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Austria was occupied by Germany from 13 March 1938 to 27 April 1945, an event known as the Anschluss. The unification of Germany in 1871 had excluded Austria, and the Anschluss was among the first major steps in Austrian-born Hitler's desire to create a Greater German Reich. The annexation was completed on 13 March 1938, when the second session of the Austrian Government passed the Reunification with Germany Law. Nazi Germany's troops entering Austria received the enthusiastic support of most of the population. Throughout World War II, 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces, and many others participated in the Nazi administration. After World War II, the Soviet Union and Western Allies continued to exercise control over Austria until 1955, when the Austrian State Treaty restored its sovereignty.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of German occupation | 11–13 March 1938 |
| Number of German troops | 25,000 |
| Date of independence | 27 April 1945 |
| Number of Austrians in Nazi armed forces | 950,000 |
| Number of Austrian Romani deported | 195 |
| Year of Soviet withdrawal | 1955 |
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What You'll Learn
The Anschluss
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, took place from March 11 to March 13, 1938. The event was the culmination of an aggressive foreign policy pursued by the Nazis throughout the 1930s and was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany.
The idea of unifying Austria and Germany had been proposed as early as 1918 and gained strong support in both countries during the 1920s, particularly among Austrian citizens of the political left and center. However, support for unification gradually faded, and by the end of 1933, Austrian public opinion about German annexation was mostly against the idea. Despite this, the Austrian Nazi Party's popularity grew after Hitler rose to power in Germany, and they carried out a terrorism campaign to promote unification.
In February 1938, Hitler invited the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, to Germany and forced him to agree to allow the Austrian Nazis a free hand. Schuschnigg later announced a plebiscite on the question of unification, but he was pressured to cancel it and resign. On March 12, heavily armed German troops and police crossed the Austrian frontier, occupying public buildings and offices. The next day, the Austrian government passed the "Reunification with Germany Law," and Austria became a part of Nazi Germany. The Anschluss was met with enthusiasm by many Austrians, and throughout World War II, 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces, participating in the mass murder of Europe's Jews.
After World War II, Austria sought to distance itself from the Nazis, adopting the slogan "Austria – the Nazis' first victim." This victim theory insisted that Austrians, even those who supported Hitler, were unwilling victims of the Nazi regime and thus bore no responsibility for its crimes. However, in the 1980s and 1990s, Austrians began to reconsider their past, eventually admitting collective responsibility for the crimes committed during the Nazi occupation and abandoning the victim theory.
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The Soviet Occupation of Austria
Austria was occupied by Nazi Germany from 13 March 1938 until 27 April 1945, when Allied-occupied Austria declared independence from Nazi Germany. During World War II, 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces, and many others participated in the Nazi administration. After the war, many Austrians sought comfort in the myth of Austria as the first victim of the Nazis.
In June 1941, Hitler's regime launched Operation Barbarossa, a genocidal war against the Soviet Union. The aim was to eliminate the Soviet Union as a potential military threat, but also to starve and enslave its population and turn it into a German colony. After almost four years of brutal combat, troops from the 3rd and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts approached Austria's border from Hungary in the winter of 1945. The fighting in Hungary was some of the most brutal of the war, with the two Red Army groups suffering significant losses.
The 3rd Ukrainian Front launched a counterattack that resulted in the elimination of most German forces in the south and the capture of Vienna. After taking Vienna, Soviet troops advanced towards Linz and Graz in early May. Skirmishes between the Red Army and German soldiers, who sought to surrender to the Western Allies, lasted into late May, even after the fighting had ceased elsewhere in Europe. The Red Army suffered 94,185 casualties in Austria, with 26,006 killed and 68,179 wounded.
Soviet occupation policies in Austria were shaped by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, in which the British, Americans, and Soviets proclaimed that Austria was Germany's first victim but would also have to pay the price for its participation in Nazi aggression. The Soviets did not create a separate socialist government in their zone as they did in East Germany. While there were instances of looting, raping, and violent interrogations by Soviet troops, the Soviet repressive apparatus showed considerable restraint, partly because Moscow did not fully control Austria and it was not a high geopolitical priority.
In 1945, Austria was divided into four occupation zones, jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France. Vienna was also subdivided, with the central district collectively administered by the Allied Control Council. The Soviets pulled out of the country in 1955, along with the Western Allies, after Austria promised to remain neutral in the Cold War.
