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In 1938, Hitler annexed Austria in an event known as the Anschluss. This was the culmination of a series of political moves by Hitler to exert control over Austria. In the years leading up to the invasion, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini had attempted to deter Hitler from invading Austria. In 1934, Italy agreed to protect Austria from outside aggression, and Mussolini sent troops to the Austrian border. However, by 1936, Mussolini's stance had softened, and he agreed to Hitler's remilitarization of the Rhineland, indicating that Italy would not honour the Locarno Treaty. Despite Mussolini's initial efforts to prevent the invasion, he ultimately failed to stop Hitler from annexing Austria in 1938.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Invasion | 12 March 1938 |
| Agreement between Italy and Austria | Italy would protect Austria from outside aggression |
| Mussolini's actions | Moved Italian troops to the Austrian border |
| Reason for Mussolini's actions | Honouring the agreement and supporting Austrian independence |
| Outcome | Hitler invaded Austria and took control |
| International response | No intervention or punishment for Nazi Germany |
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What You'll Learn
Mussolini sent troops to the Austrian border to deter Hitler from invading
In 1934, Italy agreed to protect Austria from outside aggression. On June 25, 1934, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini honoured this agreement and sent troops to the Austrian border to deter Hitler from invading. This was in response to Hitler ordering a coup in Austria, which failed. Mussolini was friends and allies with Engelbert Dollfuss, the Austrian chancellor, and was outraged by the coup attempt and assassination.
Hitler had ordered Austrian Nazis to create chaos and destruction to put pressure on the new Austrian Chancellor, Kurt Schuschnigg. Hitler wanted to claim that Austrian law and order had broken down, which would justify marching German troops into Vienna to restore peace. However, Schuschnigg announced a referendum to decide if Austrians wanted to be part of Hitler's Germany. Hitler was furious, as if the Austrians voted against it, his excuse for an invasion would be ruined. He ordered Schuschnigg to call off the referendum, which he did, also resigning in the process.
On March 11, 1938, Hitler gave the Austrian government a series of ultimatums: Chancellor Schuschnigg must call off the plebiscite, and Austrian president Wilhelm Miklas must appoint Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as the new Austrian chancellor. If these demands were not met, the German military would invade Austria. Schuschnigg gave in, and that evening, Austrian radio announced the cancellation of the upcoming plebiscite on Austrian independence.
Hitler's invasion of Austria, unopposed by the international community, was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order.
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Hitler and Mussolini's relationship
The relationship between Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini was multifaceted and evolved over time, from cautious admiration to a complex alliance and, ultimately, mutual disdain.
Hitler and Mussolini first met in Venice in June 1934. Hitler admired Mussolini's earlier March on Rome, a 1922 protest where thousands of fascists and their supporters marched into the Italian capital. However, their initial encounter was marred by Mussolini's refusal to use a translator, despite struggling to understand Hitler's Austrian accent, and Hitler's long monologues, which bored Mussolini. Despite this inauspicious start, both leaders recognised their ideological similarities and the potential advantages of a partnership.
In the mid to late 1930s, as Italy and Germany sought to revise the Versailles Treaty, their relationship strengthened, and they formed the Berlin-Rome Axis in 1937. However, they disagreed over the question of Austria, with Mussolini informing Hitler in 1936 that Germany must come to an agreement with Austria, which had suffered significant damage from a German boycott. Despite this, Hitler invaded Austria in 1938, annexing it into Nazi Germany, an action known as the Anschluss.
As the Axis war progressed, the relationship between the two leaders became strained. Mussolini, who had initially been seen as the senior dictator, soon played second fiddle to Hitler as the war leader. Their meetings consisted of Hitler's monologues, with Mussolini struggling to get a word in. By the time of the Italian campaigns in World War II, which were disastrous for Italy, Hitler's admiration for Mussolini had faded.
Despite their ideological similarities and attempts to portray a united front, the relationship between Hitler and Mussolini was complex and often ambiguous. It was marked by mutual admiration, competition, and, ultimately, disappointment.
