Lexi Webster
The Anschluss was the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938. The German invasion was met with enthusiasm by many Austrians, and Hitler was able to annex Austria outright on 13 March. The Anschluss was the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion, and it marked a significant breach of the post-World War I international order.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 March 1938 |
| German Troops | 8th Army of the German Wehrmacht |
| Austrian Troops | Austrian Bundesheer |
| Austrian Chancellor | Kurt von Schuschnigg |
| German Leader | Adolf Hitler |
| Austrian Nazi Chancellor | Arthur Seyss-Inquart |
| German Nazi Minister | Hermann Göring |
| Austrian Population | 6.5 million |
| Austrian Jews | 200,000 |
| German Population | N/A |
| Plebiscite Result | 99% in favour |
| Plebiscite Date | 10 April 1938 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Anschluss was the first act of territorial aggression by Nazi Germany
- The German annexation of Austria was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order
- The unification of Austria and Germany was a long-held political goal
- The Austrian government ordered the Austrian Bundesheer not to resist German invasion
- The Anschluss marked a turning point for Austrian Jews, who faced violence and humiliation
The Anschluss was the first act of territorial aggression by Nazi Germany
The idea of a united Austria and Germany, or "Anschluss," had existed since the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austrian Germans from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. After the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, the new Republic of German-Austria attempted to unite with Germany, but this was forbidden by the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and the Treaty of Versailles, which also stripped Austria of some territories. Despite this, the idea of unification persisted, and in the early 1930s, Austria considered a customs union with Germany.
In February 1938, Hitler invited the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, to Germany and forced him to give the Austrian Nazis control. Schuschnigg later announced a plebiscite on the issue, but he was pressured into cancelling it and resigned, also ordering the Austrian Army not to resist the Germans. On March 11-13, 1938, Nazi Germany officially annexed Austria, with the new Nazi Chancellor of Austria, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, signing the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law. A controlled plebiscite held on April 10 gave a 99.7% approval rating.
The Anschluss was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order and a violation of international treaties. The international community's failure to intervene or punish Nazi Germany set a precedent for appeasement, allowing Hitler to continue his expansionist policies. The annexation of Austria was soon followed by the Nazi regime's manufacturing of a crisis in the Sudetenland, a region of Czechoslovakia with a German majority. In September 1938, world leaders from Italy, France, and Great Britain met with Hitler and ceded the region to Nazi Germany, further enabling Hitler's aggressive foreign policy.
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The German annexation of Austria was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order
The Anschluss, which took place on March 12, 1938, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi regime. German troops invaded Austria, and the country was incorporated into the German Reich, becoming a province of Nazi Germany. This event marked a significant departure from the post-World War I international order, which had sought to establish a new system of relations between states to prevent future conflicts.
The Treaty of Versailles, signed at the end of World War I, had forbidden the union of Austria and Germany and prohibited the use of the name "German-Austria." Despite this, the idea of unification, or Anschluss, gained support after World War I, particularly among Austrians who considered themselves ethnically German. However, it was not until Hitler's rise to power that the annexation of Austria became a reality.
In February 1938, Hitler forced the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, to agree to allow the Austrian Nazis a free hand. Schuschnigg later announced a plebiscite on the issue, but he was bullied into canceling it and resigned. On March 11, German troops crossed the border into Austria without resistance from the Austrian government. Hitler himself entered Austria on March 12, greeted by cheering Austrians, and on March 13, he declared the annexation of Austria, stating that Austria was now part of the German Reich.
The international community did not intervene to stop the Anschluss or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties. This appeasement of Hitler's aggressive foreign policy set a precedent and emboldened Nazi Germany to continue its expansionist agenda, leading to further crises in the Sudetenland and the eventual outbreak of World War II. Therefore, the German annexation of Austria, or the Anschluss, was a pivotal moment that challenged the post-World War I international order and contributed to the escalation of tensions in Europe.
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The unification of Austria and Germany was a long-held political goal
The unification of Austria and Germany, or the "Anschluss", was a long-held political goal. The idea of a union between the two nations emerged after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. The desire for unification intensified following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, which left Austria stripped of its imperial territories and facing economic challenges.
In the aftermath of World War I, the Treaty of Saint Germain and the Treaty of Versailles expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany, reflecting concerns among European leaders about the potential power of a united "Greater Germany". Despite these prohibitions, the notion of Anschluss persisted in Austrian political discourse, particularly among those who believed that Austria's economic viability depended on regaining its former imperial lands.
The unification of Austria and Germany was a key component of Nazi ideology. Adolf Hitler, who rose to power in Germany in 1933, advocated for the incorporation of all Germans, both within and outside the Reich, into a single nation. He considered the postwar international borders unfair and illegitimate, and sought to redraw the map of Europe. In 1938, Hitler felt strong enough to pursue his goal of uniting with Austria. He ordered the Austrian Nazi Party to create chaos and pressure the Austrian government, eventually forcing the Austrian chancellor, Kurt Schuschnigg, to resign and threatening to invade unless important governmental positions were given to Nazis.
