Damon Mcknight
The unification of Austria and Germany has been a topic of discussion and debate since the 19th century. The idea of a union gained support after the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, with the Republic of German-Austria seeking to unite with Germany. However, this was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of St. Germain-en-Laye, which aimed to prevent the formation of a dominant German state. Despite these treaties, the desire for unification persisted, and with the rise of Nazi Germany, the push for annexation, known as the Anschluss, intensified. While there are conflicting estimates of the level of support for the Anschluss among Austrians, it ultimately occurred in 1938, with Adolf Hitler achieving the political union of Austria and Germany.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Austrians who wanted to unite with Germany in 1919 | 50% |
| Percentage of Austrians who wanted to unite with Nazi Germany in 1938 | 99.7% |
| Percentage of Austrians who joined the Nazi Party after the union | 10% |
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What You'll Learn
- The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany occurred on March 12, 1938
- The idea of unification was supported by the majority in both countries
- The union was prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of St. Germain-en-Laye
- The Austrian chancellor tried to prevent annexation by calling a plebiscite on Austrian independence
- A referendum on unification indicated that around 99% of Austrians wanted to unite with Germany
The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany occurred on March 12, 1938
The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, occurred on March 12, 1938, when German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. The idea of uniting Austria and Germany was not new, with discussions and debates about Austria's role in a German nation-state dating back to the 19th century. After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, Austria became a republic and was heavily punished in the Treaty of Versailles (1919) and the Treaty of St. Germain-en-Laye (1919), which forbade a union with Germany.
However, many Austrians hoped to unite with Germany, particularly after Adolf Hitler, an Austrian-born German chancellor, rose to power in 1933. In February 1938, Hitler invited Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to Germany and forced him to agree to give Austrian Nazis a free hand. On March 9, 1938, Schuschnigg called for a national vote on the question of the Anschluss, but before the plebiscite could take place, he gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on March 11. German troops invaded Austria on March 12, and Hitler annexed Austria outright on March 13.
A controlled plebiscite held on April 10, 1938, gave a 99.7% approval for the union, although the true level of support for the Anschluss is debated. The plebiscite was used as propaganda by the Nazis to justify their illegal takeover of Austria, with newsreels and newspapers showing footage and photographs of enthusiastic crowds. However, some sources suggest that the pro-Anschluss movement only had slim majority support, and it was opposed by various groups, including Austrian Jews, socialists, and Catholics.
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The idea of unification was supported by the majority in both countries
The idea of unification between Austria and Germany was not a new one. Discussions and debates about Austria's role in a German nation-state dated back to the 19th century. After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, Austria became a republic and was heavily punished in the Treaty of Versailles (1919) and the Treaty of St. Germain-en-Laye (1919), losing a significant portion of its pre-war territory.
The majority of people in both Austria and Germany desired unification, but this was strictly forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles to prevent the formation of a dominant German state. The Weimar Republic and Austria concluded an economic agreement in 1920, but both countries continued to face severe economic hardships, hyperinflation, mass unemployment, and constant riots after the war.
The idea of unification gained renewed support after Adolf Hitler, an Austrian-born German leader, rose to power in Germany in 1933. Hitler had expressed his desire for an Austro-German union in his earliest writings and speeches, and he demanded the right to Anschluss (union) between the two countries. In 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. Despite some opposition, the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany (known as the Anschluss) occurred on March 12, 1938, with the overwhelming support of the Austrian population. A plebiscite held on April 10, 1938, showed around 99 percent approval for the union, although the sparse evidence suggests that the actual number of supporters was lower, and the vote was influenced by Nazi propaganda.
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The union was prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of St. Germain-en-Laye
The Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of St. Germain-en-Laye were signed in 1919 to officially end World War I and bring peace between the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany. The treaties also served as a means to punish Germany and Austria for their role in the war. Austria, which was now a republic, lost over 60% of its pre-war territory, mostly inhabited by non-Austrians, and was significantly reduced to the rump state of the Republic of German-Austria.
The treaties expressly forbade a union between Germany and Austria, prohibiting the continued use of the name "German-Austria". This was done to prevent the formation of a dominant German state, as a united Germany and Austria would be too powerful. Article 88 of the Treaty of St. Germain-en-Laye required Austria to refrain from compromising its independence, meaning it could not enter into a political or economic union with the Weimar Republic without the agreement of the council of the League of Nations.
