasion
The Anschluss, which means "union" in German, was the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938. It was a crucial event that furthered Hitler's expansionist agenda and a key step towards World War II. On March 11, 1938, German troops crossed the border into Austria, but this was not a typical military invasion as the Austrian government had already agreed to the annexation and ordered the Austrian military, the Bundesheer, not to resist. This was a critical decision that ensured the bloodless and swift takeover of the country by Nazi forces. The Austrian government, led by Arthur Seyss-Inquart, who was sympathetic to the Nazis, instructed the Bundesheer to stand down and not oppose the German troops. This order effectively guaranteed a peaceful entry for the German forces and prevented any potential armed conflict between the two nations. The Bundesheer, which had been established after World War I and consisted of a relatively small force, was no match for the powerful German military machine.
However, it is important to note that the Austrian government's decision was influenced by a complex set of factors. The country was in a state of political turmoil, with the rise of Austrian Nazi parties and the recent history of economic crisis and instability. There were also strong cultural and ethnic ties between Austria and Germany, and many Austrians felt a sense of unity and common identity with their German neighbors. The Austrian government may have calculated that resistance would be futile and only result in unnecessary bloodshed. By ordering the Bundesheer to stand down, they averted potential violence and maintained a degree of control over the situation. Additionally, the memory of World War I was still fresh, and there was a strong desire for peace among the Austrian populace.
The German troops, led by Hitler himself, were greeted with enthusiasm by many Austrians. Large crowds lined the streets, cheering and waving Nazi flags, as the German army marched into Vienna. This enthusiastic reception was later used as propaganda by the Nazis to justify the annexation, claiming that it was a popular and welcomed unification of the German people. The swift and peaceful takeover was a significant victory for Hitler, who was able to present the Anschluss as a triumph of national will and a realization of his vision for a Greater Germany. This event also served as a warning to other European powers, demonstrating the strength and determination of Nazi Germany to pursue its expansionist goals.
The annexation of Austria had far-reaching consequences and was a critical step in Hitler's plan for German domination in Europe. It provided Germany with a strategic advantage by extending its borders and giving access to resources and industrial capabilities. Furthermore, it signaled the failure of the appeasement policy that Britain and France had pursued, leading to a realization that Hitler's ambitions could not be contained through diplomacy alone. The Anschluss was a critical moment in the lead-up to World War II, highlighting the aggressive nature of Nazi foreign policy and the determination of Hitler to reshape Europe according to his ideological vision.
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The idea of unification was not overwhelmingly popular among Austrians in 1919
The Anschluss, or the Annexation of Austria, refers to the unification of Austria and Germany to form a Greater Germany. This idea emerged after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. While the Weimar Republic and the First Austrian Republic constitutions included the political goal of unification, the idea of unification with Germany was not widely popular among Austrians in 1919.
In 1919, the Republic of German-Austria attempted to unite with Germany, but the Treaty of Saint Germain and the Treaty of Versailles prohibited this union and the use of the name "German-Austria". These treaties also resulted in the loss of Austrian territories, such as the Sudetenland. Despite these setbacks, the Anschluss proposal gained support in the 1920s, particularly from Austrian citizens of the political left and center. However, it is important to note that the idea of unification was not universally embraced by all Austrians during this period.
In the early 1930s, the Austrian government considered forming a customs union with the German Republic in 1931. However, regional patriotism proved stronger than pan-German sentiment. Each Kronland within the Austrian Empire had its own functional government and a significant degree of autonomy from Vienna. This autonomy contributed to a sense of regional identity that competed with the idea of a unified German state.
While the pro-Anschluss movement gained some support, it is estimated that in 1919, they constituted less than 50% of the population. The lack of overwhelming support for unification is further evidenced by the absence of a nationwide referendum. Even the leader of the Social Democratic Party, Otto Bauer, acknowledged the strength of conservative opposition to the Anschluss. The Socialists' decision not to hold a referendum in 1919 suggests that the majority of Austrians might have voted against unification.
