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On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This event, known as the Anschluss, saw Austrian Nazis conspire to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. The annexation was preceded by a wave of pro-Anschluss sentiment in Austria, fuelled by Nazi propaganda campaigns. Despite assurances to the contrary, Hitler invaded Austria and accompanied German troops into the country, where he was met with enthusiastic crowds. The invasion was justified by false reports of rioting and street fights caused by Communists. Following the annexation, Austrian political leaders were imprisoned, and a wave of violence was unleashed against Jews and Jewish-owned property.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Annexation | 11–13 March 1938 |
| Annexing Country | Nazi Germany |
| Annexed Country | Austria |
| Annexing Leader | Adolf Hitler |
| Annexed Leader | Kurt von Schuschnigg |
| Annexation Name | Anschluss |
| Annexation Type | Invasion and Incorporation |
| Annexation Justification | Uniting German-speaking Nation, False Claims of Rioting and Street Fights by Communists |
| Public Opinion | 99.75% of Voters Approved in April 1938 |
| International Reaction | Verbal Protests, No Military Confrontation |
| Impact | Wave of Violence against Jews and Jewish-owned Property, Imprisonment of Political Leaders, Arrest and Torture of Opponents |
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What You'll Learn
German troops invade Austria
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This event, known as the Anschluss, saw the incorporation of Austria into the German Reich.
In the lead-up to the invasion, there was a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, aware of this plot, met with Adolf Hitler in an attempt to maintain Austria's independence. However, Hitler coerced him into appointing several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, Schuschnigg called for a national vote to decide the question of the Anschluss, but before the plebiscite could occur, he resigned on March 11 under pressure from Hitler.
Hitler accompanied the German troops into Austria, and they were met with enthusiastic crowds. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the Anschluss was officially proclaimed. Austria became a federal state of Germany, and its political leaders were imprisoned. Anyone who opposed Nazi rule was arrested and tortured, and a wave of violence was unleashed against Jews and Jewish-owned property across the country.
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany had been a long-held ambition of Hitler, as evident in his 1925 book, "Mein Kampf". Despite his assurances in 1935 that Germany had no intention of annexing Austria, he changed course in February 1938 by demanding that Austrian Nazis be appointed to the Austrian cabinet and threatening an invasion otherwise. When a plebiscite was called to decide the matter, Hitler decided to invade immediately to prevent the vote from taking place.
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Austria becomes part of the Third Reich
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, saw Austria become part of the Third Reich.
The idea of Austria joining Germany had been growing in popularity since Hitler came to power in Germany. The Nazi propaganda campaign used slogans such as "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" ("One People, One Empire, One Leader") to encourage Austrians to advocate for an Anschluss with the German Reich. In 1936, John Gunther wrote that Austrian public opinion about German annexation was at least 60% against. However, by 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite their nation with Nazi Germany.
Learning of this conspiracy, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Hitler in an attempt to reassert his country's independence. However, he was coerced into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of the Anschluss once and for all. Hitler, wanting to prevent the vote, decided to invade Austria immediately. On March 11, Schuschnigg cancelled the plebiscite and offered to resign to avoid bloodshed. Hitler demanded that the president of Austria, Wilhelm Miklas, appoint a member of the Austrian Nazi Party as the nation's next chancellor. When Miklas refused, Hitler ordered the invasion to begin at dawn on March 12.
Hitler accompanied the German troops into Austria, where they were met with enthusiastic crowds. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the Anschluss was officially proclaimed. Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II. Following the annexation, Austria's political leaders were imprisoned, and anyone opposing Nazi rule was arrested and tortured. A wave of violence broke out against Jews and Jewish-owned property across the country, culminating in the Kristallnacht riots of November 9-10, 1938.
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The Austrian vote
In the early 1930s, the Austrian Nazi Party was gaining popularity in Austria, and the idea of the country joining Germany was becoming increasingly appealing to many Austrians. In 1932, it was estimated that around 80% of Austrians supported the idea of an Anschluss, or union, with Germany. However, by the end of 1933, public opinion had shifted, and it was thought that at least 60% of Austrians were against German annexation.
