Damon Mcknight
Austria and Germany have a long history of political and social ties. In 1938, Austria became part of Germany under the Nazi regime in an act known as the Anschluss. This union was a goal of Hitler's since he joined the German Workers' Party (DAP) in 1919 and was a key tenet of the Nazi Party. Despite some resistance, the annexation was largely welcomed by Austrians, and Austria remained a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of annexation | 12 March 1938 |
| Date of declaration of union | 13 March 1938 |
| Date of end of union | 1945 |
| Duration of union | 7 years |
| Reason for annexation | Austrian Nazis attempted a coup d'etat in 1934 |
| Reason for annexation | Austrian-born Hitler demanded the right to Anschluss |
| Reason for annexation | Hitler wanted to unite all Germans in the Greater Germany |
| Reason for annexation | Hitler wanted to unite his birth country Austria and Germany |
| Reason for annexation | Hitler wanted to incorporate Austria into the German Reich |
| Reason for union | To prevent a plebiscite that could have gone against the union |
| Reason for union | Enthusiastic crowds met German troops |
| Reason for union | To form a common state for people of common blood |
| Result of union | Austria renamed Ostmark |
| Result of union | Upper and Lower Austria renamed Upper and Lower Danube |
| Result of union | Arrest of many leaders of the anti-Nazi Austrian political parties |
| Result of union | Austria became a federal state of Germany |
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What You'll Learn
Austria was annexed into Germany in 1938
Hitler became involved with the German Workers' Party (DAP) and, after becoming its leader, changed its name to the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) in 1920. The first point of the 1920 National Socialist Program stated, "We demand the unification of all Germans in the Greater Germany on the basis of the people's right to self-determination."
In 1933, after Hitler came to power in Germany, he demanded the right to Anschluss between Austria and Germany. This was initially blocked by Benito Mussolini and the Italian Fascist government, who feared retrospective territorial demands from Hitler. However, after 1936, Hitler and Mussolini forged a closer relationship in preparation for Germany's expansionist ambitions.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. Hitler demanded that Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg appoint members of Austria's Nazi Party to his cabinet and give them full political rights, threatening to invade with the German army. Fearing an invasion, 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, upon learning of the planned plebiscite, decided to invade Austria immediately to prevent the vote. On March 11, 1938, Schuschnigg cancelled the plebiscite and resigned under coercion from the Nazis. Arthur Seyss-Inquart, an Austrian Nazi politician, became chancellor and invited the German Army to cross the border. The next day, on March 12, 1938, German troops entered Austria, and the Anschluss was declared, with Austria becoming a part of Germany.
Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and re-established an independent Austria.
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Austria was part of the German Confederation from 1815 to 1866
The German Confederation was a loose political association formed for mutual defence and economic coordination. While it was dominated by Austria and Prussia, it did not include large parts of these countries as they had not been part of the Holy Roman Empire. The Confederation was marked by rivalry between Austria and Prussia over the right to rule German lands, with Prussia becoming Austria's main rival for dominance over their neighbouring German states in the 18th century. This rivalry grew substantially from 1859 and culminated in the Seven Weeks' War of 1866, which resulted in Prussia's defeat of Austria and the dissolution of the Confederation.
The German Confederation was considered weak and ineffective by most historians, and it faced opposition from nationalist movements, particularly German nationalism, which sought to reject Austrian dominance. The Confederation was further undermined by the formation of the Zollverein (a German customs union) in 1834 and the Revolutions of 1848. After its dissolution in 1866, the Prussian-dominated North German Confederation was established, excluding Austria and the other southern German states.
During the period of Austrian membership in the German Confederation, there were significant economic hardships, hyperinflation, mass unemployment, and constant riots. These issues persisted after the Confederation's dissolution and contributed to political instability in Austria. In the context of the rise of Nazi Germany under Austrian-born Adolf Hitler, there were debates and attempts to unite Austria and Germany through the concept of "Anschluss" (union). However, these efforts faced opposition from various factions within Austria and Italy, which supported Austrian independence.
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Austria was a sovereign state from 1156 to 1806
Austria has a long shared history with Germany, with the two countries having close relations. The ancestors of Austrians were the Germanic Baiuvarii (ancient German Bavarians). In early history, the Baiuvarii established the Duchy of Bavaria, which included the March of Pannonia that would later become Austria in c. 970. From 843 to 962, Bavarian Austria came under East Francia (the Kingdom of Germany).
In 1156, Austria separated from the Duchy of Bavaria to become a sovereign state. From 1156 to 1806, Austria (excluding its non-German lands) and other German states under the Kingdom of Germany were parts of the Holy Roman Empire, which was officially a German polity from 1512 and mostly led by Austria itself. The Holy Roman Empire was a collection of independent states that pledged common allegiance to an elected Emperor.
