Lyla Lindsey
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, took place on March 12, 1938, and marked a significant shift in Nazi foreign policy. The unification of Austria and Germany had been a topic of discussion and debate since the 19th century, with support from some Austrians and Germans as early as the 1920s. However, the annexation by Nazi Germany was an act of aggression that violated international treaties and demonstrated Hitler's disregard for the post-World War I European order. The Nazis quickly established control over Austria, carrying out the Nazification of the country with the help of many Austrians. This event was a watershed moment in Hitler's expansionary policies, as it went unchecked by the international community, allowing him to continue his aggressive agenda.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Annexation | 12 March 1938 |
| Date of Independence from Nazi Germany | 27 April 1945 |
| Number of Years as Part of Nazi Germany | 7 |
| Violation of Treaties | Treaty of Versailles, Treaty of Saint-Germain |
| First Act of | Territorial Expansion by Nazi Germany |
| Support from Austrian Voters | 99.75% |
| Number of Austrians in Nazi Armed Forces | 950,000 |
| Austrian Involvement in Nazi Administration | Death camp personnel, senior Nazi leadership, bureaucrats who implemented the Final Solution |
| Austrian Support for Annexation | Support for unification with Germany came mainly from the belief that Austria, stripped of its imperial land, was not viable economically |
| Austrian Opposition to Annexation | Austrian Socialists, Revolutionary Socialists, KPÖ, Catholic Church, Christian Social Party |
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's annexation of Austria in 1938
In 1938, Hitler annexed Austria, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. This act, known as the "Anschluss", was a significant step in Hitler's desire to create a Greater German Reich that included all ethnic Germans. The annexation was the result of a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany, and it was enabled by the bullying and coercion of Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg by Hitler.
In early 1938, Schuschnigg learned of the conspiracy and met with Hitler to assert his country's independence. However, he was pressured to appoint several Austrian Nazis, including Seyss-Inquart as chancellor, to his cabinet. On March 9, Schuschnigg called for a plebiscite (referendum) on Austrian independence, which was scheduled for March 13. Hitler was infuriated and decided to take action. On March 11, the Germans pressured Schuschnigg to cancel the plebiscite and resign, which he did, urging Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance".
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, where they were met with cheers and flowers, rather than armed resistance. Hitler accompanied the troops and was warmly welcomed as he travelled to Linz and then Vienna. On March 13, Austrian Nazi Chancellor Seyss-Inquart signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, formalising the annexation. Hitler declared that the "oldest eastern province of the German people" would now be "the newest bastion of the German Reich".
The annexation of Austria was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order and a demonstration of Nazi disdain for the existing European political structure. It was enabled by the international community's appeasement of Hitler's aggressive foreign policy and their failure to intervene or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties. The annexation also had a profound impact on Austrian life, as Austrian civil servants, soldiers, and police officers publicly swore allegiance to Hitler, and various organisations and institutions adopted Nazi ideas and policies, persecuting the country's Jewish population.
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Violation of the Treaty of Versailles
On March 12, 1938, Hitler accompanied German troops into Austria, marking the unification of the two nations. This event, known as the Anschluss, was the culmination of a long-standing desire by many Austrians and Germans to unite the two countries, particularly in the 1920s. However, this unification also represented a significant violation of the Treaty of Versailles, which had expressly forbidden the unification of Austria and Germany.
The Treaty of Versailles, signed in June 1919, imposed a series of stringent conditions on Germany, including demilitarization of the Rhineland, the loss of territories, and extensive reparation payments. The treaty also included a "'war guilt clause," which held Germany solely responsible for starting World War I. While the treaty was intended to establish a lasting peace in Europe, it was perceived by many Germans as unfair punishment, fuelling resentment and destabilizing the country's economy.
The revision of the Treaty of Versailles became a central platform of Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party. Hitler and the Nazis sought to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe, regarding the existing international borders as illegitimate. They promised to rearm, reclaim lost territories, remilitarize the Rhineland, and restore Germany's prominence on the world stage. These promises resonated with ultranationalist sentiments and helped the Nazi Party gain support, even among moderate voters.
By annexing Austria, Hitler and the Nazis took their first step towards territorial expansion, defying the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain. This act demonstrated their disdain for the post-World War I European order and the international community's failure to intervene or punish these violations emboldened Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked. The annexation of Austria marked a watershed moment in Nazi Germany's foreign policy and set the stage for further aggression, including the occupation of Czechoslovakia in violation of international agreements.
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Austria's enthusiasm for Hitler
Hitler expressed his desire for an Austro-German union in his earliest writings and speeches, and the unification of all Germans in a "Greater Germany" was a central tenet of Nazi ideology. In 1936, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg signed an agreement with German ambassador Franz von Papen, in which Schuschnigg agreed to the release of imprisoned Nazis in Austria and Germany promised to respect Austrian sovereignty. However, this did not satisfy Hitler, and the pro-German Austrian Nazis continued to push for unification.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. Schuschnigg met with Hitler in an attempt to reassert his country's independence but was coerced into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, 1938, Schuschnigg called for a national vote to resolve the question of unification once and for all. However, before the vote could take place, he resigned under pressure from Hitler on March 11.
