German Troops In Austria: The Fateful Day

On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. The annexation, known as the Anschluss, was the culmination of years of political tension and upheaval in Austria, as well as a reflection of Adolf Hitler's desire to create a Greater Germany that included all ethnic Germans.

In the years leading up to the Anschluss, Austria experienced political instability and economic turmoil, which created a favourable environment for the growth of nationalism and support for unification with Germany. Austrian Nazis, with Hitler's approval, attempted a coup in July 1934, assassinating Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss. However, the coup ultimately failed, and Kurt von Schuschnigg became the new chancellor. Despite his efforts to maintain Austria's independence, Schuschnigg faced increasing pressure from Hitler and the Austrian Nazis, who demanded concessions and threatened invasion.

In early 1938, Schuschnigg called for a national plebiscite to be held on March 13, allowing Austrians to vote on whether they wanted their country to remain independent or become part of the Third Reich. Hitler, determined to prevent the vote, decided to invade Austria immediately. On March 11, Schuschnigg cancelled the plebiscite, offered to resign, and pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist the German advance.

The following day, March 12, German troops crossed the border into Austria, encountering no resistance. Hitler himself accompanied the troops and received an enthusiastic welcome in several Austrian cities, including his birthplace, Braunau am Inn. On March 13, the annexation was officially proclaimed, and Austria became a province of Germany. A retrospective plebiscite held by the Nazis indicated overwhelming support for the annexation, although it should be noted that voters were subject to pressure and coercion from the Nazi regime.

The German Army crosses the Austrian border on 12 March 1938

On 12 March 1938, German troops crossed the Austrian border, marking the beginning of the annexation of Austria into the German Reich. The annexation, known as the Anschluss, was the culmination of years of political tension and intrigue, as well as a complex interplay of ideological, economic, and geopolitical factors.

In the years leading up to the Anschluss, Austria experienced political instability and the rise of far-right nationalism. The country was governed by a semi-fascist regime, with Austrian Nazis conspiring to seize power and unite with Nazi Germany. In July 1934, a pro-Nazi group, with Hitler's approval, attempted to overthrow the Austrian government, resulting in the assassination of Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss. This coup attempt failed, and Kurt von Schuschnigg became the new chancellor. However, Schuschnigg's government faced ongoing challenges, including political factions and reliance on support from fascist Italy.

As Italy moved closer to Nazi Germany, Austria found itself increasingly isolated and vulnerable to German influence. Adolf Hitler, an Austrian himself, had expressed his desire to incorporate Austria into a "`Greater Germany'" in his book "Mein Kampf." In early 1938, Austrian Nazis, with Hitler's backing, pressured Schuschnigg to appoint members of the Austrian Nazi Party to his cabinet, threatening an invasion otherwise.

Fearing loss of independence, Schuschnigg called for a national plebiscite, or referendum, to be held on March 13, 1938, to allow Austrians to decide on maintaining their nation's independence or joining the Third Reich. Hitler, determined to prevent this vote, decided to invade Austria immediately. By March 11, Schuschnigg was aware of the impending invasion and cancelled the plebiscite, offering to resign to avoid bloodshed.

Hitler, however, demanded that the Austrian president, Wilhelm Miklas, appoint an Austrian Nazi, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, as the new chancellor. When Miklas refused, Hitler ordered the invasion to commence at dawn on March 12. German soldiers in tanks and armoured vehicles crossed the border, encountering no resistance. The Nazis justified their invasion by claiming that Austria was in a state of chaos and circulating fake reports of rioting and unrest caused by Communists.

Hitler himself accompanied the troops, first to his birthplace, Braunau am Inn, and then to Linz, where he gave an emotional speech declaring his mission to restore Austria to the German Reich. The next day, March 13, the Austrian parliament formally approved the annexation, and Austria ceased to exist as a sovereign nation, becoming a province of Germany.

The annexation was met with international condemnation but little concrete action from other powers. A retrospective plebiscite held by the Nazis in April 1938 indicated overwhelming support for the union, although it should be noted that voters were subject to significant pressure and intimidation by the Nazi regime. The annexation of Austria marked a significant step in Hitler's expansionist agenda and set the stage for further aggression in the lead-up to World War II.

The Austrian military offers no resistance

On March 12, 1938, German troops crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. The Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, had resigned the previous day under pressure from Hitler, and in his resignation address, he pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance" into the country.

The Austrian military's lack of resistance was due in part to Schuschnigg's order to avoid bloodshed. Additionally, the Austrian government had already capitulated to Hitler's demands, with President Wilhelm Miklas appointing Arthur Seyss-Inquart, a Nazi supporter, as the new chancellor.

The German invasion was justified by the Nazis, who claimed that Austria had descended into chaos and that German troops were necessary to restore order. They circulated fake reports of rioting in Vienna and street fights caused by Communists. These reports were supported by a phony telegram, supposedly from the new chancellor, Seyss-Inquart, requesting German military assistance.