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The Stresa Front
The Front was triggered by Germany's declaration of its intention to rearm, including plans to build up an air force, increase its army to 36 divisions (500,000 men), and introduce conscription—all of which were direct violations of the Treaty of Versailles. The Stresa Front was, in many ways, the work of Sir Robert Vansittart of the British diplomatic corps. The aim of the Front was to reaffirm the Locarno Treaties and declare that the independence of Austria "would continue to inspire their common policy". The signatories also agreed to resist any future attempt by the Germans to change the Treaty of Versailles.
The issue of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) was a significant point of contention during the conference. Italy had asked Britain to bring along an expert on the subject, but the issue was sidelined during the conference. The resulting accounts on the issue vary, with official records making no mention of Abyssinia, while other evidence indicates that Mussolini attempted to limit the Stresa Front's range to Europe, allowing free rein in Abyssinia. Italy thought it would have free rein in Abyssinia, while Britain thought it had made clear that Abyssinia was off-limits.
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Hitler's invasion of Austria
On March 12, 1938, Hitler ordered the German Wehrmacht to cross the Austrian border, marking the beginning of his invasion of Austria. This annexation, known as the Anschluss, saw the Federal State of Austria become part of Nazi Germany. The invasion was met with little resistance, as the Austrian government had instructed the Austrian Bundesheer not to fight back. Hitler himself crossed the border at Braunau am Inn, his birthplace, in the afternoon, accompanied by a 4,000-man bodyguard.
In the lead-up to the invasion, there were several key events. On March 9, 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum to be held on March 13, asking whether Austria should remain independent or become part of Germany. Hitler was infuriated by this, and on March 11, he threatened to invade Austria if Schuschnigg did not resign and hand power to the Austrian Nazis. Schuschnigg initially sought support for Austrian independence from other countries but, finding none, he resigned on the evening of March 11. Arthur Seyss-Inquart, a Nazi, was appointed Chancellor in his place, and he immediately requested German troops to restore order.
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Austria's independence
Hitler, himself an Austrian by birth, had long desired to annex Austria into Nazi Germany. In 1934, he ordered a coup in Austria, which failed. In response, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini sent troops to the Austro-Italian border to defend Austrian sovereignty, honouring an agreement between the two countries. Mussolini was outraged by the coup attempt and the assassination of his friend and ally, Dollfuss.
However, by 1936, Mussolini's support for Austrian independence had weakened. That year, he agreed to Hitler's remilitarization of the Rhineland and indicated that Italy would not honour the Locarno Treaty if remilitarization occurred. In 1937, Mussolini and Hitler formed the Berlin-Rome Axis, further aligning Italy with Nazi Germany. Despite this, Mussolini did not actively support Hitler's annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, which took place on March 12, 1938.
In the lead-up to the invasion, Austrian chancellor Schuschnigg attempted to appease Hitler by signing a pact recognising Austria's independence but requiring that its foreign policy align with Germany's. This agreement also allowed Nazis to hold official posts in Austria. However, Hitler continued to pressure Schuschnigg, delivering an ultimatum on March 11, 1938, demanding that Schuschnigg call off a planned plebiscite and appoint a Nazi, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, as the new chancellor. When these demands were not met, German troops invaded Austria, facing no resistance from the Austrian government or military.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes and no. Mussolini did send troops to the Austro-Italian border to defend Austrian sovereignty and honour an agreement made in 1934. However, this did not stop Hitler from invading Austria in 1938.
Mussolini supported the independence of Austria, largely due to his concern that Hitler would eventually press for the return of Italian territories once ruled by Austria. Mussolini was also friends and allies with Engelbert Dollfuss, the Austrian chancellor at the time.
No. Mussolini's actions did not prevent Hitler from invading Austria in 1938. By 1936, Mussolini had entered into a client relationship with Berlin that began with the formation of the Berlin–Rome Axis, and he was no longer a reliable guarantor of Austrian independence.
