Damon Mcknight
The annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the incorporation of Austria into the German Reich by Nazi Germany in 1938. The event was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany and was widely popular in both Germany and Austria. The annexation was preceded by several years of political unrest, with Austrian Nazis attempting a coup in 1934 and continuing to push for unification from Germany after being forced to flee. In 1938, German troops invaded Austria, and the country was annexed into the Third Reich, becoming a province of Germany. This act of aggression was followed by a wave of antisemitic violence and the Nazification of Austrian life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 11-13 March 1938 |
| Invasion by | German troops |
| Accompanied by | Adolf Hitler |
| Austrian Chancellor | Kurt von Schuschnigg |
| Austrian Chancellor's Plebiscite | Cancelled |
| Austrian Chancellor's Resignation | 11 March 1938 |
| Austrian Chancellor's Address | Pled for Austrian forces not to resist a German invasion |
| Nazi Government Appointed | Yes |
| Annexation Proclaimed | 13 March 1938 |
| Austria's Status | A federal state of Germany |
| Austria's Status Post World War II | Independent |
| Violation of Treaties | Treaty of Versailles and Treaty of Saint-Germain |
| Violation of Financial Agreements | Yes |
| Nazi Regime's First Act of Territorial Aggression | Yes |
| Public Opinion | 99.75% in favour of annexation |
| Result | Wave of street violence against Jewish persons and property |
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What You'll Learn
The Anschluss
In the early 20th century, Germany and Austria were forbidden from uniting by the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain. However, the Nazis, led by Adolf Hitler, wanted to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe. Hitler, an Austrian himself, had expressed his desire for an Austro-German union in his earliest writings and speeches. He believed that Germans had been denied the right of self-determination and that common blood belonged in a common Reich.
In the 1930s, Austria experienced economic turbulence due to the Great Depression, with high unemployment and unstable commerce and industry. By 1937, rapid German rearmament increased Berlin's interest in annexing Austria, which was rich in raw materials and labour. Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. In February 1938, Hitler invited Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to Germany and forced him to give the Austrian Nazis a free hand in the government. Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of Anschluss but resigned under pressure from Hitler before it could take place.
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, and the next day, the Anschluss was proclaimed. Austria became a province of Germany and existed as a federal state until the end of World War II. The annexation resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population.
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Violation of the Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was the primary treaty produced by the Paris Peace Conference at the end of World War I. It was signed on June 28, 1919, by the Allied and associated powers and by Germany in the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles. The treaty imposed harsh terms on defeated Germany, which was viewed as the chief instigator of the conflict. Germany lost 13% of its territory, including 10% of its population, and was forced to pay reparations to the Allied countries. The treaty also stripped Germany of its overseas colonies, severely restricted its military capabilities, and placed some of its territories under international supervision.
The populations of the defeated powers, including Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Bulgaria, considered the peace treaties as unfair punishment. Their governments, whether democratic or authoritarian, quickly resorted to violating the military and financial terms of the treaties. This became a key element in their foreign policies and a destabilizing factor in international politics. The war guilt clause, massive reparation payments, and limitations on the German military were seen as particularly oppressive by most Germans. The treaty was also criticised for failing to annex the Rhineland and compromising French security for the benefit of the United States and Britain.
The German annexation of Austria, or the Anschluss, occurred in March 1938, nearly two decades after the Treaty of Versailles was signed. On March 11–13, 1938, German troops invaded Austria and incorporated it into the German Reich. This was preceded by a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Adolf Hitler to reassert his country's independence but was coerced into naming top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. Schuschnigg called for a national vote to decide the question of the Anschluss but resigned under pressure from Hitler before it could take place.
The violation of the Treaty of Versailles by the German annexation of Austria was part of a broader pattern of defiance and revision of the treaty's provisions by the defeated powers. This contributed to the destabilization of international politics and set the stage for World War II.
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Austria's transformation
Austria underwent a significant transformation following its annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938, an event known as the Anschluss. This marked the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which prohibited the unification of Austria and Germany. The annexation was the culmination of a series of aggressive foreign policies pursued by the Nazi regime throughout the 1930s.