The idea of unification was not new, as discussions and debates about Austria's role in a German nation-state dated back to the 19th century. After the Austro-Hungarian Empire fell in 1918, the new Republic of German-Austria attempted to unite with Germany. However, this was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of St. Germain-en-Laye, which also stripped Austria of some of its territories, such as the Sudetenland. Despite the prohibition, support for unification with Germany remained strong in both countries.
In the 1920s, many Austrians believed that their country could not survive economically without the lands previously held by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Some wanted to restore the empire, while others wanted to unite with Germany. However, the available evidence suggests that overall, a qualified majority of Austrians would not have supported unification with Germany. It appears that the pro-unification movement could only hope for a slim majority in the event of a plebiscite, and the number of unification supporters in 1919 was not more than 50% of the population.
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The Austrian chancellor tried to prevent annexation by calling a plebiscite on Austrian independence
In an attempt to prevent the German annexation of Austria, Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg called a plebiscite (referendum) on Austrian independence. On the 9th of March 1938, Schuschnigg announced a referendum on Austrian independence, to be held on the 13th of March. The referendum asked voters to support or reject Austrian independence, with the call: "For a free and German, independent and social, for a Christian and united Austria! For peace and work and the equality of all who profess the Volk and Fatherland."
However, on the 11th of March, just two days before the plebiscite was scheduled to take place, the Germans pressured Schuschnigg to cancel the plebiscite and resign. This was due to the threat of an invasion by Hitler, who also demanded that Arthur Seyss-Inquart, a Nazi, be appointed chancellor in Schuschnigg's place. Hitler's intention was for Seyss-Inquart to call for German troops to enter Austria and restore order, giving the invasion a veneer of legitimacy.
Schuschnigg's plebiscite was opposed by pro-Nazi residents in Graz, who celebrated when he resigned. Newsreel footage from this time served as propaganda for the Nazi annexation of Austria. Despite the pro-Nazi sentiments of some Austrians, it is doubtful that a majority would have supported the annexation. In fact, it is estimated that between 65% and 75% of Austrians supported Austrian independence.
The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, took place on the 12th of March 1938, with German troops crossing the border early in the morning of the 13th. They were greeted warmly by Austrians, with cheers and flowers. The annexation was celebrated by Hitler in a speech to a large crowd in Vienna's Heldenplatz, with the square filled with Austrians who appeared enthusiastic about the union. The result of the subsequent referendum held by the Nazis seemed to indicate that around 99% of Austrians supported the union, though this was likely due to the coercive nature of the Nazi regime.
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A referendum on unification indicated that around 99% of Austrians wanted to unite with Germany
The unification of Austria and Germany, also known as the Anschluss, was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany. The idea of the Anschluss arose after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. The hope of uniting Austria and Germany was not new, with discussions and debates about Austria's role in a German nation-state dating back to the 19th century.
After the Austro-Hungarian Empire fell in 1918, the new Republic of German-Austria attempted to form a union with Germany. However, the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles forbade both the union and the continued use of the name "German-Austria". These treaties also stripped Austria of some of its territories. The majority in both countries wanted unification, but this was forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles to avoid a dominant German state.
In 1933, Austrian-born Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany and demanded the right to the Anschluss. In 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite the nation with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg called a plebiscite (referendum) on Austrian independence, but he was pressured by Hitler to cancel the plebiscite and resign. On March 12, 1938, Germany invaded Austria, and a controlled plebiscite held on April 10 gave a 99.7% approval rating. This referendum indicated that around 99% of Austrians wanted to unite with Germany.
However, it is doubtful that a qualified majority of Austrians supported the Anschluss. Sparse evidence suggests that the pro-Anschluss movement could only hope for a slim majority, and the number of supporters in 1919 was not more than 50% of the population. Most contemporary writers estimated that about two-thirds of Austrians wanted to remain independent.
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Frequently asked questions
The Anschluss was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938.
It is estimated that no more than 50% of the population supported uniting with Germany in 1919.
Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg called a plebiscite (referendum) on Austrian independence, hoping to show that Austrians wanted to remain independent.
The plebiscite on the Anschluss, held on April 10, 1938, resulted in a 99.7% approval for the union with Germany.
While there is conflicting evidence, it appears doubtful that a qualified majority of Austrians supported the union. Most contemporary writers estimated that about two-thirds of Austrians wanted to remain independent.
