Leslie Massey
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, accompanied by Hitler himself, to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This annexation, known as the Anschluss, saw the unification of Austria and Nazi Germany, with a Nazi government established in Austria, headed by Seyss-Inquart. The idea of Austria joining Germany had gained popularity in the preceding years, fuelled by Nazi propaganda campaigns. However, the annexation was met with mixed reactions, with some Austrians welcoming the union while others resisted, resulting in arrests and exiles, particularly among anti-Nazi political leaders and Jews.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Anschluss | 12 March 1938 |
| German troops enter Austria | 12 March 1938 |
| German government communicates to the Secretary General of the League of Nations about the inclusion of Austria | 18 March 1938 |
| Austrian Nazi Party failed to win any seats in the general election | November 1930 |
| Austrian Chancellor | Kurt von Schuschnigg |
| Nazi Minister of the Interior | Seyss-Inquart |
| Austrian Nazi Party leader | Anton Drexler |
| German word for "military annexation" | Annektierung |
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What You'll Learn
- The Austrian Nazi Party failed to win any seats in the 1930 election
- The idea of Anschluss grew in popularity due to Nazi propaganda
- German troops, accompanied by Hitler, entered Austria on 12 March 1938
- The Nazis arrested many leaders of anti-Nazi Austrian political parties
- The British government did not oppose the union of Austria with Germany
The Austrian Nazi Party failed to win any seats in the 1930 election
On the 14th of September 1930, federal elections were held in Germany. The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) remained the largest party in the Reichstag, winning 143 out of 577 seats. The Nazi Party (NSDAP) saw a significant increase in support, going from 12 to 107 seats. The Communist Party also made gains, increasing their representation by 23 seats and becoming the third-largest party. Despite the Nazi Party's success in Germany, the Austrian Nazi Party failed to secure any seats in the November 1930 general election.
The Austrian Nazi Party's lack of success in the 1930 election did not, however, reflect the broader trajectory of Nazi support in Austria. After Hitler's rise to power in Germany, the idea of Austria joining Germany gained traction among Austrians, fuelled by Nazi propaganda campaigns. Slogans like "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" ("One People, One Empire, One Leader") effectively persuaded many Austrians to support the notion of an Anschluss, or "annexation," with Germany.
By 1932, an estimated 80% of Austrians were in favour of an Anschluss, according to John Gunther. However, the Austrian Nazis' resorting to a terrorism campaign prevented this unification from occurring through democratic means. In early 1938, Austrian Nazis made their second attempt in four years to forcefully seize control of the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg attempted to maintain his country's independence by negotiating with Hitler, but ultimately succumbed to pressure. He appointed Austrian Nazis to his cabinet and resigned on March 11, 1938, paving the way for Hitler's entrance into Austria.
On March 12, 1938, German troops, accompanied by Hitler, marched into Austria, where they were greeted by cheering crowds. Hitler installed a new Nazi government, and the Anschluss was officially proclaimed on March 13. This annexation was met with international responses that were, at most, moderately critical. Austria became a federal state of Germany and remained so until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers declared the union void and re-established an independent Austria.
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The idea of Anschluss grew in popularity due to Nazi propaganda
The idea of Anschluss, or the unification of Austria with Germany, grew in popularity among Austrians in the lead-up to the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938. This growth in popularity can be attributed in part to the extensive Nazi propaganda campaigns that were waged in Austria, which played a significant role in shaping public opinion and creating the conditions for annexation.
Beginning in May 1933, the Austrian Nazis, with encouragement and funding from Germany, carried out a propaganda and terror campaign aimed at undermining the Austrian government. They staged disruptive protests, brawled with political opponents and the police, and set off explosives and tear gas bombs in public places and Jewish-owned businesses. The German government also levied economic sanctions against Austria, crippling the country's tourism industry.
The Nazi propaganda machine mobilized a wide range of Austrian institutions and leaders, including representatives of the Austrian working class and the Catholic Church, both of which had been initially reluctant to embrace Nazism. The Nazis also exploited the media to spread their message, issuing press reports of riots and unrest in Austria to justify German intervention. They also used slogans such as "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" ("One People, One Empire, One Leader") to appeal to Austrian nationalism and foster support for unification with Germany.
The referendum called by Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg on March 9, 1938, to resolve the question of Anschluss once and for all, was met with intense Nazi propaganda urging Austrians to support unification. The result of the referendum indicated that around 99% of Austrians wanted to unite with Nazi Germany. However, it is important to note that between 300,000 and 400,000 Austrian citizens, including Jews, Roma, and political opponents of the Nazis, were excluded from the voting process.
The use of propaganda by the Nazis was a powerful tool in shaping public opinion and creating a favourable environment for the annexation of Austria. By exploiting nationalism, spreading their message through various channels, and employing tactics of coercion and terror, the Nazis were able to increase support for the idea of Anschluss among Austrians, ultimately leading to the incorporation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938.
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German troops, accompanied by Hitler, entered Austria on 12 March 1938
On 12 March 1938, German troops, accompanied by Hitler, entered Austria. This event, known as the Anschluss, marked the annexation of Austria into the German Third Reich. The German army crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military, and was greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers. The "invasion" without any shots fired was dubbed the Blumenkrieg ("Flower War").
