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In 1930, Austria was known as the First Austrian Republic, which was created after the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye was signed in 1919. The country was facing economic difficulties, as it had lost many of its important economic regions and was subject to a trade blockade by neighbouring countries. The politics of the nation were fractious and violent, with clashes between the Social Democrats and the right-wing political paramilitary forces. The country was divided between the conservative countryside population and the Social Democrat-controlled Vienna. The Austrian Nazi Party was weak and failed to win any seats in the 1930 general election, but its popularity grew after Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Political System | First Austrian Republic |
| Date of Establishment | 10 September 1919 |
| Date of End | 1934 |
| Governing Party | Social Democrats |
| Chancellor | Engelbert Dollfuss |
| Federal President | Wilhelm Miklas |
| Economic Condition | Poor |
| Unification with Germany | Supported by many Austrians |
| Nazi Party | Gained popularity in the early 1930s |
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What You'll Learn
The First Austrian Republic
In the early 1930s, the Austrian government considered a customs union with the German Republic, as many Austrian citizens supported unification with Germany. However, regional patriotism ultimately proved stronger than pan-German sentiment, and unification did not occur. The Austrian Nazi Party failed to win any seats in the November 1930 general election, but its popularity grew after Hitler came to power in Germany. The idea of Anschluss, or the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, gained support, and democratic opinion turned against the proposal by the end of 1933.
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Political violence
In the 1930s, Austria was officially known as the First Austrian Republic or the Republic of Austria. The country was facing economic difficulties, having lost much of its territory and resources following the First World War. The Austrian government considered a customs union with Germany in 1931, but this idea was abandoned after violent opposition from France and the Little Entente.
Dollfuss transformed Austria from a democratic republic into a right-wing authoritarian regime. He tied Austrian identity to the Catholic Church, arguing against union with predominantly Protestant Germany. However, the Austrian Nazi Party was gaining popularity, particularly after Hitler's rise to power in Germany in 1933. The Austrian Nazis pursued a terrorism campaign, and their popularity grew. This culminated in the Austrian Civil War of 1934 between the Social Democrats and government forces, after which Dollfuss created a one-party state led by the Fatherland Front.
The violence did not end with the Civil War, as the Austrian Nazi Party continued to gain support. Eventually, in March 1938, German troops entered Austria and annexed the country, an event known as the Anschluss. This led to an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population, with Jews being beaten, attacked, and forced to perform humiliating tasks.
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Economic crisis
The Republic of Austria, also known as the First Austrian Republic, was created after the signing of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye in September 1919. The new state had lost many of its territories, including German-populated regions in Sudetenland to Czechoslovakia, German-populated South Tyrol to Italy, and a portion of the Alpine provinces to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (also known as Yugoslavia). The Treaty of Saint Germain also forbade the union of Austria with Germany, which was a significant blow to the country's economic viability.
In the 1920s, Austria's urban population relied heavily on relief from the United States and Great Britain, and the country faced high inflation and the threat of financial collapse. In 1922, the chancellor, Ignaz Seipel, secured a large loan through the League of Nations, stabilising Austrian finances. However, this loan came with the condition that Austria remain independent for at least 20 years.
Despite this intervention, Austria continued to face economic challenges. The country struggled with high taxation, a lack of capital, and impaired competitiveness for its companies. Unemployment remained high, and the country faced a chronic lack of food and a lack of developed industrial capacity. The bankruptcy of the Creditanstalt, the country's most influential banking house, in 1931 brought Austria to the brink of economic disaster. The onset of the worldwide Great Depression in the early 1930s further exacerbated these issues, leaving Austria with high unemployment and a fragile economic situation.
The economic crisis in Austria contributed to political instability and violent clashes between left-wing and right-wing groups. The Social Democrats and the right-wing Heimwehr, a reactionary force with fascist tendencies, both maintained paramilitary forces that clashed with each other. The country was divided between the conservative countryside population and "Red Vienna," controlled by the Social Democrats. The Austrian Nazi Party gained support during this period, and the idea of Austria joining Germany grew in popularity, fuelled by Nazi propaganda campaigns. However, by the end of 1933, Austrian public opinion had shifted, and a majority were against German annexation.
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The Austrian Nazi Party
In the early 1930s, the Austrian Nazi Party was weak, divided, and ineffective. Party members disagreed on their relationship to Hitler and their German counterparts. However, by 1931, most Austrian Nazis recognised Hitler as their leader. Hitler, in turn, appointed a German Nazi, Alfred Proksch, to bring the Austrian party in line. The Austrian Nazis gained supporters in 1931–1932 as Hitler’s popularity in Germany increased. This was even more noticeable across Austria after Hitler was appointed German chancellor in January 1933.
The Austrian government withdrew from economic ties with Germany when Hitler rose to power. However, Austria was experiencing economic turbulence due to the Great Depression, with a high unemployment rate, unstable commerce, and struggling industries. By 1937, rapid German rearmament increased Berlin's interest in annexing Austria, which was rich in raw materials and labour.
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Unification with Germany
In the early 1930s, the Austrian government considered a customs union with the German Republic. However, regional patriotism was stronger than pan-German sentiment. The idea of unification with Germany was not overwhelmingly popular among the Austrian population in 1919, and this popularity further decreased over time. Nevertheless, the notion persisted in Austrian political discourse.
The Austrian Nazi Party failed to win any seats in the November 1930 general election, but its popularity grew after Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933. The idea of Austria joining Germany also gained traction, aided by a Nazi propaganda campaign that used slogans such as "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" ("One People, One Empire, One Leader") to advocate for an Anschluss to the German Reich. The Nazis saw unification as an integral part of their "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept, which aimed to incorporate as many Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans outside Germany) as possible into a "Greater Germany".
In early 1938, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on unification with Germany or maintaining Austrian sovereignty, to be held on March 13. Hitler threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign. On March 12, German troops entered Austria, where they were met with enthusiasm by the public. A plebiscite was held on April 10, with the ballot manipulated to achieve a 99.7% approval for unification. This event, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany and resulted in the country's transformation and the persecution of its Jewish population.
The unification of Austria and Germany into a Greater Germany had been a long-standing idea that gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. The new Republic of German-Austria attempted to unite with Germany, but the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles prohibited this union and stripped Austria of some of its territories. These treaties, which Austria and Germany violated by unifying, were aimed at preventing a defeated Germany from expanding its borders by absorbing Austria.
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Frequently asked questions
The Austrian government was unstable, with violent clashes between the Social Democrats and the right-wing Heimwehr. The country was divided between the conservative countryside population and Red Vienna, controlled by the Social Democrats. The Austrian Nazi Party failed to win any seats in the November 1930 general election, but its popularity grew after Hitler came to power in Germany.
Austria was in a state of economic crisis, struggling to support itself with food and lacking a developed industrial base. The country faced high unemployment and inflation, with half the population unemployed by 1922.
Austrian society was marked by social distress and poverty, with revolutionary activities and a growing threat of bolshevism. The country was also dealing with the aftermath of the Habsburg monarchy's abdication, which left no common symbol of loyalty among the states.
There was a growing desire for unification with Germany, particularly among Austrian citizens of the political left and center. However, regional patriotism and the weak Austrian Nazi Party prevented a widespread movement for unification at this time.
In 1930, the Social Democrats emerged as the largest party in the legislative elections, winning 72 seats. However, Christian Social Chancellor Otto Ender formed a coalition government without them.
