Ruqayyah Snyder
On March 12, 1938, Hitler accompanied German troops into Austria, marking the beginning of the country's annexation. This event, known as the Anschluss, saw Austria become a federal state of Germany, with Austrian civil servants, soldiers, and police officers taking a new oath to Adolf Hitler. The annexation of Austria was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of the two countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Annexation | 12 March 1938 |
| Violation of Treaty | Treaty of Versailles and Treaty of Saint-Germain |
| Austrian Support | 700,000 people, or 10% of the population |
| Nazi Action | Release of imprisoned Nazis, Nazification of all aspects of Austrian life |
| Austrian Chancellor | Kurt von Schuschnigg |
| Nazi Leader | Adolf Hitler |
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What You'll Learn
- Hitler's invasion of Austria in 1938 was called the Anschluss
- The Austrian population supported the invasion
- The invasion was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany
- The invasion was a violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain
- Hitler's expansionist policies were not checked by the international community
Hitler's invasion of Austria in 1938 was called the Anschluss
On March 12, 1938, Hitler invaded Austria, with the 8th Army of the German Wehrmacht crossing the border and occupying the country. This event, known as the Anschluss, was the culmination of a series of political and diplomatic maneuvers by Hitler and the Nazis to bring about the unification of Austria and Germany.
The idea of unifying all Germans into one nation-state had been a subject of debate since the 19th century. In the 1920s, many Austrians believed that their country could not survive economically without the lands previously held by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This, along with the desire to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe, motivated Hitler and the Nazis to pursue the annexation of Austria. The Anschluss was also a significant breach of the post-World War I international order, as it violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany.
In the years leading up to the invasion, Hitler and the Nazis worked to increase their influence in Austria. In 1936, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg signed an agreement with Germany, in which he agreed to release imprisoned Austrian Nazis and follow German foreign policy in exchange for a promise to respect Austrian sovereignty. However, this did not satisfy Hitler, and tensions continued to rise. In February 1938, Hitler invited Schuschnigg to Germany and forced him to agree to give the Austrian Nazis a free hand.
On March 9, 1938, Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence by calling for a referendum on the issue, to be held on March 13. Hitler, infuriated by this, threatened an invasion and demanded Schuschnigg's resignation and the appointment of the Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as chancellor. Faced with the threat of military action, Schuschnigg gave in to Hitler's demands, and on the evening of March 11, he announced his resignation in a radio address to the Austrian people. The next day, German troops crossed the border and occupied Austria, with many Austrians participating in the Nazification of their country.
The international community's failure to intervene or punish Nazi Germany for the annexation of Austria allowed Hitler to continue his expansionist policies unchecked. The Anschluss was a watershed moment in Nazi Germany's foreign policy and a significant act of appeasement by the international powers.
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The Austrian population supported the invasion
The invasion of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, took place in March 1938. In the lead-up to the invasion, there was significant support for the unification of Austria and Germany among the Austrian population, particularly from Austrian citizens of the political left and center. This desire for unification stemmed from economic concerns, as many Austrians believed that their country could not survive without the lands previously held by the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Austrian Nazis gained supporters as Hitler's popularity in Germany increased, especially after he became chancellor in 1933. The rise of the Nazis in Germany further destabilized Austrian politics, which was already characterized by infighting and violence. Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss took advantage of this situation to transform Austria into a right-wing authoritarian regime. However, by 1936, the damage to Austria from the German boycott was severe, and chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg was forced to come to an agreement with Germany, which included releasing imprisoned Nazis and promising to follow Germany's lead in foreign policy.
Despite this agreement, Hitler was not satisfied and continued to push for the annexation of Austria. In early 1938, under pressure from pro-unification activists, Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany, which was scheduled for March 13, 1938. Hitler, portraying this as defying the popular will, threatened an invasion and demanded Schuschnigg's resignation and the appointment of a Nazi, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, as chancellor. On the evening of March 11, faced with no support from France or Britain, Schuschnigg resigned. Hitler then ordered the invasion to commence at dawn on March 12.
The invading German troops were greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers. The enthusiasm displayed toward Hitler and the Germans surprised both Nazis and non-Nazis, as most people had believed that a majority of Austrians opposed the Anschluss. However, the Austrian government had ordered the Austrian military not to resist, and the country of Austria ceased to exist almost overnight. In the following days, weeks, and months, Austrian Nazis, civil servants, soldiers, and police officers actively participated in the Nazification of all aspects of Austrian life. They also persecuted the country's Jewish population and enacted Nazi policies.