Despite this shift in public opinion, the Nazis continued to pursue their agenda. On February 12, 1938, Hitler met with the new Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, and demanded that members of Austria's Nazi Party be appointed to his cabinet and that the party be granted full political rights. Fearing that Hitler intended to take over Austria, Schuschnigg called for a national plebiscite, or vote, to take place on March 13, 1938, to allow Austrians to decide for themselves whether they wanted to remain independent or become part of the Third Reich.
Hitler, however, was not willing to risk the vote going against him. On March 11, 1938, Schuschnigg cancelled the plebiscite and offered his resignation to avoid bloodshed. Hitler then demanded that the president of Austria, Wilhelm Miklas, appoint an Austrian Nazi as the new chancellor. When Miklas refused, Hitler ordered the invasion of Austria to commence at dawn on March 12. German troops marched into Austria, and enthusiastic crowds greeted them. On March 13, the Anschluss was proclaimed, and Austria became a province of Germany.
On April 10, 1938, a plebiscite was finally held, but under very different circumstances. The vote was manipulated, excluding Jews and Roma, and the result was a claimed 99.75% approval for the annexation. This vote served to ratify the union that had already been imposed by force.
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Hitler's involvement
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the country for the Third Reich. This event, known as the Anschluss, was the culmination of a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany.
Hitler's rise to power in Germany increased the popularity of the Austrian Nazi Party and the idea of uniting with Germany. The Nazis used propaganda campaigns with slogans like "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" ("One People, One Empire, One Leader") to convince Austrians to support the annexation. Despite assurances to Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg that Germany had no intention to interfere in Austria's internal affairs or pursue annexation, Hitler worked to undermine Austrian sovereignty.
In July 1936, Schuschnigg signed the Austro-German treaty, agreeing to release Nazis imprisoned in Austria and declaring Austria a "German state" that would follow Germany's lead in foreign policy. This treaty further weakened Austrian independence and paved the way for increased Nazi influence.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the government by force, leading Schuschnigg to meet with Hitler to reassert Austrian independence. However, under pressure from Hitler and other German generals, Schuschnigg was coerced into naming top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. When Schuschnigg called for a plebiscite (referendum) on Austrian independence, Hitler was infuriated and decided to take action.
On March 11, 1938, Schuschnigg was pressured to cancel the plebiscite and resign. The next day, German troops entered Austria, accompanied by Hitler himself. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the annexation was proclaimed. Hitler's journey through Austria was a triumphal tour, culminating in a speech in Vienna where he declared the union of Austria with the German Reich.
The annexation of Austria was a significant act of Nazi territorial expansion and a violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. It demonstrated Hitler's expansionist policies and his desire to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe.
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The aftermath
On March 11–13, 1938, German troops invaded Austria and incorporated the country into the German Reich in what is known as the Anschluss. This annexation was the culmination of a years-long campaign by the Austrian Nazi Party to unite their nation with Nazi Germany.
The annexation of Austria was followed by a wave of street violence against Jewish people and property in Vienna and other cities throughout the so-called Greater German Reich during the spring, summer, and autumn of 1938. This violence culminated in the Kristallnacht riots and violence of November 9–10, 1938.
The Allies were committed to upholding the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and those of St. Germain, which specifically prohibited the union of Austria and Germany. However, their reaction to the annexation was only verbal and moderate, and no military confrontation took place. Even the strongest voices against the annexation, including Fascist Italy, France, and Britain (the "Stresa Front"), remained at peace. The loudest verbal protest was voiced by the government of Mexico.
Germany gained economically from the annexation, acquiring iron ore mines in the Erzberg and 748 million RM in the reserves of Austria's central bank, the Oesterreichische Nationalbank.
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. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, who had been imprisoned soon after resigning, was released in 1945.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria was annexed by the Third Reich on March 12, 1938.
The annexation of Austria by the Third Reich was called the "Anschluss".
The Austrian Nazi Party's failed attempt to win any seats in the November 1930 general election, and the growing popularity of the idea of the country joining Germany, led to the annexation.
Hitler accompanied German troops into Austria and appointed a new Nazi government. He also delivered a speech in Vienna, declaring the annexation of Austria by the Third Reich.
The world's response to the annexation of Austria by the Third Reich was mostly verbal and moderate. There was no military confrontation, and even the strongest voices against the annexation, such as Fascist Italy, France, and Britain, remained at peace.
