Leslie Massey
On March 12, 1938, Hitler accompanied German troops into Austria, marking the beginning of Nazi Germany's occupation of the country. Known as the Anschluss, the annexation of Austria was the first major step in Austrian-born Hitler's desire to create a Greater German Reich that included all ethnic Germans and territories lost by the German Empire after World War I. The unification of Austria and Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles, the Treaty of Saint-Germain, and subsequent international financial agreements, but European powers did not intervene, allowing Hitler to pursue his expansionist agenda further.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of occupation | 12 March 1938 |
| Event name | Anschluss |
| Number of German troops entering Austria | 25,000 |
| Public sentiment towards German troops | Enthusiastic support from most of the Austrian population |
| Austrian government's response | Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg resigned on 11 March 1938, pleading with Austrian forces not to resist |
| Hitler's role | Accompanied German troops into Austria |
| Resulting government | A new Nazi government was appointed, led by Arthur Seyß-Inquart |
| Austria's status | Became a federal state of Germany, part of the Third Reich |
| Impact on Austria | The Republic of Austria ceased to exist as an independent state |
| International response | The annexation of Austria violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, but no punishment was imposed on Nazi Germany |
| Subsequent events | Hitler targeted Czechoslovakia, leading to the Munich Agreement in September 1938 and the occupation of Czech lands, including Prague, in March 1939 |
| Liberation | 27 April 1945 by the Red Army |
| Restoration of Austrian sovereignty | 1955 with the Austrian State Treaty |
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's Austria occupation began on March 12, 1938
Hitler's occupation of Austria began on March 12, 1938, an event known as the Anschluss, which means "union" or "connection" in German. This marked the unification of Germany and Austria, which had been forbidden by the treaties that ended World War I. The annexation of Austria was one of Hitler's earliest expansionist acts and a significant breach of the post-World War I international order.
In the lead-up to the occupation, Austrian Nazis had conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Hitler to assert Austria's independence but was forced to appoint Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, 1938, Schuschnigg called for a national vote on the question of the Anschluss, but before the vote could take place, he resigned under pressure from Hitler on March 11. In his resignation address, he asked Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance" into the country.
On March 12, heavily armed German troops and police, accompanied by Hitler himself, crossed the Austrian frontier. They were met by enthusiastic crowds, and many Austrians supported the union with Nazi Germany. However, there were also Austrians who tried to escape, and mass arrests began. The local Gauleiter of Gmunden, Upper Austria, threatened to send all "traitors" of Austria to the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp.
The next day, on March 13, 1938, the Anschluss was officially proclaimed, and Austria became a federal state of Germany. This marked the end of Austria's independence as a republic, and it ceased to exist as a separate country. The Nazis quickly carried out the Nazification of Austrian society, with many Austrians participating enthusiastically. This included the persecution of Austria's Jewish population.
After World War II, in 1945, a provisional Austrian government declared the Anschluss "null and void," and Austria was recognized as a separate country again. However, it remained divided into occupation zones until 1955, when the Austrian State Treaty restored its sovereignty.
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The Austrian population's response was mixed
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, took place on March 12, 1938. The Austrian population's response to this event was mixed, with some cheering the arrival of German troops and supporting the unification of the two nations, while others attempted to resist or flee the country.
In the lead-up to the annexation, there was significant opposition to the idea of Austria becoming part of Nazi Germany. Austrian public opinion about German annexation was at least 60% against by the end of 1933. However, the Austrian Nazi Party had been gaining support and conspiring to seize the Austrian government by force. They carried out terrorist attacks against Austrian governmental institutions, resulting in a death toll of over 800 between 1934 and 1938.
As the threat of annexation became more imminent, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence by calling for a plebiscite (referendum) on the issue. However, he was pressured by Hitler to resign on March 11, 1938, and the plebiscite was cancelled. Despite this, some Austrians continued to resist the Nazi takeover. There were reports of Austrians aiding Jews, and some tried to flee the country, with many Jews, leftists, and Schuschnigg supporters racing towards the borders in the hopes of escaping before they closed.
On the other hand, many Austrians welcomed the German troops as they crossed the border on March 12. Large sections of the Austrian population were very pleased to see them, and Hitler was warmly welcomed as he travelled through the country. The annexation was supported by Austrian Nazis and others who believed in the idea of a Greater Germany that included Austria. The new chancellor, Seyss-Inquart, appointed by Hitler, was an Austrian Nazi, and he formed a cabinet filled with other Austrian Nazis. The Anschluss was also supported by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna, which issued a statement declaring their support for a free and independent Austria, as well as by Robert Kauer, president of the minority Lutheran Church in Austria, who greeted Hitler as the saviour of the 350,000 German Protestants in Austria.
The mixed response of the Austrian population can also be seen in the aftermath of the annexation. While some Austrians participated in the Nazi administration and fought for the Nazi German armed forces during World War II, others aided the resistance, and thousands tried to escape. After the war, many Austrians sought comfort in the "'victim theory'", which portrayed all Austrians, including those who supported Hitler, as unwilling victims of the Nazi regime. However, this theory was later abandoned, and the nation admitted its collective responsibility for the crimes committed during the Nazi occupation.