On March 12, 1938, the German Wehrmacht crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. Hitler himself entered Austria the following day, greeted by cheering Austrians. The annexation of Austria was formalised with the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, also known as the Anschluss law, marking the unification of the two nations. This act of territorial expansion violated international treaties and signalled Nazi Germany's disregard for the post-World War I European order.
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The Austrian government ordered the Austrian Bundesheer not to resist German invasion
On March 12, 1938, German troops crossed the border into Austria and were greeted by cheering crowds. This was the culmination of a long campaign by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis to unite all German-speaking peoples into one Greater Germany. The annexation, or Anschluss, of Austria had long been an aim of Hitler, who was born in the country and who believed passionately in the unification of all Germans. The Austrian government, facing internal pressure and the might of the German military, offered no resistance to the invasion, and the Austrian people largely supported the union.
The Austrian Bundesheer, the country's small and ill-equipped military force, was ordered by the government not to resist the German invasion. This was a critical decision that ensured the bloodless nature of the annexation. The Austrian government, led by Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, had hoped to maintain the country's independence, but it was faced with an impossible choice. The powerful Nazi Party in Austria, supported by Hitler, had been causing political unrest and violence in the country, and the Austrian government knew it could not count on support from other European powers.
Fearing civil war and facing a German ultimatum, Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, and his successor, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, a pro-Nazi, immediately requested German troops to "restore order." The German army, or Wehrmacht, crossed the border the next day, meeting no resistance. The Austrian government's decision to avoid bloodshed and civil strife was a key factor in this order to the Bundesheer. The Austrian military was also aware that it stood little chance against the might of the German Wehrmacht, which had already proven its effectiveness in the remilitarization of the Rhineland and the invasion of the demilitarized Saarland.
The German invasion was, in fact, welcomed by many Austrians, who saw the union as a natural and desirable outcome. The Nazi Party in Austria had been gaining support, and many Austrians felt a strong cultural and ethnic connection to Germany. The economic crisis of the 1930s also played a role, as Hitler's Germany appeared to offer stability and prosperity. The Austrian government's decision not to resist was a recognition of these realities, as well as a pragmatic assessment of the military and political situation. The annexation of Austria was a significant step towards World War II, and it demonstrated Hitler's aggressive foreign policy and his disregard for the Treaty of Versailles, which had explicitly forbidden such a union.
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The Anschluss marked a turning point for Austrian Jews, who faced violence and humiliation
The Anschluss, which took place on March 12, 1938, was the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany. The German Wehrmacht crossed the Austrian border and was met with no resistance. Hitler then rode into Austria, greeted by enthusiastic Austrians along the way, and triumphantly announced the union of Austria and Germany in Vienna. This marked a significant breach of the post-World War I international order and was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi regime.
The Anschluss was a turning point for Austrian Jews, who now numbered around 200,000. They were immediately subjected to violence and persecution, with Austrian Nazis and others beating, attacking, and humiliating them. Jews were forced to perform menial and humiliating tasks, such as scrubbing streets and cleaning public toilets, without regard for their age, social position, or sex. They were expelled from all cultural, economic, and social life, and their properties, including homes, businesses, and financial assets, were seized. Jewish organisations and newspapers were shut down, and their leaders imprisoned.
The Austrian government's compliance and the general population's enthusiasm for the union with Germany enabled the Nazis to implement these measures with little resistance. Many regular Austrians joined the Nazis in terrorizing Jews, demonstrating the power of the new regime and reinforcing its racial ideology. The persecution of Jews in Austria was part of a larger plan to gather and restrict all of Europe's Jewish populace in one territory.
The Holocaust in Austria, which lasted from 1938 to 1945, resulted in the murder of approximately 60,000 to 65,000 Austrian Jews. Many fled as refugees, and by 1942, only around 7,000 Jews remained in the country. The deportation of Jews to death camps began in February 1941, and the Viennese community was officially liquidated in November 1942.
The Anschluss marked a dark chapter in Austrian history, with the country's Jewish community suffering immense violence, humiliation, and loss. The turning point for Austrian Jews highlighted the dangers of appeasement and the consequences of aggressive foreign policy.
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Frequently asked questions
The Anschluss was the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938. The word means 'joining' or 'connection' in German.
The idea of a united Austria and Germany had existed since the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria and German Austrians from the German Empire. Support for the union grew after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and the formation of the new Republic of German-Austria. However, the Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles in 1919 forbade the union and the use of the name "German-Austria".
On March 12, 1938, German troops invaded Austria and were greeted by cheering Austrians. Hitler then crossed the border and travelled through the country, receiving an enthusiastic welcome. 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, to legitimise the military action saw over 99% of the Austrian population vote in favour of the Anschluss.
The Anschluss was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi regime and marked a significant breach of the post-World War I international order. It also had devastating consequences for Austria's Jewish population, who were subjected to violence and humiliation by Austrian Nazis.