The idea of uniting Austria and Germany was not new and had been proposed as early as 1919, particularly by Austrian Social Democrats. However, it was Adolf Hitler, an Austrian-born German, who actively pursued this union. In his book "Mein Kampf," published in 1925, Hitler expressed his desire for a union of all Germans in a Greater Germany, stating that common blood belongs in a common Reich. He saw this union as a way to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe, which the Nazis considered unfair and illegitimate.
In the years leading up to the annexation, Austria experienced economic difficulties due to the Great Depression, with high unemployment and unstable commerce and industry. This made Austria an attractive target for German investment capital during the 1920s. By 1937, rapid German rearmament increased Berlin's interest in annexing Austria, which was rich in raw materials, labour, and industrial products.
The annexation itself occurred over several days, from March 11 to 13, 1938. German troops, accompanied by Hitler, marched into Austria and were met with enthusiastic crowds. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg had attempted to maintain Austria's independence but was coerced into naming Austrian Nazis to his cabinet and ultimately resigned under pressure from Hitler. On March 13, the Anschluss was proclaimed, and Austria became a province of Germany, ceasing to exist as an independent nation.
The immediate aftermath of the annexation saw a wave of street violence against Jewish people and their property in Vienna and other cities. Austrian Nazis carried out the Nazification of all aspects of Austrian life, with the sanction of the new regime. A plebiscite held on April 10, 1938, under the supervision of the German army, resulted in a 99.7% approval rating for the union, demonstrating the support for the annexation among Austrians.
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Hitler's expansionary policies
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This event, known as the Anschluss, was the culmination of years of expansionary policies by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.
Hitler, an Austrian himself, had expressed his desire for an Austro-German union in his earliest writings and speeches. The first point of the Nazi Party Platform in 1920 stated: "We demand the union of all Germans in a Greater Germany (Großdeutschland) on the basis of the right of national self-determination." Hitler's expansionist ideology was further outlined in his 1925 book, Mein Kampf, where he wrote, "German-Austria must return to the great German motherland, and not because of economic considerations of any sort... Common blood belongs in a common Reich."
In the lead-up to the Anschluss, Austrian Nazis twice conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. The first attempt, in July 1934, resulted in the assassination of Austrian Chancellor Dollfuss but ultimately failed due to a lack of support from the Austrian military. The second attempt, in early 1938, involved Hitler directly. He invited Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to Germany and coerced him into appointing several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, 1938, Schuschnigg called for a national vote to resolve the question of Anschluss. However, before the plebiscite could take place, Schuschnigg resigned under pressure from Hitler on March 11, and German troops invaded Austria on March 12.
The annexation of Austria was a significant development in Hitler's expansionary agenda. By violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany, Hitler demonstrated his disdain for the post-World War I European order and his intention to redraw the map of Europe. The Anschluss also brought millions of Jewish people under German control, leading to an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population.
Furthermore, the annexation of Austria was a strategic move to gain access to the country's rich resources. Austria was a source of raw materials and labour, supplying Germany with magnesium and products from the iron, textile, and machine industries. It also possessed gold and foreign currency reserves, skilled workers, idle factories, and potential hydroelectric resources.
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Public opinion
Austrian Public Opinion
In 1933, Austrian public opinion about German annexation was at least 60% against, according to Gunther. However, by 1938, there were signs that some Austrians supported the idea of unification with Germany. For example, the Loos Haus building in Vienna was decorated with signs encouraging Austrian incorporation into a greater Germany. Additionally, when German troops marched into Austria on March 12, 1938, they were met with enthusiastic crowds.
German Public Opinion
In Germany, public opinion about the annexation of Austria was varied. Some Germans enthusiastically supported the union, seeing it as a triumph for Hitler and the Nazi Party. However, others feared that the annexation would lead to war and were concerned about the potential consequences. There was also a sense of bitterness towards the Western powers, who had blocked the union between Germany and Austria in the past but were now backing down in the face of German aggression.
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Frequently asked questions
The annexation of Austria, also known as the Anschluss, was the incorporation of Austria into the German Reich in 1938.
The annexation of Austria was a result of Nazi Germany's aggressive foreign policy and expansionist goals. Adolf Hitler, an Austrian himself, had expressed desires for an Austro-German union in his early writings and speeches.
On March 11, 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg resigned due to pressure from Hitler and the Nazis. This led to German troops marching into Austria on March 12, 1938, and the proclamation of the Anschluss on March 13.
