Lexi Webster
In the mid-1930s, Hitler sought to annex Austria to Germany, an act known as the Anschluss. In 1936, he launched the Four Year Plan, which aimed to dramatically increase military spending and make Germany autarkic, ready to fight a world war by 1940. Hitler's first objective was the annexation of Austria, and he told Goebbels in the summer of 1937 that Austria would eventually have to be taken by force. In February 1938, Hitler threatened to invade Austria and forced Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to implement measures favourable to Austrian Nazism. Schuschnigg announced a referendum on Austrian independence, but before it could take place, he resigned under pressure from Hitler. On March 12, 1938, German troops entered Austria, and the annexation of Austria to Germany was proclaimed the next day.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hitler's first objective | Annexation of Austria |
| Date of Annexation | March 12, 1938 |
| Hitler's plan | To seize the Austrian government by force and unite Austria with Nazi Germany |
| Hitler's motive | To bring together common blood in a common Reich |
| Hitler's ultimatum | Hand over power to Austrian Nazis or face invasion |
| German military invasion date | March 11 |
| German proclamation of annexation | March 13 |
| Austria's status after annexation | A federal state of Germany |
| Austria's status after World War II | Reestablished as an independent state by Allied powers |
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What You'll Learn
- Hitler's plan to take over Austria was outlined in his 1925 book, *Mein Kampf.*
- The annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression by Nazi Germany
- Hitler's Four Year Plan aimed to increase military spending and make Germany autarkic
- Hitler's ultimatum to Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg
- Hitler's appointment of a new Nazi government in Austria
Hitler's plan to take over Austria was outlined in his 1925 book, *Mein Kampf.*
Hitler's plan to take over Austria was outlined in his 1925 book, *Mein Kampf* (My Struggle). Hitler began writing the book in 1924 while imprisoned in Landsberg Prison for high treason after attempting to overthrow the German republic in the Beer Hall Putsch. The book was part autobiography and part political treatise, promoting the key components of Nazism: rabid antisemitism, a racist worldview, and an aggressive foreign policy aimed at gaining Lebensraum (living space) in Eastern Europe.
In Mein Kampf, Hitler identified the Aryans as the "genius" race and the Jews as "parasites," declaring the need for Germans to seek Lebensraum in the East at the expense of Slavs and Marxists in Russia. He saw it as the "sacred mission" of the German people to "assemble and preserve the most valuable racial elements" and raise them to a "dominant position."
Hitler's plan to take over Austria was part of his larger goal of expanding Nazi territory and power. In September 1936, he launched the Four-Year Plan, which called for increased military spending and autarky, with the aim of preparing the Reich for a world war by 1940. He saw Austria as a necessary target for its economy and resources. By 1937, Hitler was determined to take Austria "by force" and, in early 1938, he was considering appointing a Nazi loyalist as ambassador to Austria.
On March 11, 1938, Hitler gave the Austrian government an ultimatum: cancel the planned plebiscite on Austrian independence, appoint a Nazi chancellor, and allow German troops to enter the country. The next day, German troops entered Austria, and the annexation was proclaimed on March 13, 1938. This annexation, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany.
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The annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression by Nazi Germany
Hitler's first attempt to annex Austria came in July 1934, when a pro-Nazi group tried to overthrow the Austrian government with his approval and assistance. However, this coup failed, and Hitler denied any involvement. Despite this setback, Hitler continued to apply political pressure on Austria. In July 1936, a "gentlemen's agreement" was reached between Germany and Austria, which allowed members of the "National Opposition" to enter the Austrian cabinet in exchange for a promise to cease terrorist attacks. Hitler was not satisfied with this agreement and launched the Four-Year Plan in September 1936, which aimed to dramatically increase military spending and make Germany ready for a world war by 1940.
In early 1938, Hitler considered replacing the ambassador to Austria with non-diplomats who had shown some diplomatic skill and were Nazis. On January 25, 1938, the Austrian police raided the Vienna headquarters of the Austrian Nazi Party, arresting Gauleiter Leopold Tavs and discovering plans for a putsch. Despite this, Hitler continued to pressure Austria, and on February 12, 1938, he met with Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, bullying him into accepting demands to appoint top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. Fearing a loss of independence, Schuschnigg called for a national plebiscite, or vote, to take place on March 13, 1938, to determine if Austrians wanted to remain independent or join the Third Reich.
Hitler, infuriated by the plebiscite, decided to act immediately to prevent the vote. On March 11, he gave the Austrian government a series of ultimatums, demanding that Schuschnigg cancel the plebiscite and resign, and that Austrian President Wilhelm Miklas appoint Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as the new chancellor. Without waiting for a response, Hitler signed the order to send troops into Austria. On March 12, German troops entered Austria, and the annexation was proclaimed the next day. Austria remained a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers reestablished an independent Austria.
