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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, was the culmination of almost two decades of Austrian dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Saint Germain, a lack of consistent economic and political support from Western democracies, and international instability in the 1930s. The annexation of Austria was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany and a significant step towards World War II.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Annexation | 12 March 1938 |
| Annexing Country | Germany |
| Annexed Country | Austria |
| Annexing Leader | Adolf Hitler |
| Annexing Government | Nazi Germany |
| Annexed Leader | Kurt von Schuschnigg |
| Annexed Government | Austrian Chancellor |
| Treaty Violated | Treaty of Versailles |
| Treaty Violated | Treaty of Saint-Germain |
| Resulting State | Austria became a federal state of Germany |
| End of Annexation | End of World War II |
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What You'll Learn
The Anschluss
The idea of unifying Austria and Germany had been proposed as early as 1918 by Erich Ludendorff, who suggested conducting an Anschluss with the German areas of Austria-Hungary. However, this proposal was opposed by some who believed it would provide justification for territorial compensations. After World War I, the idea of unification remained a political goal in both the Weimar Republic and the First Austrian Republic, with support from many Austrian citizens of the political left and center.
In the early 1930s, the Austrian government experienced economic difficulties due to the Great Depression and turned to Italy for support. Meanwhile, the popularity of the Austrian Nazi Party grew in Austria, and they began a terrorism campaign to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. In 1936, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg was forced to agree to release Nazis imprisoned in Austria and declare his country a "German state" that would follow Germany's lead in foreign policy.
In February 1938, Hitler invited Schuschnigg to Germany and forced him to agree to give the Austrian Nazis a free hand. Schuschnigg called for a plebiscite (referendum) on Austrian independence, but he was pressured to cancel it and resigned on March 11, 1938. The next day, German troops invaded Austria, and Hitler accompanied them, met by enthusiastic crowds. On March 13, the Anschluss was proclaimed, and Austria became a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II.
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German troops invade
On 12 March 1938, German troops invaded Austria, marking the beginning of the annexation of the German-speaking nation into 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.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to take control of the Austrian government and join forces with Nazi Germany. Upon learning of this plot, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler in an attempt to assert Austria's independence. However, Hitler coerced him into appointing several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On 9 March, Schuschnigg called for a national vote to decide the question of annexation once and for all. Before the vote could take place, Schuschnigg resigned on 11 March, bowing to pressure from Hitler. In his resignation address, he urged Austrian forces not to resist the German invasion.
The following day, 12 March, German troops entered Austria, accompanied by Hitler. They were met with enthusiasm by the crowds, as many Austrians had long desired the unification of the two countries. On 15 March, Hitler gave a speech in Vienna, officially declaring Austria as part of the German Empire, or the Ostmark. He appointed Arthur Seyss-Inquart as governor.
The annexation of Austria was a significant event in Nazi Germany's expansionist agenda. It violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Germany and Austria. The international community's acceptance of the annexation emboldened Hitler to continue his expansionist policies unchecked. The United States, despite its domestic challenges, criticised the lawlessness of Germany and formulated a foreign policy to respond more forcefully to Hitler's aggressive actions.
The Anschluss had immediate consequences for Austria's Jewish population. Austrian Nazis flaunted their antisemitism, visiting Jews in their homes, robbing them, and forcing them to scrub pro-Austrian slogans off the streets. Many Jews tried to flee the country, while others tragically took their own lives. The annexation also sparked a wave of street violence against Jewish people and their property in Vienna and other cities throughout the so-called Greater German Reich.
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Austria's Jewish population
The history of Austria's Jewish population dates back to the 3rd century CE, when Jews first immigrated to the region following the Roman occupation of Israel. Over the centuries, the Jewish community in Austria experienced periods of prosperity and religious freedom, as well as persecution and antisemitism.
In the 12th century, the existence of a Jewish community in Austria was well-established, with the construction of the first documented synagogue in 1204. During this time, Jewish families headed by notable rabbis settled in Vienna, contributing to the city's prominence as a centre of Jewish culture and scholarship. However, with the area coming under the control of the Catholic House of Habsburg in 1282, Austria's significance as a religious centre for Jews diminished due to the prevalent anti-Semitic atmosphere.
