Lexi Webster
The annexation of Austria by Germany, also known as the Anschluss, was a significant event in history as it was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, and the country was annexed into the Third Reich. This event was a watershed moment in Nazi Germany's foreign policy and a significant breach of the post-World War I international order. The annexation of Austria set a precedent for further expansionist policies and the pursuit of living space in Eastern Europe. It also demonstrated the international community's appeasement of Adolf Hitler's aggressive agenda, as no attempts were made to intervene or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 March 1938 |
| German Leader | Adolf Hitler |
| Austrian Leader | Kurt von Schuschnigg |
| Austrian Leader's Plebiscite Date | 9 March 1938 |
| Austrian Leader's Resignation Date | 11 March 1938 |
| German Invasion Date | 12 March 1938 |
| Annexation Date | 13 March 1938 |
| Austrian Voter Support for Annexation | 99.75% |
| German Voter Support for Annexation | Majority |
| Violated Treaties | Treaty of Versailles, Treaty of Saint-Germain |
| Resulted in | World War II |
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What You'll Learn
- The annexation of Austria was the first act of territorial aggression by Nazi Germany
- The unification of Austria and Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain
- The Anschluss was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order
- The annexation was an act of open aggression by Nazi Germany, supported by Hitler
- The unification of Austria and Germany was supported by 99.75% of Austrian voters
The annexation of Austria was the first act of territorial aggression by Nazi Germany
The annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was a significant event in the lead-up to World War II. It marked the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany, setting a precedent for Hitler's expansionary policies and his pursuit of a ""Greater Germany".
The idea of uniting Austria and Germany dated back to the exclusion of Austria from the German Empire after its unification in 1871. This desire for unification gained renewed support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles and Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade such a union. Despite these treaties, the Austrian government, facing economic turmoil, moved closer to Germany in the 1930s, becoming a target for German investment capital.
Hitler, an Austrian himself, had expressed his desire for unification in his 1925 book, "Mein Kampf". However, it was not until the mid-1930s that the annexation of Austria became a realistic prospect for the Nazi regime. In 1934, a pro-Nazi group attempted to overthrow the Austrian government with Hitler's approval, but the coup failed. In 1936, a "gentlemen's agreement" was reached between Germany and Austria, with Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg agreeing to release imprisoned Nazis and follow Germany's lead in foreign policy.
In February 1938, Hitler pressured Schuschnigg to accept far-reaching demands, including the appointment of top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. Schuschnigg attempted to resist by calling for a plebiscite on the question of annexation, but he ultimately gave in to Hitler's demands and resigned on March 11, 1938. On March 12, German troops marched into Austria, and Hitler proclaimed the annexation on March 13, establishing a new Nazi government. The annexation was met with enthusiasm in both Germany and Austria, with 99.75% of Austrian voters later supporting the union.
The international community's failure to intervene or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties set a precedent for appeasement, allowing Hitler to continue his aggressive foreign policy unchecked. The annexation of Austria marked a significant breach of the post-World War I international order and demonstrated Nazi disdain for existing European political arrangements.
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The unification of Austria and Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain
The unification of Austria and Germany, known as the Anschluss, was a significant event in Nazi Germany's foreign policy and expansionist agenda. It marked the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi regime, transforming Austria almost overnight.
The unification of Austria and Germany in 1938 violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain. These treaties, signed after World War I, expressly forbade the unification of the two countries. The Treaty of Versailles, negotiated by the "'Big Four' leaders of the victorious Allied nations, redrew the borders of Europe and included a covenant for the League of Nations. It forced Germany to cede territories, reduce its armed forces, and accept demilitarization and Allied occupation in certain regions. The Treaty of Saint-Germain, signed in 1919, specifically addressed the independence of Austria and its separation from Germany.
The violation of these treaties demonstrated Nazi Germany's disdain for the post-World War I European order and the international community's treaties. The international community's failure to intervene or punish Nazi Germany for violating these treaties was a significant act of appeasement, allowing Adolf Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked. This non-intervention was a watershed moment in international relations and a precursor to World War II.
The annexation of Austria was made possible by the conspiracy of Austrian Nazis, who pressured Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to resign and facilitated the appointment of a new Nazi government. Hitler himself entered Austria with German troops, met by enthusiastic crowds. The unification of Austria and Germany under the Nazis resulted in the persecution of Austria's Jewish population and the Nazification of Austrian society.
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The Anschluss was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order
The annexation of Austria by Germany, known as the Anschluss, was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order. The unification of the two countries had been expressly forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which were established after World War I. By annexing Austria, Nazi Germany violated these international treaties and demonstrated its disdain for the post-World War I European order.
The idea of the Anschluss had been proposed as early as 1919, but it was not until the rise of the Nazis in Germany that it became a serious possibility. Adolf Hitler, an Austrian-born German nationalist, had written about the unification of Austria and Germany in his 1925 book, "Mein Kampf". Despite initial setbacks and resistance from the Austrian government, Hitler's determination to annex Austria remained unwavering.