During this period, Austria's history was largely that of its ruling dynasty, the Habsburgs. In 1440, the House of Habsburg became the ruling family of the Empire, and every emperor was a Habsburg (with only one exception: Charles VII from 1742 to 1745). In 1453, Austria became an official archduchy of the Holy Roman Empire, the next step in its ascendancy within Europe.
In the 18th century, the Kingdom of Prussia rose as another influential power within the Holy Roman Empire, becoming Austria's main rival for dominance over their neighbouring German states. Prussia and Austria fought a series of wars over the province of Silesia (in modern-day southwestern Poland) between 1740 and 1763.
The Holy Roman Empire came to an end during the Napoleonic Wars in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1804, Francis II, the Holy Roman Emperor, proclaimed the Austrian Empire, unifying all Habsburg possessions under one central government. In 1806, the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved, bringing an end to the frequent conflicts that had occurred previously.
After the end of the Holy Roman Empire, Austria joined the German Confederation, along with the other German states. Austria was part of the German Confederation from 1815 to 1866 and led it. From 1938 to 1945 under the Nazi regime, Austria was annexed into Germany in the Anschluss. However, after its liberation in 1945 and a decade of Allied occupation, Austria regained its sovereignty and declared its perpetual neutrality in 1955.
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Austria was part of the Holy Roman Empire from 1156 to 1806
Austria has had a complex relationship with Germany, with the two countries sharing a history that dates back centuries. From 1156 to 1806, Austria was indeed part of the Holy Roman Empire, which also encompassed territories that are now part of modern-day Germany, as well as the Czech Republic, Slovenia, northern Italy, and western Poland.
The Holy Roman Empire was not a centralised state but a collection of territories ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor, who was elected and not a hereditary ruler. The Empire saw frequent conflicts between the various states, which often jostled for power and influence. In the 18th century, for example, Prussia and Austria fought a series of wars over the province of Silesia (now in southwestern Poland).
The Habsburgs, who became the ruling family of the Empire in 1440, held the title of Holy Roman Emperor from 1438 to 1740 and again from 1745 to 1806. During this period, Austria was officially an archduchy of the Holy Roman Empire, and its rulers were also the Holy Roman Emperors. However, the various Habsburg possessions never formed a single country, and each province was governed according to its own customs.
In 1804, the Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, fearing the end of the Empire or the accession of Napoleon as Holy Roman Emperor, proclaimed the Austrian Empire, unifying all Habsburg possessions under one central government. The Holy Roman Empire officially came to an end in 1806 with the establishment of the Confederation of the Rhine, comprising 16 sovereigns and countries. With this, Austria transitioned from being part of the Holy Roman Empire to being the Austrian Empire, which lasted until 1867.
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Austria and Germany are both members of the European Union
Austria and Germany have had a long and complex shared history, with Austria being part of the German Confederation from 1815 to 1866 and leading it. In 1866, Austria was separated from Germany and the German Confederation was dissolved. Later, in 1938, Austria was annexed into Germany under the Nazi regime, an event known as the Anschluss. However, after World War II, Austria regained its independence and sovereignty in 1945.
In more recent times, Austria and Germany have both become members of the European Union (EU). Austria joined the EU on January 1, 1995, after a referendum in 1994 where consent reached a majority of two-thirds. This membership has brought Austria closer ties to other EU economies and has resulted in an influx of foreign investors attracted by its access to the single market and proximity to aspiring EU economies. Austria's membership in the EU has also led to benefits such as better transport infrastructure, modernised and digitalised public services, and improved medical treatment.
Germany, on the other hand, has been a member of the EU for a longer period, being one of the six core states that founded the EU's predecessor, the European Communities, in the 1950s. As a member of the EU, Germany has representation in the institutions of the union and participates in decision-making processes. It is also a member of NATO from 1955.
Despite their shared history and membership in the EU, Austria and Germany differ in their approaches to military alignment. While Germany is a member of NATO, Austria maintains its strict constitutional requirement of neutrality and is not a part of NATO. Instead, Austria has declared its perpetual neutrality since 1955 and takes part in the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, contributing to peacekeeping and peace-creating tasks.
In summary, Austria and Germany are both members of the European Union, but they differ in their historical backgrounds, economic situations, and approaches to military alignment. Austria's membership in the EU has brought economic benefits and improved infrastructure, while Germany, as one of the founding members, plays a crucial role in shaping the union's policies and decisions.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria was annexed into Germany in 1938 under the Nazi regime.
The annexation of Austria into Germany was known as the "Anschluss".
It appears doubtful that a qualified majority of Austrians supported the Anschluss. Evidence suggests that the pro-Anschluss movement could only hope for a slim majority in the event of a plebiscite.
No, at the end of World War II, the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and reestablished an independent Austria.
