Lyla Lindsey
The German annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, occurred on March 12, 1938, when German troops marched into Austria to incorporate the German-speaking nation into the German Reich. This event 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 tactics of Hitler, who forced the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, to agree to his demands. The annexation was met with enthusiasm by many Germans and Austrians, and a later referendum on April 10, 1938, recorded a vote of more than 99% in favour of the union.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 March 1938 |
| German Leader | Adolf Hitler |
| German Troops | Accompanied Hitler into Austria |
| Austrian Chancellor | Kurt von Schuschnigg |
| Nazi Government Leader in Austria | Seyss-Inquart |
| Plebiscite | 10 April 1938 |
| Plebiscite Result | 99.7% approval |
| Austria's Status Post-Anschluss | Federal state of Germany |
| Austria's Status Post-WWII | Independent |
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What You'll Learn
- The German annexation of Austria occurred on 12 March 1938
- The Nazi regime feared being defeated at the polls
- Hitler's interest in Lebensraum (living space) was not shared by Göring
- The British government would not oppose the union of Austria with Germany
- The Allied powers declared the Anschluss void at the end of World War II
The German annexation of Austria occurred on 12 March 1938
The German annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, occurred on March 12, 1938, when German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. The annexation was the culmination of a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government and unite their nation with Nazi Germany.
The idea of the Anschluss, or the "joining" of Austria and Germany, first arose after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. The concept gained popularity after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and the formation of the Republic of German-Austria, which attempted to unite with Germany. However, the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and the Treaty of Versailles prohibited the union and the use of the name "German-Austria."
In the 1930s, the Nazi Party in Austria initially struggled to gain support, but its popularity grew after Hitler came to power in Germany. By 1937, German rearmament had increased Berlin's interest in annexing Austria, which was rich in raw materials and labour. In February 1938, Hitler invited Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to Germany and forced him to agree to give the Austrian Nazis a free hand. Schuschnigg later announced a plebiscite on the question of the Anschluss, but he was coerced into cancelling the vote and resigning on March 11, 1938, under pressure from Hitler.
On March 12, German troops invaded Austria, and the enthusiasm that followed gave Hitler the cover to annex Austria outright on March 13. The Anschluss was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany, and it violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. The annexation was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, with 99.75% of Austrian voters supporting a union with Germany in a plebiscite held on April 10, 1938. However, the Anschluss also resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population.
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The Nazi regime feared being defeated at the polls
The Anschluss, or the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, occurred on March 12, 1938. German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich.
The Nazi regime's fear of being defeated at the polls was not unfounded, given the history of the party's performance in elections. In the Reichstag (parliament) elections of May 2, 1928, the Nazis received only 2.6% of the national vote, a decline from 1924, when they received 3%. In 1932, the Nazis became the largest party in the Reichstag, winning 37.3% of the popular vote. However, they still did not have a majority. On March 5, 1933, the Nazis secured 43.9% of the vote, but once again, they did not command a majority in the Reichstag.
The Nazis understood the need to appear moderate and take over slowly by democratic means where possible, maintaining the stability and illusion of a democracy. They used pseudo-legality, terror, and intimidation to consolidate their power. They also ran a violent campaign of terror against opponents, with the SA and SS imprisoning up to 200,000 people in 1933. Many Germans were terrified of voting, and some turned to voting for the Nazi Party out of fear for their safety.
The Nazis' consolidation of power relied on maintaining the illusion of a stable democracy. They used the atmosphere of panic following the Reichstag Fire to propose the Enabling Law, which gave Hitler the power to rule by decree, bypassing the Reichstag. With the support of respected individuals, they were able to legitimize their actions and create the conditions needed for dictatorial rule.
In the case of Austria, the Nazi regime feared being defeated at the polls, as there was "majority support for Austria's independence" in 1938. The idea of Austria joining Germany had grown in popularity due to Nazi propaganda campaigns. However, the Nazis likely understood that there was still significant opposition to the Anschluss, and they did not want to risk being defeated in a plebiscite.
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Hitler's interest in Lebensraum (living space) was not shared by Göring
The German annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, occurred on March 12, 1938. German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich, with Hitler himself accompanying them. The next day, on March 13, the Anschluss was officially proclaimed, and Austria became a federal state of Germany.
Hitler's interest in Lebensraum, or "living space," was a significant aspect of his ideology and strategic program for Greater Germany. He believed that Germany needed to expand its geopolitical presence and secure more resources and territory to protect itself from external threats and ensure self-sufficiency. Hitler drew inspiration from American expansion in the West and aimed to replicate this in occupied Europe, particularly in Eastern Europe, which he saw as a Manifest Destiny for Germany. This expansionist policy, driven by racist ideologies, resulted in the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, known as Operation Barbarossa.
