Lyla Lindsey
The political union of Germany and Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938. The idea of the Anschluss, which means 'joining' or 'connection' in German, was a union of Austria and Germany to form a Greater Germany. The union was prohibited by the Versailles and St. Germain treaties, but it was supported by both Austrians and Germans, with a plebiscite in April 1938 showing over 99% in favour of Hitler. The union was short-lived, as after the Second World War, Austria claimed independence and separated from Germany.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 March 1938 |
| Type | Annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany |
| German Term | Anschluss (Anschluß Österreichs) |
| English Translation | Joinder, connection, unification, or political union |
| Annexation Method | Military invasion |
| Annexation Leader | Adolf Hitler |
| Annexation Country | Nazi Germany |
| Annexed Country | Austria |
| Result | Austria absorbed into the Third Reich |
| Resulting Loss | Austria's sovereignty |
| Resulting Gain | Access to resources, manpower, and industrial production |
| Resulting Gain | Austria's gold reserves |
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What You'll Learn
The Anschluss
In the early 20th century, Austria was facing significant political instability, with infighting and violence between various factions, including the Social Democrats, the Communist Party, and the Austrian Nazis. The Austrian chancellor, Engelbert Dollfuss, established a right-wing authoritarian regime, known as the Corporate State or Austrofascist state. He brutally repressed the Social Democrats, which alienated him from countries like Britain and France, who had previously supported Austrian independence.
At the same time, Adolf Hitler, the leader of the Nazi Party in Germany, had been expressing his desire for an Austro-German union since the early 1920s. In his book "Mein Kampf", published in 1925, Hitler wrote about his vision of a Greater Germany that would include all German speakers. He became Chancellor of Germany in 1933 and began implementing an aggressive foreign policy aimed at reversing the territorial losses imposed by the Treaty of Versailles.
In March 1931, Austria and Germany signed a protocol agreeing to negotiate a customs union, which was opposed by France and the Little Entente (Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Romania). Despite this opposition, negotiations continued, and in March 1938, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg was pressured by Hitler to cancel a planned plebiscite on Austrian independence and resign. On March 12, 1938, Germany officially annexed Austria, and the union was proclaimed.
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The Austro-Prussian War
The war was preceded by diplomatic exchanges and military preparations, with Prussia deliberately challenging Austria for leadership of the German Confederation. Prussia's aim was to break up the existing confederation and form a new one without Austria, shifting power among the German states away from Austria and towards Prussian hegemony. Prussia needed to avoid being seen as overly aggressive to draw independent German duchies into its sphere of influence and prevent any of the major powers of Europe from aiding Austria. Prussia's statesman, Otto von Bismarck, played a key role in these diplomatic manoeuvres, even allegedly securing French neutrality in a potential war with Austria.
The war ended quickly and was fought mainly with existing weapons and munitions. Prussia's victory was enabled by its modernized army discipline and outstanding generals, including Helmuth von Moltke, who prepared for every contingency and acquired modern weapons for their troops. Prussia's victory resulted in the abolition of the German Confederation and its partial replacement by the unification of all the northern German states in the North German Confederation, which excluded Austria and the other southern German states.
The Peace of Prague on 23 August 1866 formally concluded the war and resulted in significant territorial changes. Prussia annexed four of Austria's former allies, including Schleswig-Holstein, Hannover, and several other duchies. Austria was forced to cede control of its Venetian territory to Italy, losing influence over the southern German states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. These terms decreased Austria's prestige among the German states and solidified Prussia's position as one of the dominant states in Europe.
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Austria's sovereignty
Historical Context
Austria, officially known as the Republic of Austria, has a long history dating back to the first millennium when it emerged as a unified state from the remnants of the Eastern and Hungarian March. Over time, it transitioned from a frontier march of the Holy Roman Empire to a Duchy in 1156 and eventually became an Archduchy in 1453.
Habsburg Monarchy and Empire
For centuries, Austria was the heartland of the Habsburg monarchy, and from the 16th century, Vienna served as the administrative capital of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1804, just two years before the dissolution of the empire, Austria established its own empire, which became a significant power in Europe.
Austro-Hungarian Empire
However, the Austrian Empire's defeat and loss of territories in the 1860s led to a shift. In 1867, the Austro-Hungarian Empire was established, marking a period of dual sovereignty with the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary under Franz Joseph I. This empire lasted until the end of World War I in 1918.
Interwar Period and World War II
During the interwar period, anti-parliamentarian sentiments led to the formation of an Austrofascist dictatorship under Engelbert Dollfuss in 1934. In the lead-up to World War II, Austria experienced political turmoil, with Austrian Nazis attempting a coup in 1934 and the country being isolated due to strategic collaborations between Italy and Germany.