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The invasion was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany
The invasion of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial expansion by the Nazis. The invasion took place on March 12, 1938, when Hitler entered Austria alongside German troops, who were met with enthusiastic crowds. The annexation of Austria was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany.
In the years leading up to the invasion, there was growing support in Austria for unification with Germany, particularly among those who believed that Austria was not economically viable without the lands previously held by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Nazis exploited this sentiment, and by 1936, the Austrian government was forced to come to an agreement with Germany, in which it declared itself a "German state" and adopted Nazi policies.
Hitler had been preparing for a full-scale military assault on Austria, but the Austrian Chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, attempted to maintain his country's independence by meeting with Hitler. However, he was coerced into naming top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet and eventually resigned on March 11, 1938, under pressure from Hitler. Schuschnigg pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist the German "advance," and the annexation was proclaimed on March 13, 1938.
The international community did not intervene to stop the invasion or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties, which allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked. The invasion of Austria was a watershed moment in Nazi Germany's foreign policy, demonstrating their disdain for the post-World War I European order and their intent to redraw the map of Europe.
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The invasion was a violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain
On March 12, 1938, Hitler ordered German troops to enter Austria, completing the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, also known as the Anschluss. This invasion was a violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which had been signed at the end of World War I.
The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, signed on September 10, 1919, officially recognised the independence of several new states that had been created from the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, including Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia). The treaty also included war reparations, with large sums of money directed towards the Allies, and forbade the union of Austria with Germany without the consent of the Council of the League of Nations.
Article 88 of the Treaty of Saint-Germain specifically required Austria to refrain from compromising its independence, which meant that Austria could not enter into a political or economic union with the Weimar Republic without the agreement of the League of Nations. This article led to the new republic changing its name from German-Austria to simply Austria. Many Austrians found this term harsh and, due to the country's economic weakness, support later grew for the idea of Anschluss, or political union with Nazi Germany.
The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, also played a role in shaping the post-World War I landscape in Europe. While the specific terms of the treaty as they relate to Austria are unclear, the treaty included the Covenant of the League of Nations, which was also included in the Treaty of Saint-Germain. This likely refers to the same agreement that forbade the union of Austria and Germany without the consent of the League of Nations.
By invading and annexing Austria, Hitler violated the terms of both the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which sought to maintain Austria's independence and prohibit its unification with Germany. This violation further destabilised Europe and set the stage for the outbreak of World War II.
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Hitler's expansionist policies were not checked by the international community
Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany in 1933, following a series of electoral victories by the Nazi Party. Hitler's expansionist policies were driven by his goal of establishing a new racial order in Europe, dominated by the German "master race". This vision, outlined in his political autobiography, Mein Kampf, sought to throw off the restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, incorporate territories with ethnic German populations into the Reich, and acquire Lebensraum ("living space") in Eastern Europe.
Hitler's expansionism began with the annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss. By annexing Austria, Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. Despite this violation of international treaties, the other European powers did not intervene or punish Nazi Germany. This lack of response allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked.
In February 1938, Hitler pressured Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg into signing the German-Austrian agreement (Berchtesgaden Diktat), which brought Nazis into the Austrian cabinet. However, this was not the first attempt to gain influence in Austria. In 1936, Schuschnigg was forced to sign an agreement with the German ambassador, Franz von Papen, in which Austria declared itself a "German state" and agreed to follow Germany's lead in foreign policy.
Hitler's determination to attack Poland pushed Europe to the brink of war in late summer 1939. The actions of the German government violated previous agreements and treaties, yet the international community failed to effectively challenge these breaches. This inaction allowed Hitler to continue his aggressive expansionist policies, leading to the outbreak of World War II and the subsequent devastation caused by the Nazi regime.
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Frequently asked questions
Hitler overran Austria in 1938.
The operation was known as the Anschluss.
Anschluss translates to "annexation" from German.
The international community did not intervene to stop the Anschluss or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties. This was one of the earliest and most significant examples of the international community's appeasement of Hitler's aggressive foreign policy.
