Damon Mcknight
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation. This event, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi German regime. It was also the culmination of years of rising nationalism and pro-unification sentiments in Austria, which had been gaining momentum since the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. The man behind this annexation was none other than Adolf Hitler, who sought to incorporate as many ethnic Germans outside of Germany into a Greater Germany.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Annexation | 12 March 1938 |
| Leader Responsible | Adolf Hitler |
| Country Annexed | Austria |
| Country Annexed Into | Germany |
| Type of Annexation | Military Annexation |
| Type of Government in Annexing Country | Nazi Regime |
| Resulting Union Called | Anschluss |
| Referendum Date | 10 April 1938 |
| Percentage of Approval | 99.7% |
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's triumphal tour of Austria
Adolf Hitler annexed Austria to Germany in 1938, marking the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. This event, known as the Anschluss, was the culmination of years of aggressive foreign policy pursued by Nazi Germany.
Hitler's arrival in Vienna was marked by cheering crowds, with Austrians welcoming him as a hero. The annexation was widely popular in both Austria and Germany, with many Austrians sympathetic to the idea of joining Germany. Hitler's promise of greatness and jobs further appealed to the Austrian populace. Additionally, Austrians were angered by the post-World War I peace treaties, which forbade a union between Austria and Germany and resulted in Austria losing parts of its core German-speaking territories. Hitler was seen as someone who could correct these perceived injustices.
However, it is important to note that Hitler's popularity in Austria was not universal. There was widespread dissent, discontent, and non-compliance with the Anschluss regime. Resistance groups, such as the one led by priest Heinrich Maier, sought to re-establish a Habsburg monarchy after the war. Additionally, the Austrian Freedom Front, led by Communist leader Franz Honner, cooperated closely with Tito's partisans. These organised groups were complemented by individuals who resisted the Nazi regime in their own ways.
The annexation of Austria had significant consequences, including an outburst of public violence against the country's Jewish population. The seizure of Austria also demonstrated Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions, and the failure of British and French intervention emboldened him to pursue further expansionist policies.
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The Munich Agreement
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This annexation was the Nazi German regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. It was carried out by none other than Adolf Hitler.
Now, onto the Munich Agreement.
In September 1938, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain flew to Germany on three separate occasions to meet with Hitler and discuss the growing Czech crisis. Chamberlain's appeasement policy towards Hitler was driven by a desire to avoid war at all costs, given that Britain was overstretched in policing its empire and France, its main ally, was weak. On September 29, Chamberlain flew to Munich, where an emergency meeting of the main European powers—excluding Czechoslovakia—was taking place. The Czechoslovakian representatives were in the town, but not allowed to attend the meeting, per Hitler's insistence. The meeting was held in English, French, and German, and a deal was quickly reached on Hitler's terms.
Chamberlain, upon returning to Britain, declared, "I believe it is peace for our time," and his agreement with Hitler was met with jubilation in Britain. However, Winston Churchill, one of the few who opposed appeasement, described it as "an unmitigated disaster." Despite his promise of no more territorial demands in Europe, Hitler reneged on the Munich Agreement by occupying the rest of Czechoslovakia in March 1939. This violation of the agreement was followed by Germany's invasion of Poland in September 1939, which marked the start of World War II.
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The role of Austrian Nazis
The annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the Nazi German regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. It was achieved through the efforts of Adolf Hitler in 1938. In the lead-up to this event, Austrian Nazis played a crucial role in conspiring to seize control of their government and unite Austria with Nazi Germany.
Austrian Nazis had attempted a coup in July 1934, but it was unsuccessful. However, they remained determined to bring about the union of Austria with Germany. In early 1938, they conspired for the second time, and Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg learned of their plans. He met with Hitler, hoping to reassert Austrian independence, but was coerced into agreeing to give Austrian Nazis more power and even appoint some to his cabinet.
Schuschnigg attempted to prevent the annexation by calling a plebiscite (referendum) on Austrian independence, scheduled for March 13, 1938. However, he was pressured by the Germans to cancel the plebiscite and resign on March 11. This resignation served as propaganda for the Nazi annexation, with newsreels showing pro-Nazi Austrians celebrating the union.
