Lyla Lindsey
The German invasion of Austria, also known as the Anschluss, took place in March 1938. The invasion was led by Adolf Hitler, who aimed to annex Austria into Nazi Germany. The German army crossed the Austrian border on March 12, unopposed by the Austrian military, and was greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes and flowers. This event marked the beginning of a wave of street violence against Jewish people and the loss of Austrian independence, as Austria became a province of Nazi Germany.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 March 1938 |
| German Troops | 8th Army of the German Wehrmacht |
| German Leader | Adolf Hitler |
| Austrian Leader | Kurt Schuschnigg |
| Austrian President | Wilhelm Miklas |
| Austrian Nazi Leader | Arthur Seyss-Inquart |
| German Propaganda Minister | Hermann Göring |
| German Ally | Benito Mussolini, Italy |
| Austrian Ally | None |
| German Ultimatum | 11 March 1938 |
| Austrian Referendum | Cancelled |
| Austrian Independence | Lost |
| Annexation Name | Anschluss |
| Annexation Meaning | Annexation of Austria, or the Annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany |
| Resulting Law | "Reunification of Austria with Germany" |
| Plebiscite | 10 April 1938, 99.7% approval |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Anschluss
The German invasion of Austria, also known as the Anschluss, took place in March 1938. The term 'Anschluss' means 'joining' or 'connection' in German, and the invasion was an attempt by Nazi Germany to annex and unify with Austria.
The idea of unifying Germany and Austria into a "Greater Germany" had been a subject of debate since the 19th century. After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint Germain expressly forbade the unification of the two countries. However, support for unification remained strong in both Austria and Germany, especially among those who considered themselves ethnically German.
In the lead-up to the invasion, Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence by calling for a plebiscite (referendum) on the issue. However, he was pressured by Hitler to cancel the plebiscite and resign. On March 11, 1938, Hitler gave the Austrian government a series of ultimatums, threatening an invasion if they did not comply.
On March 12, 1938, the German Wehrmacht crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. Hitler himself crossed the border later that day, greeted by cheering Austrians. The invasion was dubbed the "Blumenkrieg" or "Flower War" due to the warm welcome the Germans received.
The annexation of Austria was formalised on March 13, 1938, when Austrian Nazi Chancellor Arthur Seyss-Inquart signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law. This law, also known as the Anschluss law, officially incorporated Austria into Nazi Germany as a province, stripping it of its independence.
Max's Redemption at the Austrian Grand Prix
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Hitler's ultimatum
On March 11, 1938, Hitler gave the Austrian government an ultimatum: Chancellor Schuschnigg must hand over all power to the Austrian Nazis or face an invasion. Schuschnigg desperately sought support for Austrian independence but realised that neither France nor Britain was willing to offer assistance. He resigned on the evening of March 11. Hitler, tired of waiting, ordered the invasion to commence at dawn on March 12.
The German invasion of Austria, known as the Anschluss, took place over three days in March 1938. The idea of a united Austria and Germany that would form a "Greater Germany" had been mooted since the 19th century. The Anschluss was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany. The German word "anschluss" means "joining" or "connection".
Hitler had been preparing for a full-scale military assault into Austria to support the National Socialists. However, he was initially torn between going ahead with the invasion and pulling off the border. He realised that the German Army was not prepared to take on the Austrian and Italian armies. Eventually, he decided to order the force to be pulled off the Austrian border.
On March 12, the 8th Army of the German Wehrmacht crossed the border into Austria. They were not met with armed resistance but with cheers and flowers. Austrians welcomed Hitler warmly as he travelled first to Linz and then on to Vienna. The "invasion" without shots fired was therefore dubbed the Blumenkrieg ("Flower War").
Hitler's War Start: Austria's Role in WWII
You may want to see also
Explore related products
German troops cross the border
On the morning of March 12, 1938, German troops crossed the Austrian border. The invasion, dubbed the "Blumenkrieg" or "Flower War", was met without armed resistance. Instead, the Austrian people greeted the soldiers with Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers. The German army's lack of coordination and poor organization mattered little as the Austrian government had ordered the Austrian Bundesheer not to resist.
The invasion was the culmination of a series of events that began when Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany. Hitler, portraying this as defying the popular will in Austria and Germany, threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign. Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, and Hitler ordered the invasion to commence at dawn on March 12.
