Lexi Webster
The Anschluss, or the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, took place on March 12, 1938, marking the end of the First Austrian Republic. The unification of Austria and Germany, forming a Greater Germany, was an idea that gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. Despite opposition from some, the annexation was met with enthusiasm by most Austrians, and the country would remain a part of Nazi Germany for seven years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 March 1938 |
| Description | Annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany |
| Other Names | Annexation of Austria, Anschluß Österreichs |
| Preceding Events | Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg resigned on the evening of 11 March 1938 |
| German troops entered Austria on 12 March 1938 | |
| Austria was incorporated into Germany on 13 March 1938 | |
| The union was approved via a plebiscite in April 1938 | |
| Impact | Tens of thousands of people were arrested in Vienna |
| The resistance movement was largely eliminated | |
| The first transports to the Dachau concentration camp left Vienna on 1 April 1938 | |
| Widespread antisemitic actions and political violence | |
| Persecution and expulsion of Jews | |
| Establishment of concentration camps, e.g., Mauthausen | |
| Death toll of Austrian Jewry reached 65,000 |
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What You'll Learn
The Anschluss occurred on March 12, 1938
The Anschluss, which took place on March 12, 1938, was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany. The idea of a unified Austria and Germany that would form a "Greater Germany" arose after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austrian and German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. Although the unification of Austria and Germany was not initially a popular idea among Austrians in 1919, the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 and the establishment of the new Republic of German-Austria led to growing support for the concept of Anschluss. The Republic of German-Austria attempted to unite with Germany, but the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles prohibited the union and the use of the name "German-Austria."
In the early 1930s, the Austrian government considered forming a customs union with the German Republic in 1931. However, these efforts were complicated by political crises and opposition from France, which argued that such a union would violate the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Despite these challenges, negotiations continued, and the customs union was finalized with German Foreign Affairs Minister Julius Curtius on March 5, 1931, before being approved by Germany on March 18.
As Nazi Germany rose to power, its foreign policy aimed to revise the Treaty of Versailles, unite German-speaking peoples, and expand German territory. On March 9, 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum to allow the Austrian people to decide if they wanted to join Hitler's Germany. Fearing that a negative outcome would ruin his invasion plans, Hitler ordered Schuschnigg to cancel the referendum and threatened to invade Austria. Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, 1938, and German troops entered Austria the following day, marking the beginning of the Anschluss. On March 15, 1938, Adolf Hitler declared the "Anschluss" of Austria to Nazi Germany.
The Anschluss resulted in the loss of Austria's independence and sovereignty and marked the beginning of a dark chapter in Austrian history. Tens of thousands of people were arrested, and widespread antisemitic actions and political violence ensued. Leading Austrian politicians were imprisoned, and anyone opposing Nazi rule was subject to arrest, torture, and death. Jews were particularly targeted, facing attacks, humiliation, looting, and seizure of their businesses and properties. Anti-Jewish legislation forced Jews out of their positions and effectively expelled them from the country's economic, social, and cultural life. The Anschluss opened the door for Nazis and their sympathizers to carry out atrocities against the Jewish community in Austria.
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The annexation of Austria was supported by most Austrians
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, took place on March 12, 1938. The idea of a union between Austria and Germany, resulting in a "Greater Germany", had been gaining support since the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. However, it is debated whether a majority of Austrians supported the annexation. While some sources claim that the annexation received the enthusiastic support of most Austrians, others suggest that the pro-Anschluss movement only had slim support, with regional patriotism being stronger than pan-German sentiment.
The annexation of Austria was a significant event in the lead-up to World War II. Austria, facing economic troubles and political unrest, was vulnerable to the rising power of Nazi Germany. On March 11, 1938, German troops crossed the German-Austrian border, and German planes landed in Vienna. The Austrian chancellor, Kurt Schuschnigg, had resigned the previous day under pressure from Hitler and the Nazis, who had conspired to seize the Austrian government. Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence by calling for a plebiscite, but he was forced to cancel it and step down.
The annexation was met with mixed reactions in Austria. While some Austrians welcomed the German troops with cheers and flowers, others were targeted for their opposition to Nazi rule. Tens of thousands of people were arrested in Vienna alone, and Austrian politicians who opposed the annexation were imprisoned. The Nazis carried out widespread antisemitic actions and political violence, with Jews being attacked, humiliated, and expelled from the country's economic, social, and cultural life.
Despite the existence of opposition, it is believed that the Anschluss received support from a significant portion of the Austrian population. The plebiscite held in April 1938, which was manipulated to indicate overwhelming support for the union with Germany, suggests that many Austrians may have welcomed the idea of unification. Additionally, the Austrian government's pursuit of a customs union with Germany in the early 1930s indicates that there was some level of support for closer ties between the two countries. However, it is important to note that the complex political dynamics and propaganda during this period make it difficult to determine the exact level of support for the annexation among Austrians.