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The Austrian Nazi Party
Austrian Nazism, or Austrian National Socialism, was a pan-German movement that formed at the beginning of the 20th century. The movement took a concrete form on November 15, 1903, when the German Workers' Party (DAP) was established in Austria. The Austrian Nazi Party was initially weak, divided, and ineffective in the late 1920s and early 1930s, with members disagreeing on their relationship with Hitler and the German Nazis. However, by 1931, most Austrian Nazis recognized Hitler as their leader, and the party's support grew as Hitler's popularity in Germany increased.
In 1933, Engelbert Dollfuss, the Austrian chancellor, banned the Austrian Nazi Party and its affiliates, making the Nazi movement illegal in Austria. Despite this, Austrian Nazis continued to operate clandestinely within the country and even fled to Germany, where they formed the paramilitary group known as the Austrian Legion. In 1934, they attempted to overthrow the Austrian government, but their coup failed. Kurt von Schuschnigg, Dollfuss' successor, continued the authoritarian policies and arrested thousands of Austrian Nazis.
In 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in an event known as the Anschluss. This annexation transformed Austria, and Austrian Nazis enthusiastically supported the German troops entering the country. Together, they carried out the Nazification of Austrian society, with many Austrians participating willingly. During World War II, 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces, and others held positions in the Nazi administration, including senior leadership roles.
After World War II, Austria sought to distance itself from the Nazi regime and promoted the idea that it was the first victim of the Nazis. This victim theory suggested that all Austrians, even those who supported Hitler, were unwilling victims of the Nazi regime and thus not responsible for its crimes. However, it is important to recognize the significant contribution of Austrians to Nazi war crimes, both during the war and in the subsequent occupation by Allied forces.
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The Austrian Legion
Austria was a part of Nazi Germany from 13 March 1938 until 27 April 1945. The annexation of Austria by Germany, known as the Anschluss, was the Nazi German regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion.
In the context of Nazi Germany's occupation of Austria, some members of the Austrian Legion attempted to push into Upper Austria towards Linz but were forced back to the frontier.
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Austrian statehood
Austria's statehood has been a dynamic concept, evolving from a multi-ethnic empire to a federal republic. The country has experienced various forms of governance, including monarchy, dictatorship, and democracy, with its borders shifting over time.
Historically, Austria was a central power in Europe, ruling over diverse territories and peoples. After the Battle of Mohács in 1526, Austria gained control of Bohemia and parts of Hungary, leading to conflicts with the Ottoman Empire. The Long War (1593-1606) saw frequent Ottoman incursions, and in 1529, Suleiman the Magnificent unsuccessfully besieged Vienna. However, the Great Turkish War (1683) resulted in most of Hungary falling under Austrian control, formalised by the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699.
The Empire of Austria was founded in 1804, and the country emerged as a recognised great power at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. However, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which included Germans, Hungarians, Croats, and several other ethnic groups, faced challenges due to emerging nationalist movements. This led to ethnic tensions, particularly between German Austrians and other ethnic groups, and a desire among some Austrians for annexation by Germany.
In the interwar period, anti-parliamentarian sentiments led to an Austrofascist dictatorship under Engelbert Dollfuss in 1934. In 1938, Austria was annexed into Nazi Germany, known as the "Anschluss," and became a sub-national division. This union was enthusiastically supported by most Austrians, and many Austrians participated in the Nazi administration and armed forces.
After World War II, Austria was occupied by the Allies until 1955, when it regained its sovereignty and declared its perpetual neutrality. The country became a federal republic consisting of nine federal states, each with limited legislative powers and an elected legislature. The federal states have representatives in the national parliament, and while they can pass laws, they must stay within the limits of the constitution.
Austria's complex history has shaped its statehood, with the country experiencing periods of expansion, occupation, and transformation. The country's current federal structure allows for a degree of autonomy for its states while maintaining a centralised government.
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Frequently asked questions
Germany occupied Austria from 13 March 1938 to 27 April 1945.
The occupation of Austria by Germany is known as the Anschluss.
The Anschluss led to a wave of street violence against Jewish people and property in Vienna and other cities. It also resulted in mass arrests and the opening of the notorious Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp, where an estimated 200,000 people died.