In the mid-1930s, Germany's aggressive foreign policy and rapid rearmament increased its interest in annexing Austria, which was rich in raw materials and labour. In February 1938, Hitler pressured the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, to accept demands that gave the Austrian Nazis a free hand. Schuschnigg attempted to resist by calling for a plebiscite, but he ultimately resigned under coercion from the Nazis on March 11, 1938.
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, and Hitler proclaimed the Anschluss on March 13. The annexation was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, with many Austrians participating enthusiastically in the Nazification of their country. The Anschluss was a significant breach of international law and a watershed moment in Nazi Germany's expansionist agenda. It marked the first act of territorial aggression committed by Nazi Germany, setting a precedent for further expansion and aggression that would lead to World War II.
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The annexation was an act of open aggression by Nazi Germany, supported by Hitler
The annexation of Austria by Germany, known as the Anschluss, was an act of open aggression by Nazi Germany, supported by Hitler. The unification of the two countries had been a long-standing goal for Hitler, who was Austrian-born and believed in the idea of a ""Greater Germany". In his 1925 book, Mein Kampf, Hitler wrote about the need for German-Austria to return to the "German motherland".
Hitler's first attempt to annex Austria came in 1934, when a pro-Nazi group tried to overthrow the Austrian government with his approval and assistance. However, the coup failed when Austrian military leaders did not support it. Despite this setback, Hitler continued to pursue his goal of annexation. In 1936, he signed a "gentlemen's agreement" with Austria, which allowed him to exert political pressure on the country. In February 1938, he invited the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, to Germany and forced him to agree to give the Austrian Nazis more power. Schuschnigg initially resisted and called for a plebiscite on the issue, but he eventually gave in to Hitler's demands and resigned on March 11, 1938.
On March 12, 1938, German troops, accompanied by Hitler, marched into Austria, where they were met with enthusiastic crowds. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the annexation was officially proclaimed. The Anschluss was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order and a violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. The international community did not intervene or punish Nazi Germany for these violations, which only emboldened Hitler to continue his expansionary policies.
The annexation of Austria was a watershed moment in Nazi Germany's foreign policy and transformed the country overnight. Austrian and German Nazis quickly worked to nazify all aspects of Austrian life, and Austrians participated enthusiastically in this process. The Anschluss also had dire consequences for Austria's Jewish population, who faced increased persecution and violence.
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The unification of Austria and Germany was supported by 99.75% of Austrian voters
The unification of Austria and Germany, known as the Anschluss, was a significant event in the lead-up to World War II. It was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of the two countries. The unification also marked a significant breach of the post-World War I international order.
The idea of the Anschluss, or "joining", was not new. It had been proposed as early as 1919, after the 1871 unification of Germany excluded Austria and German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. However, it was not until the rise of the Nazis in Germany that the idea gained significant traction. Adolf Hitler, an Austrian himself, had written in his 1925 book, Mein Kampf, about the need for German-Austria to return to the "great German motherland". Despite this, Hitler's approach to the annexation of Austria was initially cautious. In 1935, he stated that Germany had no intention of interfering in Austria's internal affairs or pursuing an Anschluss. However, by 1936, the damage to Austria from the German boycott was significant, and Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg was forced to come to an agreement with Germany, recognising Austria as a German state that would follow Germany's lead in foreign policy.
In February 1938, Hitler invited Schuschnigg to Germany and coerced him into agreeing to give Austrian Nazis more power. Schuschnigg initially planned to hold a plebiscite on the question of the Anschluss but was forced to cancel it and resign under pressure from Hitler. On March 12, 1938, German troops, accompanied by Hitler himself, marched into Austria, where they were met with enthusiastic crowds. The next day, Hitler proclaimed the annexation of Austria, and it became a federal state of Germany. The unification was supported by 99.75% of Austrian voters, who were asked in April 1938 whether they approved of the unification.
The high level of support for the unification can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, there was genuine enthusiasm for the union, with many Austrians relieved that bloodshed had been avoided and feeling a sense of solidarity with Germany. Additionally, the presence of German soldiers and Hitler evoked a sense of satisfaction that the humiliations of the post-World War I era had been overcome. The unification also appealed to pan-German nationalist sentiments and the idea of a Greater Germany that encompassed all Germans.
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Frequently asked questions
Germany's annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was significant because it was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi German regime. It also demonstrated Nazi disdain for the post-World War I European order by violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. The international community's acceptance of the Anschluss allowed Adolf Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked.
Germany annexed Austria on March 12, 1938, with German troops marching into the country to unite it with Nazi Germany.
In an attempt to preserve Austria's independence, Chancellor Schuschnigg met with Adolf Hitler in February 1938. However, he was coerced into naming Austrian Nazis to his cabinet and eventually resigned on March 11, 1938, under pressure from Hitler.
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 was met with silence or acceptance by many world leaders, including Britain's Neville Chamberlain, who noted the lack of treaty obligations with Austria.
The annexation transformed Austria almost overnight, as Austrian and German Nazis quickly carried out the Nazification of Austrian society. This included an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population, with Austrians participating enthusiastically in the persecution. Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers reestablished an independent Austria.
