Lyla Lindsey
On March 12, 1938, German troops entered Austria, marking the beginning of Nazi Germany's control of the country. This annexation, known as the Anschluss, was the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. It was the culmination of years of political instability in Austria, the rise of Austrian Nazis, and Hitler's desire to unite Austria and Germany, as outlined in his book, Mein Kampf.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 March 1938 |
| Annexation name | The Anschluss |
| Number of German troops and police that crossed the Austrian frontier | 25,000 |
| Number of Romani men arrested by Nazis | 2,000 |
| Number of Romani women arrested by Nazis | 1,000 |
| Percentage approval from a controlled plebiscite on 10 April 1938 | 99.7% |
| Hitler's demands from the Austrian chancellor | Austria's foreign and military policies were to be coordinated with Germany's; Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart was to be placed in charge of policing and security matters; Austrian Nazis who had been imprisoned by the Austrian government were to be amnestied |
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's popularity in Germany increased Austrian Nazi supporters
The rise of Hitler and the Nazis in Germany had a significant impact on the growth of Austrian Nazi supporters. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Austrian Nazi Party was weak and divided, with members disagreeing on their relationship with Hitler and the German Nazis. However, as Hitler's popularity surged in Germany, particularly amid the economic crisis, the Austrian Nazi movement gained momentum.
By 1931-1932, as Hitler's influence in Germany grew, the Austrian Nazis recognised him as their leader, and he appointed a German Nazi to bring the Austrian party in line with the German one. Hitler's appointment as German chancellor in January 1933 further bolstered support for Austrian Nazis. This period was marked by political instability and violence in Austria, which the Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss exploited to transform the country into a right-wing authoritarian regime.
Hitler's popularity in Germany, coupled with the instability in Austria, provided an opportunity for Austrian Nazis to gain a foothold. They capitalised on the desire for unification between Austria and Germany, which was an integral part of the Nazi ideology of "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm"). This desire for unification resonated with many Austrians, especially those who identified as German-Austrians.
Hitler himself, being Austrian-born, had expressed his desire to unite Austria and Germany as early as 1921 and in his book, "Mein Kampf," published in 1925. In it, he wrote, "German Austria must return to the great German motherland" and "common blood belongs in a common Reich." This message resonated with many Austrians who shared a sense of ethnic and cultural connection with Germany.
The failed coup attempt by Austrian Nazis in 1934, which resulted in the assassination of Dollfuss, temporarily set back their efforts. Many leading Austrian Nazis fled to Germany, but they continued to advocate for unification. The increasing pressure from pro-unification activists within Austria, coupled with Hitler's growing power and popularity in Germany, created a favourable environment for the Austrian Nazi movement.
In February 1938, Hitler met with Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg and coerced him into accepting measures favourable to Austrian Nazis, further undermining Austrian independence. The annexation of Austria, known as the "Anschluss," occurred on March 12, 1938, when German troops crossed the Austrian border. This event marked the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. While some Austrians tried to flee the country, others welcomed the German troops, illustrating the impact of Hitler's popularity and the growth of Austrian Nazi supporters.
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Hitler's meeting with Austrian chancellor Schuschnigg
Austria was annexed into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938, in an act known as the Anschluss. This was the first instance of Nazi Germany's territorial expansion.
Hitler had long desired to unite Austria and Germany, as he wrote in a 1921 essay and in his 1925 book, Mein Kampf. In 1937, it became clear that the Nazis intended to incorporate Austria into Nazi Germany, and Hitler told Goebbels that Austria would have to be taken "by force".
Hitler met with Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg on 12 February 1938. Schuschnigg had taken over as chancellor in 1934 after his predecessor, Engelbert Dollfuss, was assassinated by Austrian Nazis. Schuschnigg continued Dollfuss's authoritarian policies, ruling by decree and arresting thousands of Austrian Nazis. However, he wanted to maintain Austria's independence, seeing it as a "'German state'" but not wanting it to be absorbed into the Third Reich.
Hitler, on the other hand, was ready to take full control of Austria. During the meeting, he bullied and intimidated Schuschnigg, demanding that he resign in favour of Austrian Nazi Party leader Arthur Seyss-Inquart. Hitler also insisted that Austria's foreign and military policies be coordinated with Germany's, and that imprisoned Austrian Nazis be amnestied. Schuschnigg gave in to Hitler's demands and signed the Berchtesgaden Agreement, which undermined Austrian sovereignty and independence.
On 9 March, Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence once more. He called for a nationwide plebiscite to demonstrate Austrian resolve against German coercion. Hitler was infuriated and gave the Austrian government a series of ultimatums on 11 March: the plebiscite must be called off, and Seyss-Inquart must be appointed as the new Austrian chancellor. Schuschnigg resigned that evening, and on 12 March, German troops and police crossed the Austrian frontier.
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The Berchtesgaden Agreement
Hitler had long desired to unite his birth country of Austria with Germany. In his 1921 essay, Hitler argued for the "incorporating [of] the ten million German-Austrians in the Empire". In his book, "Mein Kampf", Hitler wrote that he would create a union between Austria and Germany by any means possible. This union was also an integral part of the Nazi "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept, which sought to incorporate as many Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans outside Germany) as possible into a "Greater Germany".