On March 12, 1938, German troops entered Austria, and the annexation of Austria to Germany was proclaimed the following day. Austrians expressed overwhelming enthusiasm for the Nazi takeover, and many participated in the Nazification of their country. Austrian civil servants, soldiers, and police officers took a public oath to Hitler, often accompanied by parades and celebrations. Various organizations and institutions adopted Nazi ideas and implemented Nazi policies, expelling Jewish members and firing Jewish employees. The Anschluss marked a significant transformation in Austria, and the country quickly became a part of Nazi Germany.
However, it is important to note that there was also opposition to the Anschluss and support for unification with Germany faded over time. Austrian socialists and left-wing circles reacted with "disgust" to the endorsement of unification, and Catholic protests in Austria emerged under the slogan "Our Führer is Christ". According to Austrian historian Alfred D. Low, the Nazi regime feared being defeated at the polls and did not allow the plebiscite called for by Schuschnigg to take place. Despite the enthusiasm of many Austrians, there were also those who resisted the Nazis and faced persecution as a result.
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Austria's attempted coup in 1934
On July 25, 1934, Austrian Nazis executed a bold coup, capturing Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss and members of his cabinet, and forcing a compromise that resulted in Dollfuss' temporary removal as Chancellor. This event, known as the July Putsch, occurred during a period of difficult social and political tensions in Austria.
The first move of the Nazis in their putsch was a raid on a Heimwehr barracks, where they equipped themselves with machine guns, arms, and ammunition. They then pushed forward with their attempted coup by capturing the government's radio station in Vienna and broadcasting a false report about the transfer of power from Dollfuss to Anton Rintelen. This was intended to be the signal for Nazis throughout Austria to begin an uprising against the state.
The coup was met with resistance, and there were several days of fighting in parts of Carinthia, Styria, and Upper Austria, as well as smaller uprisings in Salzburg. The Austrian police, military, and paramilitary units loyal to the government crushed the putsch, and military tribunals and courts-martial were convened to prosecute the rebels. The number of fatalities varies according to different sources, with estimates ranging from 223 to 270 deaths.
The July Putsch was a significant event in the lead-up to the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, which occurred on March 12, 1938. The Anschluss was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany and was made possible by the support of many Austrians who helped carry out the Nazification of their country.
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Hitler's expansionary policies
Hitler's expansionism can be traced back to the 1920s, when he and the Nazis sought to unite Austria and Germany, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade this unification. This annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany and marked a significant shift in Europe's post-World War I international order. It also sparked the Nazification of Austria, with Austrian civil servants, soldiers, and police officers adopting Nazi ideas and implementing oppressive policies, particularly targeting Jews.
Hitler's focus on Lebensraum in Eastern Europe, including Poland and the Soviet Union, was central to his expansionist agenda. He aimed to conquer and populate these areas, enslaving or removing the "inferior" Slavic population. To achieve this, Hitler prioritized rearming and rebuilding Germany's military, stating that the future of the country depended on the reconstruction of the Wehrmacht. Military expenditures quickly outgrew civilian work-creation programs, and German foreign policy sought to build alliances and acquire territories with ethnic German populations.
Hitler's government also implemented economic policies to improve the country's self-sufficiency and fund rearmament. They introduced privatization of state-owned industries, kept wages low to avoid inflation, and solicited financial support from German businesses. The Nazis believed that territorial expansion would provide the means to repay the soaring national debt by exploiting the resources and manpower of conquered nations.
Hitler's foreign policy became increasingly aggressive, and in 1938, he demanded the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia, which was ceded to Germany by world leaders. However, this agreement was broken in March 1939 when Nazi Germany occupied the Czech lands, including Prague. This expansionism, enabled by the international community's appeasement, continued to escalate, leading to the devastating consequences of World War II.
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Frequently asked questions
Hitler merged with Austria on March 12, 1938, an event known as the Anschluss.
Anschluss means 'union with Austria' or 'annexation'.
The annexation of Austria was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany. It was also a significant breach of the post-World War I international order, as the unification of Austria and Germany had been expressly forbidden by the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain.
In February 1938, Hitler met with the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, and forced him to appoint members of the Austrian Nazi Party to his cabinet. On March 9, Schuschnigg called for a national vote on the question of the Anschluss, but before the vote could take place, he resigned under pressure from Hitler. On March 12, German troops entered Austria, and Hitler annexed the country the following day.
The international community did not intervene to stop the Anschluss or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties. This was a significant act of appeasement that allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked.