From the 16th century onwards, the Jewish population in Austria faced varying degrees of persecution and discrimination. While some rulers, such as Ferdinand I and Ferdinand II, opposed the persecution of Jews, they also imposed excessive taxes and restrictive laws on the community. During the reign of Leopold I, the Jewish community in Austria experienced frequent persecution and deportation from various areas, including Vienna in 1670.
The 1890s marked a significant shift towards religious autonomy for Austrian Jews with the establishment of the Kultusgemeinde, a Jewish community granted religious autonomy under a Habsburg statute. By 1938, there were approximately 190,000 Jews in Austria, with a strong presence in Vienna. However, the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, marked a devastating turn for the country's Jewish population.
Following the German annexation in March 1938, Austrian Jews faced rapid expropriation of their property, extreme intimidation, and violence. The Mauthausen concentration camp, established near Linz in the summer of 1938, became the main Nazi camp in Austria, exemplifying the horrors inflicted on the Jewish community during this period. By December 1939, the Jewish population in Vienna had decreased to 57,000, primarily due to emigration.
The Holocaust had a devastating impact on Austria's Jewish community, with only about 60% surviving. According to the 2001 census, 8,140 Jews remained in Austria. As of 2020, the Jewish population in Austria stands at 10,300, including those with at least one Jewish grandparent.
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Violation of treaties
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 a violation of several treaties.
Firstly, it contravened the 1919 Treaty of Saint-Germain and the Treaty of Versailles, which forbade the union of Austria and Germany and stripped Austria of some of its territories. The Treaty of Versailles also included a specific provision, Article 80, which stated that Germany would "respect strictly the independence of Austria". By invading and annexing Austria, Germany clearly violated this article.
Secondly, the annexation of Austria violated the 1927 Danubian Confederation agreement, which was an attempt by France to prevent the union of the two countries. This agreement was opposed by German Minister of Foreign Affairs Gustav Stresemann, who saw it as a move to re-form the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Thirdly, the Anschluss contravened the 1936 Austro-German treaty, in which Germany promised to respect Austrian sovereignty. However, this treaty was signed under duress as Austria was already suffering from a German boycott, and the agreement included provisions that essentially made Austria a puppet state of Germany.
Finally, the annexation of Austria violated the principles of self-determination, as outlined in the Wilsonian principle and the constitutions of the Weimar Republic and the First Austrian Republic. Many Germans in both Austria and Germany pointed to this contradiction, arguing that the treaties failed to grant self-determination to ethnic Germans outside of the German Reich.
After World War II, the Allies declared the Anschluss void and re-established an independent Austria. The Austrian State Treaty of 1955 further solidified Austria's independence and sovereignty, with Germany renouncing territorial claims over Austria in the 1990 Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany.
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US reaction
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 Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg resign and a new Nazi government appointed by Adolf Hitler.
The US reaction to the annexation of Austria was one of concern, and it drew worldwide attention and protest. The US government tried to balance its response to the situation with the internal difficulties it faced, such as the opposition of a large anti-New Deal coalition and isolationists.
The US administration, led by President Roosevelt, did not want an unnecessary rift with Germany, especially given the weak American economy at the time. However, the US did take steps to respond to Germany's aggressive expansionism. Roosevelt established an international organisation to handle Austrian refugees, and Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes refused to sell helium to Germany, causing increased tension.
The US also criticised Germany's increasing lawlessness and disregard for international law, with Secretary of State Hull stating that America opposed international lawlessness and isolationism, supported rearmament, and was ready to cooperate with governments opposing blatant violators of treaties and human rights. The US press also declared itself overwhelmingly anti-German.
Following World War II, the US, along with the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France, occupied Austria from 1945 to 1955. During this time, Austria was declared independent from Nazi Germany and later divided into four occupation zones. In 1955, the Austrian State Treaty came into force, ending the occupation, and Austria declared itself permanently neutral.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria was annexed by Germany on March 12, 1938.
The annexation was known as the Anschluss.
The annexation of Austria was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion committed by Nazi Germany. It resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austrian Jews and the Nazification of Austrian life.
