Ruqayyah Snyder
The Anschluss was the annexation of Austria by Germany in March 1938. It took place over three days, from 11 to 13 March, and was orchestrated by Adolf Hitler, who had been plotting to take control of Austria since the beginning of the year. The annexation was achieved without military resistance from Austria, and was met with enthusiasm by pro-Nazi Austrians.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 March 1938 |
| Description | Annexation of the Federal State of Austria into the German Reich |
| Action | German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich |
| Austrian Chancellor | Kurt von Schuschnigg |
| Austrian President | Wilhelm Miklas |
| Austrian Nazi Leader | Arthur Seyss-Inquart |
| German Leader | Adolf Hitler |
| German Nazi Minister | Hermann Göring |
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's February 1938 meeting with Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg
On February 12, 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Adolf Hitler in the Obersalzberg near Berchtesgaden, at Hitler's Berghof residence. Schuschnigg expected to discuss the tensions between Austria and Germany and to smooth over worsening relations. However, Hitler was ready to take full control of Austria and presented Schuschnigg with a set of demands amounting to an ultimatum. This included the handing over of power to the Austrian Nazis and a series of appointments that would give the Austrian Nazis control of the country's police forces and security matters. Hitler also demanded amnesty for imprisoned Austrian Nazis.
Hitler used the presence of several German generals to intimidate Schuschnigg, who ultimately gave in and signed the agreement, known as the Berchtesgaden Agreement. This agreement undermined Austrian sovereignty and independence. Despite Schuschnigg's efforts to keep Austria independent, he was unable to prevent the eventual annexation.
On March 9, Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence once more by calling a referendum (plebiscite) on the issue, to be held on March 13. Infuriated, Hitler threatened invasion and demanded Schuschnigg's resignation, as well as the appointment of the Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as his replacement. Schuschnigg was forced to cancel the plebiscite and resign on March 11, 1938, and was placed under house arrest the following day.
The Austrian Anschluss with Nazi Germany took place over three days in March 1938, with German troops marching into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich.
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The Berchtesgaden Agreement
Hitler's demands included that Austria's foreign and military policies were to be coordinated with Germany's. Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart was to be placed in charge of policing and security matters, and Austrian Nazis who had been imprisoned by the Austrian government were to be amnestied. Hitler used the presence of several German generals to intimidate Schuschnigg, who eventually gave in and signed the agreement.
The agreement set the stage for the annexation of Austria by Germany, known as the Anschluss, which took place in March 1938. On March 9, Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence by calling a referendum on the issue, to be held on March 13. Infuriated, Hitler threatened an invasion of Austria and demanded Schuschnigg's resignation and the appointment of Arthur Seyss-Inquart as his replacement.
On March 11, the German army crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. The referendum was cancelled, and the annexation was completed on March 12, 1938, when German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. The annexation was met with celebration by pro-Nazi residents in Austrian cities.
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The cancellation of the plebiscite
The Austrian Anschluss of 1938 was a referendum called by Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to assert Austrian independence and prevent German annexation. The plebiscite was scheduled for Sunday, 13 March 1938, and asked voters to support or reject Austrian independence.
In the lead-up to the plebiscite, there was growing tension between Austria and Germany. Austrian Nazis had been conspiring to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. On 12 February 1938, Chancellor Schuschnigg met with Hitler, who made a series of demands, including coordinating Austria's foreign and military policies with Germany and appointing Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart to a position of power. Schuschnigg gave in and signed the Berchtesgaden Agreement, which undermined Austrian sovereignty.
On 9 March 1938, Chancellor Schuschnigg called for a referendum on the issue, infuriating Hitler. On 11 March, Hitler threatened to invade Austria and demanded Schuschnigg's resignation and the appointment of Seyss-Inquart as the new chancellor. Faced with this threat, Schuschnigg was forced to cancel the plebiscite and resign. That evening, he announced his resignation in a radio address to the nation and instructed Austrians and the military not to resist German troops.