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis had conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, upon learning of the plot, met with Hitler to reassert his country's independence. However, he was coerced into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On 9 March, Schuschnigg called for a national vote to decide on the question of Anschluss or annexation. Before the plebiscite could take place, Schuschnigg resigned on 11 March, pleading with Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance" into the country.
Hitler had long supported the unification of all Germans, stating in 1921 that the German Reich's task was to "incorporate the ten million German-Austrians in the Empire". The idea of Austria joining Germany gained popularity in Austria, partly due to Nazi propaganda campaigns. By 1936, Austrian chancellor Schuschnigg struggled to maintain Austrian independence, and in early 1938, he announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany. Hitler threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign, paving the way for the German army's entry into Austria on 12 March.
Hitler rode into Austria with a 4,000-man bodyguard, and on 13 March, he appointed a new Nazi government. The Anschluss was proclaimed, and Austria became a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II. The Allied powers later declared the union void, reestablishing an independent Austria.
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The Nazis arrested many leaders of anti-Nazi Austrian political parties
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, annexing the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This annexation, known as the Anschluss, was the culmination of a years-long effort by the Nazi Party to unite Austria and Germany. The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), had been active in Austria since the early 1920s and gained support in 1931-1932 as Hitler's popularity in Germany rose.
In March 1933, Germany permitted residents of Austria to vote, and a significant number travelled to Passau by special trains, boats, and trucks, where they were greeted by the SS. By the end of 1933, Austrian public opinion about German annexation had shifted, and support for the Anschluss had dropped to around 60%. Despite this, the Austrian Nazi Party continued to gain supporters, and by 1938, they conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany.
On March 9, 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg called for a national vote to resolve the question of the Anschluss. However, before the vote could take place, Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, under pressure from Hitler. The next day, German troops entered Austria, and Hitler appointed a new Nazi government. The Anschluss was proclaimed on March 13, and Austria became a federal state of Germany.
Immediately after the invasion, the Nazis arrested many leaders of anti-Nazi Austrian political parties, particularly communists and socialists. The Nazis also targeted political opponents and those of Jewish origin, forcing many into exile. The resistance movement in Austria was small but active, with left-wing resistance groups, mainly communists, and conservative resisters, such as Christian Socialists and monarchists, working against the Nazis. Tens of thousands of Austrians were arrested for political reasons during the war, and many died in concentration camps or prisons.
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The British government did not oppose the union of Austria with Germany
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, annexing the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This event, known as the Anschluss, or "annexation," saw the unification of Austria with Nazi Germany. The British government did not oppose this union, and there were several reasons for their lack of resistance.
Firstly, Britain was experiencing political turmoil at the time. In March 1938, the British Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden, resigned over Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's decision to negotiate with Benito Mussolini, the Fascist dictator of Italy. Chamberlain himself was determined to appease Adolf Hitler, and there was a general lack of political will to oppose Germany. The British population, weary from the First World War, was also against the idea of another European conflict.
Secondly, the union of Austria and Germany was not seen as a direct threat to Britain. Both nations shared a common language, and from the British perspective, there seemed to be no compelling reason why they shouldn't unify. This sentiment was reflected in the media, with "The Times" drawing a comparison to the union of Scotland and England centuries earlier.
Additionally, the Austrian population's enthusiasm for the union played a role in the British government's response. A significant majority of Austrians welcomed the Anschluss, which contributed to the perception that the annexation was not coerced. The Nazis' effective propaganda campaign, with slogans like "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" ("One People, One Empire, One Leader"), had cultivated pro-unification sentiments in Austria for years.
Furthermore, the British government's acceptance of the union can be understood in the context of the broader international response. The French, dealing with their own political crises, were in no position to strongly oppose the invasion. Additionally, both the French and the British had come to accept the union as inevitable, given Austria's diplomatic isolation and Nazi Germany's increasing aggression.
It is important to note that not everyone in Britain supported the lack of resistance. Notable figures like Winston Churchill were alarmed by Germany's annexation of Austria, recognizing the significance of this event in the lead-up to World War II. Nonetheless, the British government's official stance was non-opposition to the union of Austria and Nazi Germany.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria joined Nazi Germany on March 12, 1938.
The process began with Austrian Nazis conspiring to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. On March 9, 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg called for a national vote to decide on the annexation. However, before the vote could take place, he resigned on March 11, 1938, under pressure from Hitler. On March 12, German troops, accompanied by Hitler, entered Austria, and a Nazi government was established.
The Austrian Nazi Party played a significant role in the process. They engaged in propaganda campaigns, held parades and marches, and even resorted to terrorism to gain support for the annexation. They also pressured Chancellor Schuschnigg to appoint top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet.
The international response was varied. The Vatican condemned Nazism and forbade Catholics from supporting the annexation. The British government had previously stated that it would not oppose the union. The Mexican Delegate to the International Office of Labor, Isidro Fabela, voiced a strong protest against the annexation.