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Hitler's Four Year Plan aimed to increase military spending and make Germany autarkic
In 1933, Hitler and the Nazi Party came to power in Germany as the head of a coalition government. Hitler's initial economic policies were largely the work of Dr. Hans Luther, whose measures to stimulate production and reduce unemployment were known as the First Four-Year Plan. However, by 1936, Hitler was facing a growing crisis in the German economy, caused by the strains of rearmament.
In September 1936, Hitler launched the Second Four-Year Plan, which called for a dramatic increase in military spending and aimed to make Germany as autarkic as possible by 1940. This plan was technically an economic program to prepare Germany for war, with Hitler stipulating a timetable for intensified rearmament. The goals were twofold: to give the Wehrmacht operational capabilities within four years, and to enable the German economy to cope with wartime conditions. To achieve these goals, Hitler ordered the creation of a command economy, with a special emphasis on protecting German agriculture under war conditions.
The Four-Year Plan required huge investments in the Reichswerke steel works, refineries, and aluminium plants. It also included programmes for producing more chemicals, synthetic oil, and synthetic fibre. The plan called for a policy of substituting imports and rationalizing industry to achieve its goals, but it failed completely.
Hitler's plan to take over Austria, known as the Anschluss, was Germany's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite with Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Hitler, hoping to reassert his country's independence, but was forced to name several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, 1938, Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of Anschluss, but before the plebiscite could take place, he gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on March 11. German troops entered Austria on March 12, 1938, and the annexation was proclaimed the following day.
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Hitler's ultimatum to Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg
Hitler's plan to take over Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the Nazi German regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. It was an important part of the Nazi "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept, which sought to incorporate as many Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans outside Germany) as possible into a "Greater Germany".
Hitler's desire to absorb Austria into the Third Reich was well-known, and Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg was strongly opposed to this goal. Schuschnigg wished for Austria to remain independent and tried to smooth worsening relations between the two countries. However, on February 12, 1938, when Schuschnigg met with Hitler in his Berghof residence, he was surprised to be presented with an ultimatum. Hitler demanded the handing over of power to the Austrian Nazis, which was effectively a demand to hand over all power to himself.
Hitler's ultimatum to Schuschnigg was set to expire at noon on March 11, 1938, but it was extended by two hours. The ultimatum demanded that Schuschnigg call off a planned plebiscite on the issue of unification with Germany, and that Austrian President Wilhelm Miklas appoint Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as the new Austrian chancellor. If these demands were not met, Hitler threatened to invade Austria with the German military.
Faced with this threat, Schuschnigg resigned on the evening of March 11, pleading with Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance" into the country. Hitler did not wait for an answer to his ultimatum and had already signed the order to send troops into Austria at one o'clock. On March 12, 1938, German troops entered Austria, and the annexation of Austria to Germany was proclaimed on March 13.
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Hitler's appointment of a new Nazi government in Austria
Adolf Hitler's appointment of a new Nazi government in Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. Hitler had expressed his desire for an Austro-German union in his earliest writings and speeches, and as chancellor, he fully intended to bring about this union.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, learning of the conspiracy, met with Hitler in an attempt to reassert his country's independence. However, he was coerced into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of the Anschluss once and for all. Before the plebiscite could take place, Schuschnigg gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on March 11.
Hitler gave the Austrian government a series of ultimatums: Schuschnigg must call off the plebiscite, and Austrian President Wilhelm Miklas must appoint Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as the new chancellor. If these demands were not met, the German military would invade Austria. Schuschnigg resigned on the evening of March 11, and after some hesitation, Miklas appointed Seyss-Inquart as chancellor after midnight on March 12.
On March 12, 1938, German troops entered Austria, and the annexation of Austria to Germany was proclaimed on March 13. Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and reestablished an independent Austria.
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Frequently asked questions
Hitler's plan to take over Austria was called the Anschluss, which means 'the annexation of Austria to Germany'.
The Anschluss was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany, and it was seen as the fulfillment of the German people's destiny.
The Anschluss took place over three days in March 1938. German troops entered Austria on March 12, 1938, and the annexation was proclaimed on March 13, 1938.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Hitler to assert Austria's independence but was forced to name several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. Schuschnigg then called for a national plebiscite to decide on independence, but Hitler decided to invade immediately to prevent the vote.
The Anschluss was widely seen as an act of aggression. Winston Churchill warned that countries should take "effective measures" to respond to Germany's actions. However, there was little intervention as Hitler took over Austria.