The German troops were met with cheering Austrians, Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers. Hitler himself rode in a car across the border at his birthplace, Braunau am Inn, with a 4,000-man bodyguard. The enthusiasm of the Austrian people for the German troops and Hitler surprised both Nazis and non-Nazis, as most people had believed that a majority of Austrians opposed the annexation, or Anschluss.

Hitler had originally intended to leave Austria as a satellite state with Seyss-Inquart as the head of a pro-Nazi government. However, the overwhelming reception caused him to change his plans, and he decided to absorb Austria directly into the German Reich. On March 13, Seyss-Inquart announced the abrogation of Article 88 of the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which prohibited the unification of Austria and Germany, and approved the replacement of the Austrian states with Reichsgaue.

Hitler accompanies the German troops

On the morning of March 12, 1938, Hitler accompanied the German troops as they crossed the border into Austria. Hitler rode in a car and crossed the border at his birthplace, Braunau am Inn, with a 4,000-man bodyguard. He then travelled to Linz, where he attended school, and gave an emotional speech declaring:

> If Providence once called me forth from this town to be the leader of the Reich, it must in doing so have charged me with a mission, and that mission could only be to restore my dear homeland to the German Reich.

Hitler's journey through Austria became a triumphal tour, culminating in Vienna on March 15, 1938, when around 200,000 cheering German Austrians gathered to hear him speak. Hitler's popularity reached an unprecedented peak after he fulfilled the Anschluss, as he had completed the long-awaited idea of a Greater Germany.

Hitler's forces suppressed all opposition. Before the first German soldier crossed the border, Heinrich Himmler and several Schutzstaffel (SS) officers landed in Vienna to arrest prominent representatives of the First Republic, such as Richard Schmitz, Leopold Figl, Friedrich Hillegeist, and Franz Olah. During the few weeks between the Anschluss and the plebiscite, authorities rounded up Social Democrats, Communists, other potential political dissenters, and Austrian Jews, imprisoning them or sending them to concentration camps. Within a few days of March 12, 70,000 people had been arrested.

Hitler's journey to Austria was also deeply personal. He visited his parents' grave site at Leonding and laid a wreath. He stayed at the Hotel Imperial in Vienna, the same hotel where he once worked as a half-starved day labourer. Now, he was the guest of honour.

Hitler appoints a new Nazi government

On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. The previous day, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg resigned under pressure from Hitler, who had bullied him into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. Hitler accompanied the German troops into Austria, where enthusiastic crowds met them.

Hitler appointed Arthur Seyss-Inquart as Chancellor of Austria. Seyss-Inquart was a long-time supporter of the Nazis who sought the union of all Germans in one state. He opposed the violent tactics of the Austrian Nazis, cooperated with Catholic groups, and wanted to preserve a measure of Austrian identity within Nazi Germany.

Hitler also appointed other Nazis to key positions in the Austrian government. Dr. Arthur Seyss-Inquart, a staunch Nazi supporter, became the new Minister of the Interior with full control of the police. Nazis were also appointed as Minister of War and Minister of Finance, with preparations made for the assimilation of Austria's entire economy into the German Reich.

Hitler's invasion of Austria was the first major step in his desire to create a Greater German Reich that would include all ethnic Germans and all the lands and territories that the German Empire had lost after the First World War. Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and reestablished an independent Austria.

The Anschluss is proclaimed on 13 March 1938

The Anschluss, the annexation of Austria into the German Reich, was proclaimed on 13 March 1938. This annexation was the culmination of a long-held desire by many Austrians and Germans to unite the two countries, which had been excluded from unification in 1871. The idea of a union gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and the subsequent economic crisis in Austria.

In the 1920s, the proposal for a union, known as the "Anschluss", had strong support in both Austria and Germany, particularly from Austrian citizens of the political left and centre. However, after Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933, the desire for unification became associated with the Nazis and their concept of "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm").

In early 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg attempted to reassert his country's independence by announcing a referendum on a possible union with Germany, to be held on 13 March. However, he faced increasing pressure from pro-unification activists and was bullied by Hitler, who threatened an invasion. Schuschnigg eventually gave in to Hitler's demands and resigned on 11 March, pleading with Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance".

On 12 March, German troops crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. They were greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes, flags, and flowers. Hitler accompanied the troops and appointed a new Nazi government. Finally, on 13 March 1938, the Anschluss was proclaimed, and Austria became a federal state of Germany.

The annexation of Austria demonstrated Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions and the failure of the British and French to take action against him for violating the Versailles Treaty. The seizure of Austria was just the first step in Hitler's plan to create a ""Greater German Reich", which included all ethnic Germans and the territories lost after World War I.

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