Hitler's popularity in Germany increased support for the Austrian Nazis in 1931-1932. This was even more noticeable across Austria after Hitler was appointed German chancellor in 1933. Austrian politics at the time was characterised by infighting and political violence, and the rise of the Nazis further destabilised the situation. Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss transformed Austria into a right-wing authoritarian regime, known as the Austrofascist state. However, he was assassinated by Austrian Nazis in 1934 during an attempted coup.
In early 1938, under pressure from pro-unification activists, Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany. Hitler repeatedly threatened to invade Austria and forced Schuschnigg to implement measures favourable to Austrian Nazism. On February 12, 1938, Schuschnigg travelled to meet Hitler, expecting to discuss tensions between the two countries. However, Hitler was ready to take full control of Austria and presented a series of demands, including:
- Austria's foreign and military policies were to be coordinated with Germany's
- Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart was to be placed in charge of policing and security matters
- Amnesties for Austrian Nazis imprisoned by the Austrian government
Schuschnigg conceded to Hitler's demands and signed the Berchtesgaden Agreement, which undermined Austrian sovereignty and independence. On March 9, Schuschnigg made a final attempt to assert Austrian independence. However, he was forced to resign on March 11, and on March 12, German troops and police crossed the Austrian frontier, completing the annexation, known as the Anschluss.
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Hitler's invasion of Austria
In the lead-up to the invasion, Hitler had been plotting to gain control of Austria for several years. As early as 1921, Hitler wrote about his intentions to incorporate German-Austrians into a "Greater Germany." This desire was further expressed in his book, "Mein Kampf," published in 1925. After Hitler rose to power in Germany in 1933, the Nazis began to actively undermine the Austrian government, which was controlled by the Austrofascist Fatherland Front, opposed to unification.
In July 1934, Austrian and German Nazis attempted a coup, which failed, resulting in the assassination of Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss. This event prompted many leading Austrian Nazis to flee to Germany, where they continued their efforts to unify the two countries. Despite this setback, the Nazis continued to cultivate pro-unification tendencies in Austria.
In early 1938, under increasing pressure from pro-unification activists, Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany. However, before the referendum could take place, Schuschnigg met with Hitler on February 12, 1938. Hitler intimidated Schuschnigg with the presence of several German generals and forced him to sign the Berchtesgaden Agreement, which undermined Austrian sovereignty and independence.
On March 9, Schuschnigg attempted to reassert Austrian independence by calling for a national vote on the question of annexation. However, he ultimately gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on March 11, pleading with Austrian forces not to resist the German advance. On March 12, heavily armed German troops, accompanied by Hitler himself, crossed the Austrian frontier, where they were met with enthusiasm by large sections of the Austrian population.
The invasion and annexation of Austria marked a significant escalation in Nazi Germany's territorial ambitions and set the stage for further acts of aggression and expansion. The Nazis quickly tightened their grip on Austrian society, carrying out mass arrests and implementing harsh anti-Romanyism policies, resulting in the persecution and death of thousands.
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The Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp
On 12 March 1938, Germany annexed Austria, marking the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. This event, known as the 'Anschluss', saw the Federal State of Austria fall under Nazi control.
Two weeks after the annexation, August Eigruber, the National Socialist Gauleiter (regional head) of Upper Austria, announced the construction of a concentration camp in Mauthausen, a town on the Danube. The Mauthausen concentration camp was established as a site where political opponents and groups of people labelled as 'criminal' or 'antisocial' would be imprisoned and forced to work in the nearby granite quarries. The camp was controlled by the German state and founded by a private company, the Deutsche Erd– und Steinwerke GmbH (DEST Company), as an economic enterprise.
The first prisoners arrived at Mauthausen on 8 August 1938, transferred from the Dachau concentration camp. During this initial phase, the prisoners, all German and Austrian men, were forced to construct the camp and quarry operations. Mauthausen and its subcamps became notorious for their harsh conditions and high mortality rates. Inmates were subjected to brutal treatment, with those deemed ''ill' or 'useless' to the SS in constant danger of losing their lives.
During the second half of the war, the prisoner demographic shifted to include women, who were also used as forced labourers in the arms industry. The SS began constructing a gas chamber at Mauthausen in 1941 for the systematic murder of large groups of people, and the camp authorities started using gas as a means of killing in 1941-42. Overcrowding, lack of food, and rampant disease led to mass deaths in the final months before liberation.
On 5 May 1945, the US Army reached Mauthausen and Gusen, bringing an end to the horrors inflicted upon the tens of thousands of inmates who suffered within these camps.
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Frequently asked questions
Hitler took control of Austria on March 12, 1938.
The union of Austria and Germany was called the Anschluss, which means "joining" or "connection" in German.
The Berchtesgaden Agreement, signed by Hitler and Austrian chancellor Schuschnigg, undermined Austrian sovereignty and independence and paved the way for the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany.
Arthur Seyss-Inquart, an Austrian Nazi, was appointed to the Austrian government by Hitler to oversee policing and security matters. He later became Chancellor after Schuschnigg's resignation and completed the Anschluss.
Hitler had expressed his desire to unite Austria and Germany as early as 1921 and in his book, "Mein Kampf." He saw the union as a way to create a Greater Germany and incorporate ethnic Germans outside of Germany into a single Reich.