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The unification of Austria and Germany was a long-standing idea
The unification of Austria and Germany, also known as the Anschluss, was a long-standing idea that began in the 19th century. The concept of grouping all Germans into one nation-state, or a "Greater Germany", was widely discussed after the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806 and continued until the break-up of the German Confederation in 1866. The idea of unification gained momentum after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. Many Austrian pan-Germans showed loyalty to Bismarck and advocated for the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire so that Austria could rejoin Germany, as it had been during the German Confederation of 1815-1866.
However, the unification of Austria and Germany was not without its challenges and controversies. The Austrian Empire, which included various ethnic groups, caused tensions between these groups, with some supporting pan-Germanism while others remained loyal to the Habsburg monarchy and favoured Austria's independence. In 1919, the idea of unification with Germany was not overwhelmingly popular among Austrians, and a nationwide referendum was not held. The First Austrian Republic's constitution included the political goal of unification, but regional patriotism often took precedence over pan-German sentiment.
In the early 1930s, the Austrian government explored the possibility of a customs union with the German Republic, but these efforts were opposed by France and other parties. As Nazi Germany rose to power, the unification of Austria and Germany became increasingly tied to Nazi ideology and expansionism. On March 12, 1938, German troops entered Austria, and the country was incorporated into Nazi Germany, marking the realisation of the long-standing idea of unification. This union was met with enthusiasm by most Austrians, but it also marked the beginning of widespread persecution and suffering, especially for Austrian Jews.
The unification of Austria and Germany, or the Anschluss, was a complex and multifaceted event that spanned several decades and involved shifting political alliances, ethnic tensions, and the rise of Nazi ideology. While the idea of unification was long-standing, the actual implementation of it was shaped by the specific historical and social context of the time, ultimately resulting in the loss of Austria's independence and the onset of a dark chapter in Austrian history.
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The French and Austrian governments attempted to prevent the Anschluss
The Anschluss, which took place on March 12, 1938, was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany. The idea of a union between Austria and Germany, or a "Greater Germany", had been gaining support since the unification of Germany in 1871, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the German Empire.
The French attempted to prevent the Anschluss by incorporating Austria into a Danubian Confederation in 1927. This was seen as a way to re-form the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and was opposed by the German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gustav Stresemann, who offered to form a customs union with Austria instead. However, Austrian Chancellor Ignaz Seipel, an opponent of the Anschluss, rejected the offer.
In 1933, the Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss transformed Austria into a right-wing authoritarian regime. Dollfuss's government banned the Austrian Nazi Party and its affiliates, making the Nazi movement illegal in Austria. However, Austrian Nazis continued to operate illegally, and many fled to Germany, where they formed the paramilitary Austrian Legion. In July 1934, Austrian Nazis attempted to overthrow the Austrian government, but the coup attempt failed.
In 1938, under pressure from pro-unification activists, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany. However, in the face of Nazi demands, he cancelled the referendum and resigned. German troops entered Austria on March 12, 1938, and Austria was incorporated into Germany.
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The Anschluss led to the persecution of Austrian Jews
The Anschluss, which took place on 12 March 1938, saw the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany. This event led to the persecution of Austrian Jews, who were subjected to violence, arrest, torture, and death.
Prior to the Anschluss, there were approximately 192,000 Jews living in Austria, with many flourishing in the fields of science, arts, business, and industry. However, the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany marked a turning point for the Jewish community in the country. Immediately after the Anschluss, German anti-Jewish legislation was implemented in Austria, forcing Jews out of their positions and effectively expelling them from the country's economic, social, and cultural life. The Gestapo, along with Austrian Nazis and sympathizers, looted Jewish belongings, seized Jewish businesses, and arrested those who resisted.
The persecution of Austrian Jews was both systematic and violent. Jews were plundered, killed, and subjected to forced reorganization of their communities. They were disenfranchised and stripped of their rights, with German racial laws enacted to classify and target them. This resulted in the expansion of the definition of "Jew" in Austria, increasing the number of people affected by the discriminatory laws.
The impact of the Anschluss on Austrian Jews was devastating, with nearly 120,000 emigrating between 1938 and 1940. The deportation of Jews to death camps began in February 1941, and by 1942, the Viennese Jewish community was officially liquidated. As a result of the Holocaust, an estimated 60,000 to 65,000 Austrian Jews lost their lives, with only a small number surviving until the liberation of Vienna in April 1945.
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Frequently asked questions
The Anschluss with Austria took place on 12 March 1938.
Anschluss is German for 'joining' or 'connection'.
German troops entered Austria, and the country was incorporated into Nazi Germany.
The Anschluss was met with enthusiasm by most Austrians, and Hitler was greeted by cheering crowds when he arrived in his hometown of Braunau in Upper Austria. However, the event also marked the beginning of widespread persecution of Austrian Jews.