After Schuschnigg's resignation, Austrian President Wilhelm Miklas reluctantly appointed Arthur Seyss-Inquart, the Austrian Nazi leader, as the new chancellor. Seyss-Inquart formed a cabinet filled with Austrian Nazis, solidifying their control over the country. On March 13, he signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, formalizing the annexation.
The annexation was met with enthusiasm by many Austrians, who welcomed Hitler with cheers and flowers. However, it also sparked an outbreak of violence against Austria's Jewish population, forcing many to flee the country or face discrimination and humiliation under Nazi rule.
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The Austrian referendum
The annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938, known as the Anschluss, was the Nazi German regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. It was also the culmination of years of aggressive foreign policy.
In July 1934, Austrian and German Nazis attempted a coup, but it was unsuccessful. In February 1938, Hitler invited the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, to Germany and forced him to agree to give the Austrian Nazis a free hand. Schuschnigg agreed but later announced a plebiscite on the question of the Anschluss. Hitler decided to invade Austria to prevent this vote from taking place. On March 11, 1938, the Germans pressured Schuschnigg to cancel the plebiscite and resign. Hitler ordered the invasion to begin at dawn on March 12, and German troops marched into Austria unopposed.
Hitler held a referendum on April 10, 1938, to seek approval for the annexation. This referendum was a sham, with widespread Nazi propaganda and the abrogation of the voting rights of around 360,000 people (8% of the eligible voting population), including political enemies, Jews, and Romani. The ballots featured a large circle for 'yes' votes and a small one for 'no' votes, and many people were pressured to vote in front of campaign workers, meaning the secrecy of the ballot was non-existent. The official result was reported as 99.73% in favour, with a 99.71% turnout.
The Austrian government had a very different estimate of the result, believing that around 70% of Austrians would have voted to preserve Austrian independence. According to some Gestapo reports, support for the Anschluss was particularly low in Vienna and most rural areas. The referendum was also held in Germany, where it was met with widespread approval.
The referendum asked voters: "Do you agree with the reunification of Austria with the German Reich that was enacted on 13 March 1938 and do you vote for the party of our leader Adolf Hitler?" This referendum resulted in Austria being integrated as several administrative divisions into Nazi Germany.
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Hitler's expansion plans
Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany in 1933 following a series of electoral victories by the Nazi Party. He ruled absolutely until his death by suicide in April 1945. Hitler's expansionist ambitions were evident as early as 1935 when he announced German rearmament and reintroduced conscription, which was prohibited under the Treaty of Versailles. In 1938, he began his long-promised expansion of national boundaries to incorporate ethnic Germans.
Hitler's strategic program for Greater Germany was based on the belief in the power of Lebensraum, a German concept of expansionism and Völkisch nationalism. The philosophy and policies of Lebensraum were common to German politics from the 1890s to the 1940s, and it was first popularized around 1901. Hitler and other Nazi officials took a particular interest in manifest destiny, attempting to replicate it in occupied Europe. They believed that in order to transform Germany into a world superpower, the nation had to expand its geopolitical presence and act only in the interest of the so-called Aryan race.
Hitler's first act of territorial aggression and expansion was the annexation of Austria in March 1938, known as the Anschluss. On March 11, 1938, the Germans pressured Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to cancel a plebiscite on Austrian independence and resign. German troops marched into Austria on March 12, and with the enthusiastic support of most Austrians, the country was annexed to Germany the next day. A controlled plebiscite held on April 10 gave a 99.7% approval rating. The annexation of Austria was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, but it also resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population.
Hitler's confidence grew after the annexation of Austria, and he was certain that Britain and France would not use force to resist further German expansion. This belief was proven correct when Britain and France accepted the German annexation of the Sudetenland, a region in Czechoslovakia, through the Munich Agreement.
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Frequently asked questions
Adolf Hitler.
The annexation of Austria and Germany was called the Anschluss, which translates to "joining" or "connection".
The aim of the Anschluss was to incorporate as many Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans outside Germany) as possible into a Greater Germany.
In February 1938, Hitler invited the Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to Germany and forced him to agree to give the Austrian Nazis free rein.
The annexation resulted in public violence against Austrian Jews, who were driven through the streets of Vienna and plundered of their homes and shops.
