Ruqayyah Snyder
On March 12, 1938, Nazi Germany annexed Austria, an event known as the Anschluss, which means connection or joining in German. This was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi regime, which aimed to unite all Germans under an all-German Reich. The annexation was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, with many Austrians welcoming the German troops entering their territory. However, it also resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of annexation | 12 March 1938 |
| Number of German troops and police that crossed the Austrian frontier | 25,000 |
| Percentage of votes in favour of the annexation | 99.7561% |
| Date Austria was recognised as a separate country | 27 April 1945 |
| Year Austria's sovereignty was restored | 1955 |
| Number of Austrian Nazis involved in the coup attempt in 1934 | Several conspirators |
| Year Austria found itself diplomatically isolated | 1937-1938 |
| Year Hitler wrote about his intention to unite Austria and Germany | 1921 |
| Year Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany | 1938 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Hitler's annexation plans
The annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. It was also part of Hitler's long-term plan to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe, which he considered unfair and illegitimate.
Hitler had expressed his desire to unite his birth country of Austria with Germany as early as 1921, and again in his 1925 book, 'Mein Kampf'. In 1934, Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was assassinated by Austrian Nazis during a failed coup attempt. Hitler denied involvement, and many leading Austrian Nazis went into exile in Germany. In 1935-36, Mussolini, who had previously treated Austria as a buffer between Italy and Germany, began to draw closer to the Nazi regime. By 1937, rapid German rearmament increased Berlin's interest in annexing Austria, which was rich in raw materials and labour. In a secret speech that year, Göring, who had become the loudest voice in Germany calling for an Anschluss, stated that the only solution to the problems with meeting steel production targets was to annex Austria. Hitler told Goebbels that Austria would eventually have to be taken "by force".
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired for the second time to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Germany. Under pressure from pro-unification activists, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany. Hitler threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign, which he did on March 11, 1938. The annexation was proclaimed on March 13, 1938, and Austrian Nazis took over the country without firing a shot. Hitler entered Vienna to cheering crowds, declaring the unification of Austria and Germany. Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and re-established an independent Austria.
Austria-Germany: Counting the Human Cost of World War I
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Nazi propaganda and terror campaign
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, took place on March 12, 1938. The process began when German troops entered the country, and Austria was incorporated into Germany the following day. This event marked the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi regime, and it was widely popular in both Germany and Austria.
In the lead-up to the annexation, Austrian Nazis waged a propaganda and terror campaign beginning in May 1933. This campaign was encouraged and funded by Germany, with the goal of undermining the Dollfuss regime by portraying it as incompetent. The Austrian Nazis staged disruptive protests, brawled with political opponents and the police, and set off explosives and tear gas bombs in public places and Jewish-owned businesses. They also conspired to seize the Austrian government by force, leading to a failed coup attempt in 1934 in which Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was assassinated.
The fallout from the coup attempt forced many leading Austrian Nazis into exile in Germany, where they continued to push for unification. However, they were willing to proceed slowly to ensure a successful outcome. In early 1938, they conspired again to take control of the Austrian government and unite the two countries. This time, their efforts were successful.
The Nazi propaganda campaign in Austria was intense and contributed to the political dictatorship that preceded the annexation. It also extended beyond the country's borders, as seen in the German newsreel footage from March and April 1938, which served as propaganda for the Nazi annexation. This footage included images of pro-Nazi Austrians expressing their opposition to Chancellor Schuschnigg's plebiscite on independence and celebrating the union with Germany. The Nazis also manipulated the plebiscite results to indicate that about 99 percent of Austrians supported the union, further justifying their illegal takeover.
The annexation of Austria was a significant event, as it brought millions of Jewish people under German control and marked the beginning of World War II in Europe. The Nazis quickly extended their anti-Jewish legislation to Austria, establishing the Mauthausen concentration camp as the main Nazi camp in the country. The annexation also resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population, leading to deportations and a significant reduction in the Jewish community by December 1939.
Austria's Post-Napoleon Vision: States and Sovereignty
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Dollfuss-Schuschnigg regime
Engelbert Dollfuss, who served as Austrian chancellor from 1933 until his assassination in 1934, was the founder of the regime. Dollfuss transformed Austria from a democratic republic into a right-wing authoritarian state known as the Corporate State (Ständestaat). He merged his Christian Social Party with other nationalist and conservative groups to form the Vaterländische Front, which became the single authorised political party. Dollfuss's government was aligned with Fascist Italy and authoritarian Hungary, and he was committed to crushing the political left in Austria. However, Dollfuss was not a Nazi, and his regime faced opposition from the Austrian Nazi movement, which was encouraged and funded by Nazi Germany.