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German invasion of Austria on March 12, 1938
On March 12, 1938, German military forces crossed the border into Austria and began their invasion. This action, long desired by Adolf Hitler, was the culmination of years of Nazi political intrigue and manipulation in Austria. The invasion itself was code-named 'Operation Otto' and was a carefully planned, swift, and relatively bloodless affair. German troops met with little resistance as they moved into Austria, and in many places, they were greeted enthusiastically by the local Austrian population. The invasion was a significant moment in Hitler's expansionist agenda and a clear violation of the Treaty of Versailles, which specifically forbade Germany from such aggressive actions.
The German army, the Wehrmacht, entered Austria from multiple directions. In the early morning, German troops, with tanks and armored cars, crossed the border near Linz and quickly moved towards Vienna. Other forces entered from Passau, heading towards Salzburg, and from the north, via Czechoslovakia, towards Graz. German troops also parachuted into the country, taking control of key airports and airfields. The operation was a joint effort, with the army, SS, and SA troops all playing a part.
The Austrian government, faced with the might of the German military, offered no significant resistance. Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, who had attempted to hold a referendum on Austrian independence just days before, was forced to resign by the invading Germans. He was replaced by the pro-Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart, who immediately requested German assistance to 'preserve order' and effectively handed over control of the country to Hitler.
Hitler himself entered Austria on the day of the invasion, traveling by car from his home in Munich to his hometown of Linz. He was greeted by cheering crowds, many of whom saw the annexation of Austria as a popular unification of the German-speaking peoples. On March 14, Hitler arrived in Vienna, where he was met with a rapturous welcome, underlining the strong support for the annexation within Austria.
The German invasion and subsequent annexation of Austria, known as the 'Anschluss', was a significant moment in the lead-up to World War II. It was a clear demonstration of Hitler's aggressive foreign policy and his intent to redraw the map of Europe. The 'Anschluss' also highlighted the weakness of the international response to German expansionism, as the British and French governments, despite their concerns, did little to prevent the annexation or to punish Germany afterward.
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The persecution of Austrian Jews
On March 11, 1938, the day before German troops entered Austria, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg called on citizens not to resist the German Wehrmacht and "spill German blood". Following the annexation, Austrian Nazis and their supporters began a rapid expropriation of Jewish property, accompanied by extreme intimidation and violence towards Jewish people. Jews were systematically persecuted, plundered, and killed by German and Austrian Nazis during the Holocaust, which began with the Anschluss. An estimated 70,000 Austrian Jews were murdered, and 125,000 fled as refugees.
The first Austrian concentration camp was established at Mauthausen in August 1938, and in November of that year, anti-Jewish pogroms took place throughout Germany and Austria during Kristallnacht. Synagogues were desecrated and destroyed, and houses and shops belonging to Jews were looted. By December 1938, there was an "order regarding the use of Jewish assets," and by February 1939, the majority of Jewish shops and businesses had been "aryanised", with most going to Nazi Party members.
Many Austrian Jews attempted to flee the country, and between 1938 and 1941, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee spent nearly $2 million to aid swift Austrian Jewish emigration. By September 1939, an estimated 126,445 Jews had left Austria, and between 58,000 and 66,260 remained in the country. However, emigration from the Reich was banned in October 1941, and in October 1939, the deportation of Austrian Jews to Poland began.
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Frequently asked questions
The Anschluss was the annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938, which saw the unification of the two nations under the Nazi regime.
The Anschluss was the culmination of years of political tension and aggression between Austria and Germany. Austrian Nazis had been conspiring to seize the Austrian government and unite with Germany, and in early 1938, under pressure from pro-unification activists, Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on unification. Hitler, however, was not willing to wait for the vote and invaded Austria on March 12, 1938.
Chancellor Schuschnigg attempted to maintain Austrian independence and called for a plebiscite (referendum) on the issue. However, he faced intense pressure from Hitler and the Austrian Nazis. Ultimately, he was forced to cancel the plebiscite, resign, and order the Austrian Army not to resist the Germans.
The Anschluss had devastating consequences for Austria, particularly for Austrian Jews. The unification with Germany solidified Nazi control and allowed Austrian Nazis to openly express their antisemitism. Jews were subjected to violence, robbery, and humiliation, with many attempting to flee the country. The campaign against the Jews escalated, culminating in the Kristallnacht pogrom of November 9-10, 1938, which saw the destruction of synagogues and the arrest of thousands of Jews.