Annexation by Nazi Germany
In 1938, Austria was annexed into Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, marking a loss of sovereignty. This union was prohibited by the Versailles and St. Germain treaties and faced opposition from countries like France, which attempted to prevent it by proposing a Danubian Confederation. However, despite these efforts, Austria became a sub-national division within Nazi Germany.
Restoration of Sovereignty
After World War II, Austria regained its independence and sovereignty. The Austrian State Treaty, signed in 1955, formally re-established Austria as a "sovereign, independent, and democratic state." It prohibited a future Anschluss and guaranteed the rights of minority groups. The treaty also included provisions for the withdrawal of occupation forces, which was completed by October 25, 1955.
Post-War Period
Since regaining its sovereignty, Austria has developed a separate national identity from Germany, and there have been no significant efforts to unite the two countries. Austria has maintained its neutrality, as stipulated in its constitution, and has fostered strong political relations with its neighbour.
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Nazi Germany's expansion
Nazi Germany, officially known as the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, transforming it into a totalitarian dictatorship. The Nazi regime was characterised by far-right fascist ideology, combining antisemitism, racial hygiene, eugenics, pan-Germanism, and territorial expansionism. This expansionism was driven by Hitler's belief in the racial superiority of the Aryan master race and the need for Lebensraum (living space) for the Germanic people.
One of the earliest steps towards Nazi Germany's expansion was the annexation of Austria in 1938, known as the Anschluss (joining or connection). The idea of the Anschluss emerged after the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria and German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. Attempts to form a customs union between Austria and Germany in the early 1930s were opposed by France and other European powers, as they saw it as a step towards the unification of the two countries. Despite these efforts, Hitler pressured Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to cancel a plebiscite on Austrian independence and resign in March 1938. German troops then entered Austria, receiving support from the majority of the Austrian population.
The annexation of Austria was followed by Hitler's demands for the Sudetenland, a border area of Czechoslovakia with a significant ethnic German population. In September 1938, the leaders of Britain, France, Italy, and Germany agreed to the Munich Agreement, conceding the Sudetenland to Germany. Hitler's aggressive foreign policy continued with the invasion of Poland in 1939, which marked the outbreak of World War II.
The expansion of Nazi Germany was driven by a combination of ideological, racial, and expansionist factors. Hitler's ideology, as outlined in Mein Kampf, advocated for the expansion of German territory and the establishment of a racial hierarchy with Aryans at the top. The economic policies implemented by the Nazis, such as deficit financing and rearmament, contributed to a rapid decline in unemployment, which helped solidify their power and enabled their expansionist agenda.
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Austria-Hungary Empire
The Austro-Hungarian Empire was a political union between Austria and Hungary that existed from 1867 to 1918. The empire was established after the Austrian Empire's defeat in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and the loss of its influence over southern German states. The empire was led by Austria and was a multi-ethnic union that included a diverse range of peoples and cultures.
Prior to the formation of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria had proposed a union of German states centred on and dominated by the Habsburgs. However, Prussia, which had created a German Customs Union with northern German states, aimed to exclude Austria and become the central force in unifying the German states. The tension between these competing visions ultimately led to the Austro-Prussian War.
Following the war, the Austrian Empire was dissolved, and the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary was established. This new union was characterised by the dominance of Austria in the affairs of the empire. The Austro-Hungarian Empire faced rivalry from the North German Confederation (1866-1871) and the German Empire led by the Kingdom of Prussia. Despite this rivalry, Austria and Germany maintained a military alliance during this period.
The Austro-Hungarian Empire came to an end in 1918, following its defeat in World War I. After the empire's collapse, there were efforts to unite Austria and Germany, particularly by supporters of the Nazis and Adolf Hitler, who envisioned a "'Greater Germany' that included Austria. This union was prohibited by various treaties such as the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint Germain, which stipulated that Austria should be independent and not be called German-Austria. Despite these prohibitions, Austria and Germany were forcibly joined under Nazi rule in 1938 in an event known as the Anschluss.
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Frequently asked questions
The political union of Germany and Austria was called the Anschluss, which translates to "joining", connection, fusion, or unification.
The Anschluss occurred on March 12, 1938, when Austria was annexed into Nazi Germany.
The Anschluss resulted in the loss of sovereignty for Austria as it was absorbed into the Third Reich. The Austrian government was dissolved, and any official memory of Austrian existence was suppressed. Austria was renamed Ostmark, and Upper and Lower Austria became Upper and Lower Danube. The Nazis began imposing their ideology, imprisoning their opponents, and gaining access to new resources such as manpower and raw materials.
