Damon Mcknight
On March 12, 1938, German troops invaded Austria and incorporated the country into the German Reich, an act known as the Anschluss. This was the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. The invasion was incited by Austrian Nazis, who conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, learning of the conspiracy, met with Adolf Hitler, but was coerced into naming Austrian Nazis to his cabinet and ultimately resigned on March 11, 1938, pleading with Austrian forces not to resist.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 11–13 March 1938 |
| Name | The Anschluss |
| Action | German annexation of Austria |
| Violation of Treaty | Treaty of Versailles and Treaty of Saint-Germain |
| Violation of Sovereignty | Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg was pressured to name Austrian Nazis to his cabinet |
| Plebiscite | Cancelled by Schuschnigg |
| Resistance | Austrian forces were instructed not to resist |
| Violence | A wave of street violence against Jewish people and property followed the invasion |
| Outcome | Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II |
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What You'll Learn
The Anschluss
Fearing an invasion and realising that neither France nor Britain was willing to offer assistance, Schuschnigg resigned on the evening of March 11. He announced his decision on the radio, instructing Austrians and the Austrian military not to resist German troops. Within minutes of his resignation, swastika armbands and flags appeared on the streets, and Austrian Nazis began attacking their political opponents and Jews without fear of repercussions.
Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the Anschluss was officially proclaimed. Austria became a federal state of Germany and remained so until the end of World War II when the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and re-established an independent Austria. The invasion was dubbed the "Blumenkrieg" ("Flower War") due to the cheering Austrians who greeted the German troops with Nazi salutes, flags, and flowers.
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Violation of the Treaty of Versailles
On March 11, 1938, Germany annexed Austria in what was known as the Anschluss, marking the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. This invasion was a violation of the Treaty of Versailles, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany.
The Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, by the Allied and associated powers, including the ''Big Four": Great Britain, the United States, France, and Italy. The treaty was imposed on the defeated Central Powers, which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey, following World War I. The terms of the treaty were harsh, as the Allies viewed Germany as the chief instigator of the conflict. Germany was stripped of its overseas colonies and 13% of its prewar territories, including Alsace-Lorraine, which was given to France, and Eupen-Malmédy, which went to Belgium. Germany was also required to pay massive reparations to the Allied countries and had its military capabilities severely restricted.
The Treaty of Versailles included a ''War Guilt Clause,'' which held Germany responsible for starting World War I. This clause, along with the heavy reparations and territorial losses, was particularly humiliating for Germany and contributed to nationalist backlash. Many Germans saw the treaty as a "dictated peace" or "Diktat" that contradicted Wilson's Fourteen Points, which called for transparency in peace negotiations.
By the 1930s, the Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, had risen to power in Germany, taking advantage of the shame of defeat and the unfairness associated with the Treaty of Versailles. In 1936, Hitler launched the Four-Year Plan, which involved a dramatic increase in military spending, indicating his intention to pursue expansionist policies. On March 11, 1938, Hitler sent an ultimatum to Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, demanding he hand over power to the Austrian Nazis or face an invasion. Despite Schuschnigg's resignation, Hitler proceeded with the invasion, and German troops entered Austria without resistance.
The Anschluss marked a significant act of appeasement by the other European powers, who did not punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties. This allowed Hitler to continue his expansionist agenda, leading to the outbreak of World War II just two decades after the Treaty of Versailles was signed.
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Nazification of Austria
On March 11, 1938, Hitler sent an ultimatum to Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg, demanding he hand over all power to the Austrian Nazis or face an invasion. The ultimatum was set to expire at noon, but was extended by two hours. Within minutes of Schuschnigg's resignation, swastika armbands and flags appeared on the streets. Austrian Nazis now had a license to attack their political opponents and Jews without fear of repercussions.
The German annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. It transformed Austria. Almost overnight, the country ceased to exist, and Austrian and German Nazis carried out the Nazification of all aspects of Austrian life. Many Austrians participated enthusiastically in this endeavor. They enacted Nazi policies and persecuted the country's Jewish population.