However, Göring, a German Nazi minister, did not fully share Hitler's interest in Lebensraum in the same way. While he supported the idea of a "greater economic space" (Grossraumwirtschaft), Göring's primary focus was on bringing Eastern Europe into the German economic sphere of influence, with Austria playing a key role in this plan. In a 1937 speech, Göring highlighted the importance of annexing Austria to meet steel production targets, given its rich iron resources. Thus, while Göring did advocate for the annexation of Austria, his motivations were primarily economic rather than driven by Hitler's racist and imperialist ideologies.
The differences in their motivations can also be attributed to their varying interpretations of Lebensraum. For Hitler, Lebensraum was about creating an idyllic, agrarian society with ample arable land, as advocated by Richard Walther Darré and Heinrich Himmler. This vision required the expulsion or destruction of people deemed non-Aryan within the territory of expansion. In contrast, Göring's interpretation aligned more with an urban, industrial state, focusing on economic dominance and influence rather than racial ideologies.
Furthermore, Göring's interest in annexing Austria may have been influenced by practical considerations. With problems arising in the Four Year Plan, he recognized the strategic value of Austria's resources. By calling for the Anschluss, he likely saw it as a solution to these issues, even if it risked losing an alliance with Italy. Thus, while both Hitler and Göring played pivotal roles in the annexation of Austria, their underlying motivations and long-term goals differed significantly.
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The British government would not oppose the union of Austria with Germany
The annexation of Austria by Germany, known as the Anschluss, occurred on March 12, 1938. The idea of a union between the two nations dated back to the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the German Empire. Support for the union grew in Austria following the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 and the subsequent economic struggles the country faced.
In the lead-up to the Anschluss, there were several factors that influenced the British government's decision not to oppose the union. Firstly, Britain had pursued a policy of appeasement towards Germany, aiming to avoid confrontation and maintain peace in Europe. This policy was based on the belief that Germany had legitimate grievances following World War I and that accommodating their demands could prevent another devastating conflict.
Secondly, Britain was concerned about its own national security and believed that maintaining strong relations with Germany was crucial. With the rise of Nazi Germany and the increasing tensions in Europe, Britain did not want to isolate itself by opposing the union. Additionally, Britain may have calculated that by allowing the union, Germany's attention would turn towards Eastern Europe, which was seen as a more immediate threat to Germany's interests.
Furthermore, Britain likely recognized the strong support for the union within Austria itself. The Austrian Nazis had gained significant influence in the country, and many Austrians believed that uniting with Germany would bring economic benefits. By 1938, there was majority support for the union, and the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, had been pressured into allowing top Austrian Nazis into his cabinet.
Finally, Britain's alliance with Italy, which could have potentially served as a counterweight to Germany, had weakened. Italy's leader, Benito Mussolini, had abandoned the idea of intervening to protect Austria, leaving Britain with few viable options for opposition.
In conclusion, the British government's decision not to oppose the union of Austria with Germany was influenced by a combination of factors, including a policy of appeasement, concerns for national security, the recognition of strong support for the union within Austria, and the weakening of potential alliances. These factors ultimately contributed to Britain's stance during the Anschluss.
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The Allied powers declared the Anschluss void at the end of World War II
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This annexation, known as the Anschluss, was the culmination of a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government and unite their nation with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg attempted to resist, but ultimately succumbed to pressure from Hitler and was forced to give the Austrian Nazis a free hand.
The idea of Austria joining Germany had been growing in popularity, fuelled by Nazi propaganda campaigns and the desire for a greater Germany solution. The Anschluss was also driven by economic factors, as Germany sought to exploit Austria's rich iron resources to meet its steel production targets.
However, the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void at the end of World War II. On April 27, 1945, a provisional Austrian government under Karl Renner was set up by conservatives, Social Democrats, and Communists. This government cancelled the Anschluss, and Austria was once again recognized as a separate country. The Moscow Declaration of 1943, signed by the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom, included a "Declaration on Austria," stating that the annexation of Austria by Germany was null and void.
Austria remained divided into occupation zones and controlled by the Allied Commission until 1955, when the Austrian State Treaty restored its sovereignty. This treaty re-established Austria as a sovereign state, ending a period of occupation and marking a return to independence for the country.
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Frequently asked questions
The German Anschluss of Austria occurred on March 12, 1938, when German troops invaded Austria.
The Anschluss was the annexation of Austria into the German Reich.
Many Germans and Austrians supported the union, and a referendum held on April 10, 1938, recorded a vote of 99.7% in favour.
The Germans wanted to annex Austria to gain access to its rich iron resources and bring Eastern Europe into its economic sphere of influence.