Hitler himself crossed the border that afternoon, arriving in Linz to an enthusiastic welcome. 250,000 Austrians gathered to meet him and show their support for the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, or the Anschluss. The idea of the Anschluss, a united Austria and Germany forming a "Greater Germany", had been a subject of debate since the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806.
The enthusiasm displayed by the Austrian people surprised both Nazis and non-Nazis, as most people believed that a majority of Austrians opposed the Anschluss. This enthusiasm gave Hitler the cover to annex Austria outright on March 13, with a plebiscite held on April 10 showing 99.7% approval.
Britain and Austria-Hungary: Allies or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Austrians' reaction
The German invasion of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was met with a surprisingly warm welcome from the Austrian people. On the morning of March 12, 1938, German troops crossed the Austrian border and were greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers. The invasion, without any resistance or shots fired, was dubbed the Blumenkrieg ("Flower War"). The Austrian government had ordered the Austrian Bundesheer not to resist, and the enthusiasm for Hitler and the Germans surprised both Nazis and non-Nazis alike, as most people believed that a majority of Austrians opposed the Anschluss.
The idea of a union between Austria and Germany, or Anschluss, had been a subject of debate since the 19th century. After the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806 and the break-up of the German Confederation in 1866, the idea of grouping all Germans into one nation-state gained support. In 1918, with the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the new Republic of German-Austria attempted to unite with Germany, but this was forbidden by the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and the Treaty of Versailles, which also stripped Austria of some territories.
In the lead-up to the invasion, Austrian politics was characterized by infighting and political violence, with the rise of Nazism further destabilizing the situation. Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss transformed the country into a right-wing authoritarian regime, known as the Corporate State or the Austrofascist state. Despite this, in early 1938, under pressure from pro-unification activists, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany, to be held on March 13. Hitler, however, threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign, sending an ultimatum on March 11. Schuschnigg desperately sought support for Austrian independence but resigned when it became clear that neither France nor Britain was willing to offer assistance.
Hitler ordered the invasion to commence at dawn on March 12, and German troops crossed the border without facing any resistance. Hitler himself crossed the border that afternoon, arriving in Linz to an enthusiastic welcome from 250,000 Austrians. The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany was formalized on March 13, 1938, with the signing of the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law by Austrian Nazi Chancellor Arthur Seyss-Inquart. This marked a significant turning point for Austria, as the country ceased to exist as an independent nation and became a province of Nazi Germany.
Student Visa Success: Austria's Bank Balance Requirements
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Austria becomes a province
The German invasion of Austria, also known as the Anschluss, took place in March 1938. The invasion was led by Adolf Hitler, who aimed to annex Austria into Nazi Germany. The idea of a union between Austria and Germany, or a "Greater Germany", had been a subject of debate since the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806. After the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, the new Republic of German-Austria attempted to unite with Germany, but this was forbidden by the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and the Treaty of Versailles.
In the lead-up to the invasion, Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany, which was scheduled for March 13, 1938. Hitler, portraying this as defying the popular will in Austria and Germany, threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign. On March 11, Hitler gave the Austrian government a series of ultimatums, including demanding that Schuschnigg call off the plebiscite and hand over power to the Austrian Nazis.
On the morning of March 12, German troops crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. Hitler himself crossed the border later that day, greeted by cheering Austrians. The invasion was dubbed the Blumenkrieg ("Flower War") due to the lack of armed resistance and the welcoming atmosphere.
Following the invasion, a plebiscite was held on April 10, in which 99.7% approved of the union. The "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, also known as the Anschluss law, formally incorporated Austria into Nazi Germany as a province, or "Land". The Nazis sought to erase any traces of a separate Austrian identity, even changing the country's name to the Ostmark, which demoted Austria from an empire to a province. This marked a significant turning point for Austria, as it lost its independence and became a part of Nazi Germany.
Travel Time to Austria: How Long Does It Take?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The German invasion of Austria was called the Anschluss.
Anschluss is German for 'joining' or 'connection'.
The Anschluss took place on March 12, 1938.
German troops crossed the Austrian border and were greeted by Austrians with Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers. Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg resigned and Hitler rode into Austria with a 4,000-man bodyguard.
The idea of Anschluss was a united Austria and Germany that would form a "Greater Germany".