After Dollfuss's assassination by Austrian Nazis in 1934, Kurt von Schuschnigg became the new chancellor and dictator of Austria. Schuschnigg continued many of his predecessor's authoritarian policies and arrested thousands of Austrian Nazis. In 1938, facing increasing pressure from pro-unification activists and an aggressive Nazi Germany, Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany. However, Hitler threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign, leading to the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss.
Austrian Universities: World-Class Education?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Austria's diplomatic isolation
The rise of the Nazis in 1933 further destabilized the country. Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss transformed Austria into a right-wing authoritarian regime, also known as the Austrofascist state or the Dollfuss-Schuschnigg regime. Dollfuss's government was diplomatically aligned with Fascist Italy and authoritarian Hungary. However, the brutal repression of Austrian Social Democrats in February 1934 created tensions with Britain and France.
In 1938, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany versus maintaining Austria's sovereignty, to be held on March 13. Hitler threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign on March 11. By the time of the annexation, Austria was diplomatically isolated, with even Mussolini no longer a reliable guarantor of Austrian independence.
The Allies, including Fascist Italy, France, and Britain, were committed to upholding the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of St. Germain, which specifically prohibited the union of Austria and Germany. However, their reaction was only verbal and moderate, with no military confrontation taking place.
Germany and Austria-Hungary's Defeat: The Turning Points of WWI
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Anschluss aftermath
The Anschluss, which took place on March 12, 1938, marked the beginning of a series of significant political and social changes in Austria. Within two days of the annexation, power was transferred to Germany, and Wehrmacht troops entered Austria to enforce the union. The Nazis quickly moved to consolidate their control, arresting thousands of politically unreliable Austrians and suppressing dissent.
The international community, including Britain, France, and Italy, expressed verbal opposition to the annexation, citing concerns over the violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of St. Germain, which prohibited the union of Austria and Germany. However, these reactions remained moderate, and no military confrontation occurred. The annexation of Austria was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, with many Austrians cheering the arrival of German troops and celebrating the unification.
One notable impact of the Anschluss was the outbreak of public violence against Austria's Jewish population, marking the beginning of Nazi persecution and the Holocaust. The Nazis also targeted political opponents, arresting and imprisoning thousands of Austrians in concentration camps. The Austrian Nazi Party gained significant influence, with 10% of the population, or 700,000 people, joining the party.
The Wehrmacht drafted more than 1.3 million Austrians between 1938 and 1945, many of whom fought on the Eastern Front and were complicit in Nazi atrocities. The annexation of Austria also shifted Nazi attention to Czechoslovakia, with Hitler reassuring the Czech president that Germany had no territorial desires while secretly planning to "smash Czechoslovakia" in the near future. This led to increasing tensions and ultimately resulted in the invasion of Czechoslovakia in October 1938.
In the final days of World War II, a provisional government in Allied-occupied Austria declared the Anschluss "null and void" on April 27, 1945. Austria was recognized as a separate country but remained under Allied control until the Austrian State Treaty restored its sovereignty in 1955. The aftermath of the Anschluss had far-reaching consequences, contributing to the outbreak of World War II and shaping the political landscape of Europe for years to come.
The Currency of Vienna, Austria: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Nazis took control of Austria on 12 March 1938.
The annexation of Austria was called the Anschluss, which means "joining" or "connection" in German.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Hitler, who bullied him into naming several Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, Schuschnigg called for a national vote to resolve the question of the Anschluss. However, before the vote could take place, he gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on March 11. On March 12, Hitler entered Austria with German troops and took control.
The Allies were committed to upholding the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of St. Germain, which prohibited the union of Austria and Germany. However, their reaction was only verbal and moderate, with no military confrontation taking place. The strongest verbal protests came from Fascist Italy, France, and Britain, who nevertheless remained at peace.
The Nazis held a controlled plebiscite (a type of referendum) in the whole Reich within a month of the annexation, claiming that 99.7561% of the votes cast in Austria were in favor. Mass arrests began, and thousands of Austrians tried to escape the country. The Nazis also began implementing their racist policies, targeting Austria's Jewish and Gypsy populations.