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Hitler's first act of territorial aggression
The annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was Hitler's first act of territorial aggression. This event united Austria and Germany, creating a Greater German Reich that included all ethnic Germans and territories lost by the German Empire after World War I. The unification of Germany under Otto von Bismarck in 1871 had explicitly excluded Austria, a rival power, and the peace treaties ending World War I also forbade their unification.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Hitler, but was coerced into appointing Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, 1938, Schuschnigg called for a national vote on the issue of annexation, but before the vote could take place, he resigned under pressure from Hitler on March 11. The next day, German troops entered Austria, where they were met with enthusiasm by many Austrians. On March 13, 1938, the Anschluss was officially proclaimed, and Austria became a federal state of Germany.
The Anschluss was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order and demonstrated Nazi disdain for the European status quo. It was also a violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly prohibited the unification of Austria and Germany. The annexation of Austria was an important step in Hitler's expansionist agenda, and the lack of punishment from other European powers enabled his unchecked pursuit of further territorial aggression.
The impact of the Anschluss on Austria was transformative. Austrian Nazis, together with members of the SS and SA, occupied public buildings and offices, and the Nazification of Austrian society began. Austrians participated in this process, and the country's Jewish population became a target of persecution. Additionally, about 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces during World War II, and many others served in the Nazi administration.
After World War II, a provisional Austrian government declared the Anschluss "null und nichtig" (null and void) on April 27, 1945, restoring Austria's independence. However, Austria remained divided into occupation zones controlled by the Allies until 1955, when the Austrian State Treaty reaffirmed its sovereignty.
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Austria's government before Hitler's occupation
Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, with the overwhelming support of the Austrian population. However, in the years leading up to this, the Austrian government faced several challenges and changes.
In 1933, the Austrian Nazi Party was banned following a hand grenade attack in Krems. Despite this, Nazi terrorists continued to receive financial, logistic, and material support from Germany. The German government also subjected Austria to systematic agitation, and in the same year, German citizens were required to pay a thousand marks to the German government before travelling to Austria.
In 1934, there was a violent confrontation in Linz, and in July, the Nazis attempted a coup under the leadership of the Austrian SS. About 150 SS personnel forced their way into the Chancellor's office in Vienna, and Dollfuß, the Chancellor, was shot and died a few hours later. Another group occupied the building of the Austrian National Radio and forced a statement that the Government of Dollfuß had fallen and Anton Rintelen was the new head of government. Anton Rintelen belonged to the Christian Social Party but is suspected of having Nazi sympathies. This false report was intended to start a Nazi uprising throughout the country but was only partially successful.
In 1937, it became possible for Nazis to join the Patriotic Front, and throughout Austria, political units were set up, some of which were led by Nazis. This was a legal disguise for the reorganization of the Austrofascist State.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite their nation with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, learning of the conspiracy, met with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in the hopes of reasserting his country’s independence. However, he was coerced into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet, including Edmund Glaise-Horstenau, Guido Schmidt, and Arthur Seyß-Inquart. On March 9, 1938, Schuschnigg called for a national vote to resolve the question of Anschluss, or annexation, but before the plebiscite could take place, he gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on March 11, pleading with Austrian forces not to resist a German “advance”.
On March 12, 1938, Hitler accompanied German troops into Austria, and on March 13, the Anschluss was proclaimed. Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and reestablished an independent Austria.
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The Soviet Union's role in liberating Austria
On March 12, 1938, German troops crossed the border into Austria and annexed the country to the German Reich. This event, known as the "Anschluss," marked the beginning of Hitler's expansionist policy and the gradual buildup to World War II. As for the Soviet Union's role in liberating Austria, here is a detailed response:
The Soviet Union played a pivotal role in liberating Austria from Nazi rule during World War II. The Red Army's offensive in the spring of 1945 marked a turning point in the war's final stage and led directly to the liberation of Vienna and the rest of Austria. The Soviet operation, codenamed the Vienna Offensive, was a massive military undertaking involving over a million troops and a well-coordinated strategy.
The planning for the Vienna Offensive began in late 1944, as the Soviet forces were pushing westward after their successful advances in Belarus and Poland. The objective was to defeat the German forces in southern Poland and Czechoslovakia and then drive into the heart of Austria. The offensive was designed as a pincer movement, with two Soviet fronts (the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts) attacking from the east and southeast, aiming to encircle the German defenders in and around Vienna.
The offensive commenced on March 25, 1945, with a massive artillery barrage and air attacks. The Soviet troops rapidly advanced, breaking through German defenses and overcoming fierce resistance. By early April, the Red Army had reached the outskirts of Vienna and launched a concerted attack to liberate the city. The battle for Vienna was intense and lasted for about two weeks. Street-by-street fighting and heavy house-to-house combat characterized it. The Soviet troops, supported by local resistance fighters, gradually cleared the city of German forces.
On April 13, 1945, Vienna fell to the Soviet Army, marking a significant victory in the war against Nazi Germany. The liberation of Vienna was a critical milestone, as it was not only a major industrial and transportation hub but also a cultural and political center. The successful capture of the city ensured that the Soviet Union could continue its westward advance and further weakened German defenses. Following the liberation of Vienna, the remaining German forces in Austria were quickly defeated, and the country was officially declared liberated on May 8, 1945, the same day that World War II ended in Europe with Germany's surrender.
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Frequently asked questions
Hitler occupied Austria on March 12, 1938.
The occupation of Austria was known as the Anschluss.
The Anschluss was the first major step in Hitler's desire to create a Greater German Reich that included all ethnic Germans and territories lost by the German Empire after World War I. It was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany and a significant breach of the post-World War I international order. The Republic of Austria ceased to exist as an independent state, and the country was transformed as Austrian and German Nazis carried out the Nazification of Austrian society.