The Nazification of Austria was rapid, but certain historical factors and events facilitated these processes. Between World War I and World War II, Austria was a country of approximately 6.5 million people, most of whom considered themselves ethnically German. At this time, millions of people who considered themselves German lived outside of Germany, many in areas that had previously been part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the 1920s, many Austrians did not think their country could survive economically without the lands previously held by Austria-Hungary.
The Anschluss was not inevitable, but it was enabled by the acceptance of European powers, which allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked. In the wake of the Anschluss, terrified Jews, leftists, and Schuschnigg supporters tried to flee Austria.
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Hitler's ultimatum
On March 11, 1938, Hitler sent an ultimatum to Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, demanding that he hand over all power to the Austrian Nazis or face an invasion. Schuschnigg desperately sought support for Austrian independence in the hours following the ultimatum. However, realising that neither France nor Britain was willing to offer assistance, he resigned on the evening of March 11.
Faced with this threat, Schuschnigg gave in. That evening, Austrian radio announced the cancellation of the plebiscite. Schuschnigg then gave a radio address, announcing his resignation in the face of German pressure. He instructed Austrians and the Austrian military not to resist German troops if they invaded, as he was unwilling to fight a war or spill blood for Austrian independence.
Within minutes of Schuschnigg's resignation, swastika armbands and flags appeared on the streets. Austrian Nazis now had free rein to attack their political opponents and Jews without fear of repercussions. The German Army crossed the border into Austria on March 12, unopposed by the Austrian military. This "invasion" without shots fired was dubbed the Blumenkrieg ("Flower War").
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Austrian chancellor's resignation
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi regime. It took place in March 1938.
In the years leading up to the invasion, Austrian politics was marked by infighting and political violence. The rise of the Nazis in neighbouring Germany in 1933 further destabilized the situation. Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss transformed Austria from a democratic republic into a right-wing authoritarian regime under his control. Dollfuss was assassinated by the Nazi Otto Planetta in 1934, and Kurt von Schuschnigg was appointed Austrian chancellor. Schuschnigg considered Austria a "German state" and Austrians to be Germans, but he was strongly opposed to Hitler's goal of absorbing Austria into the Third Reich.
Hitler planned to achieve power in Austria through the Austrian Nazi Party. However, in the late 1920s and early 1930s, the party was weak, divided, and ineffective. By 1931, most Austrian Nazis recognized Hitler as their leader, and he began to exert more influence over Austrian politics. In July 1936, Schuschnigg signed an agreement with German ambassador Franz von Papen, in which he agreed to the release of Nazis imprisoned in Austria and Germany promised to respect Austrian sovereignty. However, this did not satisfy Hitler, and the pro-German Austrian Nazis continued to grow in strength.
On March 11, 1938, Hitler sent an ultimatum to Schuschnigg, demanding that he hand over all power to the Austrian Nazis or face an invasion. Schuschnigg desperately sought support for Austrian independence but realized that neither France nor Britain was willing to offer assistance. That evening, he announced his resignation in a radio address broadcast throughout Austria. He instructed Austrians and the Austrian military not to resist German troops if they invaded, as he was unwilling to fight a war or spill blood for Austrian independence. Within minutes of Schuschnigg’s resignation, swastika armbands and flags appeared on the streets, and Austrian Nazis were free to attack their political opponents and Jews without fear of repercussions.
The German invasion of Austria was met with little resistance and was dubbed the Blumenkrieg ("Flower War"). Hitler crossed the border at his birthplace, Braunau am Inn, and was 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.
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Frequently asked questions
The Nazis invaded Austria on March 12, 1938.
The invasion of Austria was known as the Anschluss.
The invasion was a result of Hitler's desire to unite Austria and Germany, an idea he wrote about in his 1925 book, Mein Kampf.
The Nazis were greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers. The invasion was thus dubbed the Blumenkrieg, or "Flower War".
The Anschluss was the first act of territorial aggression committed by Nazi Germany, and it violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain. However, the other European powers did not intervene or punish the Nazis for violating international treaties.