In conclusion, while the idea of unification between Austria and Germany had its supporters, particularly among certain political groups, it was not overwhelmingly popular among Austrians in 1919. The preservation of regional identities, the loss of Austrian territories due to treaties, and the existence of strong conservative opposition all contributed to the varied and complex attitudes towards the prospect of unification with Germany during this period.
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The Anschluss was the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion
The Anschluss, or the Annexation of Austria, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi regime. On March 12, 1938, German troops crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military, and were greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes and flowers. This "invasion" without any shots fired was dubbed the Blumenkrieg, or Flower War.
The idea of a united Austria and Germany dated back to 1871 when the unification of Germany excluded Austria and German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. The concept gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and the subsequent formation of the Republic of German-Austria, which attempted to unite with Germany. However, the Treaty of Saint Germain and the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 forbade the union and stripped Austria of some territories.
In the lead-up to the Anschluss, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg tried to preserve the country's independence by cooperating with Hitler and signing the German-Austrian Agreement of 1936, which recognised Austria's independence but required its foreign policy to align with Germany's. However, Schuschnigg's position was weakened when Hitler and Mussolini formed an alliance in 1936, leaving Austria vulnerable to German attack. In early 1938, under pressure from pro-unification activists, Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany, which was scheduled for March 13. Hitler, however, threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign, cancelling the referendum.
Hitler's invasion of Austria marked a significant breach of the post-World War I international order. The international community did not intervene or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties, setting a precedent for appeasement of Hitler's aggressive foreign policy. The annexation of Austria was followed by a campaign of violence against the country's Jewish population, with pogrom-like attacks, humiliation, and the infamous "scrubbing parties" where Jews were forced to scrub the streets of Vienna while being mocked by jeering crowds.
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The international community did not intervene to stop the Anschluss
The Anschluss, or the unification of Austria and Germany, was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany. It was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order, as it violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly prohibited the unification of the two countries. Despite this, the international community did not intervene to stop the Anschluss, nor did they punish Nazi Germany for violating these international treaties. This lack of intervention had several underlying reasons and had significant consequences.
Firstly, the idea of unification had support within Austria, particularly among Austrian Social Democrats, who saw it as a way to form a Greater Germany and ensure economic survival in the aftermath of World War I. In 1936, Austrian chancellor Schuschnigg even signed an agreement with Germany, agreeing to follow their lead in foreign policy and allowing Nazis into his cabinet. When Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence by calling for a plebiscite in 1938, he was pressured by Germany to cancel it and resign. The Austrian Army was ordered not to resist the Germans, and the German invasion on March 12, 1938, was met with enthusiasm from many Austrians.
Secondly, the international community, including France, Britain, and Italy, had accepted the union as inevitable. Austria had previously sought support from Italy's Benito Mussolini, but he had abandoned the idea of intervening. By the time of the Anschluss, Mussolini, along with France and Britain, showed little interest in maintaining Austrian independence. This lack of international support left Austria isolated and vulnerable to Nazi aggression.
The failure to intervene in the Anschluss had far-reaching consequences. It set a precedent for appeasement of Hitler's aggressive foreign policy, allowing him to continue his expansionary ambitions unchecked. Just six months later, Nazi Germany manufactured a crisis in the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia, and world leaders from Italy, France, and Great Britain ceded the region to them in the Munich Agreement of September 1938. The international community's inaction during the Anschluss thus contributed to the escalation of Nazi territorial aggression and the eventual outbreak of World War II.
In summary, the international community's lack of intervention during the Anschluss was due to a combination of factors, including support for unification within Austria and international acceptance of the union as inevitable. This inaction had significant consequences, as it emboldened Hitler and paved the way for further territorial expansion by Nazi Germany.
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Frequently asked questions
The Anschluss was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938.
In German, the term 'Anschluss' means 'joining' or 'connection'.
The Anschluss was the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. It was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order and a watershed moment in Nazi Germany's foreign policy.
