Leslie Massey
On March 12, 1938, German troops invaded Austria, annexing the German-speaking nation to the Third Reich. This event, known as the Anschluss, was the Nazi German regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. The idea of a union between Austria and Germany, forming a Greater Germany, had been around since the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. The annexation of Austria was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, with more than 99% of the Austrian population voting in favour of the Anschluss in a referendum organised by the Nazis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 March 1938 |
| German Troops | Invaded Austria on 11-13 March 1938 |
| Austrian Government | Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg tried to reassert his country's independence |
| Austrian Nazis | Conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany |
| Austrian Chancellor | Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler but was forced to name top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet |
| Austrian Chancellor's Resignation | Schuschnigg resigned on 11 March 1938 |
| Austrian Referendum | On 10 April 1938, more than 99% of the Austrian population voted in favor of the Anschluss |
| Violation of Treaties | The Anschluss violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain |
| International Reaction | The international community did not intervene or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties |
| American Reaction | The annexation caused concern in Washington and shaped American policy to criticize German lawlessness and respond forcefully to Hitler's foreign policy |
| Impact on Austria | The country of Austria ceased to exist, and Austrian and German Nazis carried out the Nazification of Austrian life, persecuting the Jewish population |
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What You'll Learn
The Anschluss
The idea of the Anschluss arose after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. Support for the unification of Austria and Germany grew after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and the subsequent Republic of German-Austria attempted to unite with Germany. However, the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles prohibited this union and stripped Austria of territories such as the Sudetenland.
In the 1930s, Nazi Germany pursued an aggressive foreign policy, which, combined with the Great Depression, led to economic turbulence in Austria. By 1937, rapid German rearmament had increased Berlin's interest in annexing Austria, which was rich in raw materials and labour. On March 11, 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, who had been bullied by Hitler into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet, resigned. German troops then invaded Austria on March 12, incorporating it into the German Reich. This act of territorial expansion, the first committed by Nazi Germany, was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain.
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Austria's dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Saint Germain
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This event, known as the Anschluss, was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany. The idea of the Anschluss had been gaining support since the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 and the subsequent Treaty of Saint Germain in 1919, which forbade the union of Austria and Germany.
The Treaty of Saint Germain, signed on September 10, 1919, officially registered the breakup of the Habsburg Empire, recognizing the independence of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, and the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia). The treaty stripped Austria of some of its territories, such as the Sudetenland, and placed many ethnic Germans under Czechoslovak and Italian rule. Austria was reduced to 25% of its pre-war land and became a landlocked state. Its industrially productive areas were ceded to Poland and Czechoslovakia, severely restricting its economy and causing significant food insecurity.
Austria was left financially and militarily weak by the treaty, and the high reparations sum further contributed to its economic woes. The treaty also limited the Austrian army to 30,000 men and abolished conscription. Additionally, the name "German-Austria" was forbidden, which was considered harsh by many Austrians, especially those who supported the idea of a single German nation-state.
The dissatisfaction with the treaty's terms and the desire to unite with Germany contributed to the support for the Anschluss among Austrians. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg attempted to maintain Austria's independence but was pressured by Hitler and the Austrian Nazis to include them in his cabinet. Ultimately, Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, 1938, and German troops invaded Austria, incorporating it into the German Reich.
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The rise of the Nazi Party
The Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, rose to power in Germany in the years following World War I. It was one of several right-wing extremist groups that emerged during this period, taking advantage of the political and economic instability in the country.
In the late 1920s, Germany was governed by a ""Grand Coalition"" of left and right-wing parties, including the Social Democratic, Catholic Centre, German Democratic, and German People's parties. However, this coalition struggled to effectively address the economic crisis caused by the Great Depression, which resulted in high unemployment and unstable commerce and industry. The failure of the government to manage the crisis led to widespread dissatisfaction and anger among the German people.
Hitler, an Austrian-born German, carefully crafted his image as the leader of the Nazi Party, tapping into the anger and helplessness felt by voters. He was a charismatic orator who attracted a large following by promising to restore German cultural values, reverse the Treaty of Versailles, suppress the perceived threat of communism, and return Germany to its former status as a world power. The Nazi Party's electoral propaganda also pledged to address the economic crisis, restore agricultural prices, and protect pensioners' incomes.
The Nazi Party's rise to power accelerated during the early 1930s. In the 1930 elections, they won 18.3% of the vote, becoming the second-largest political party in Germany. By 1932, their membership had grown significantly, and they became the largest party in the Reichstag, with 230 representatives. Hitler's restructuring of the party, including the creation of groups like the Hitler Youth, further contributed to their growing influence.
In January 1933, German President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Hitler as chancellor. Hitler then solidified the Nazis' position by exploiting events like the burning of the Reichstag building. The March 1933 elections gave the Nazi Party 44% of the votes, and they subsequently passed the Enabling Act, granting Hitler dictatorial powers. By July 1933, the Nazi Party was declared the only political party in Germany, marking the consolidation of their power and the end of the Weimar Republic.
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German troops invade Austria
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This event is known as the Anschluss, which translates to "connection" or "joining" in German. The annexation of Austria was the result of a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government and unite the nation with Nazi Germany.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to take control of the Austrian government by force. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg learned of the plot and met with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in an attempt to preserve his country's independence. However, he was pressured into appointing several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, Schuschnigg called for a national vote to decide the question of Anschluss. Before the vote could take place, Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, and German troops invaded Austria on March 12.
The annexation of Austria was a significant event in the lead-up to World War II. It was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany and a clear violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. The international community did not intervene to stop the Anschluss or punish Nazi Germany for breaching international treaties, setting a precedent for Hitler's aggressive foreign policy.
The annexation was followed by a wave of street violence against Jewish people and property in Vienna and other cities throughout the so-called Greater German Reich. This culminated in the Kristallnacht riots and violence of November 9-10, 1938. The Nazis quickly established Gestapo offices in Austria to hunt down political opponents, and many Austrians participated in the Nazification of their country.
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Violation of international law
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany, an act known as the Anschluss. This was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany.
The idea of the Anschluss, which means "joining" or "connection" in German, was a united Austria and Germany that would form a "Greater Germany". This idea arose after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. The Anschluss gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 and the Republic of German-Austria's failed attempt to unite with Germany, which was forbidden by the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles.
By annexing Austria, Nazi Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. This demonstrated Nazi disdain for the post-World War I European order and the international community's acceptance of the Anschluss was a significant act of appeasement.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, upon learning of the conspiracy, met with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler to reassert his country's independence. However, he was pressured into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet and calling for a national vote to resolve the question of the Anschluss. Before the vote could take place, Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, 1938, and pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist the German "advance" into the country. On March 13, Austrian Nazi Chancellor Seyss-Inquart signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, formally incorporating Austria into Nazi Germany.
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Frequently asked questions
Germany annexed Austria on March 12, 1938.
The annexation of Austria by Germany was known as the Anschluss, which means "connection" or "joining" in German.
The annexation of Austria was the result of a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government and unite the nation with Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg tried to reassert his country's independence but was forced to name several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, Schuschnigg called for a national vote to resolve the question of annexation, but before the vote could take place, he resigned on March 11. German troops then invaded Austria on March 12, incorporating it into the German Reich.
