Lyla Lindsey
On March 12, 1938, German troops invaded Austria, and the country was incorporated into the German Reich—an event known as the Anschluss. This marked the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. The annexation was completed by March 13, 1938, when the Reunification with Germany Law was passed, and Austria became a federal state of Germany.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of German invasion | 11–13 March 1938 |
| Date the Anschluss was proclaimed | 13 March 1938 |
| Number of German troops that entered Austria | 25,000 |
| Date Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg called for a national plebiscite | 9 March 1938 |
| Date of Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg's resignation | 11 March 1938 |
| Date Hitler entered Austria with German troops | 12 March 1938 |
| Date of the first Austrian Holocaust memorial serviceman working in the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum | 1 September 1992 |
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What You'll Learn
- The Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, resigned on March 11, 1938
- German troops invaded Austria on March 12, 1938
- The Anschluss was proclaimed on March 13, 1938
- Austria was a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II
- Austrian Nazis attempted to overthrow the Austrian government in July 1934
The Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, resigned on March 11, 1938
On February 12, 1938, Schuschnigg met with Adolf Hitler, who demanded that members of Austria's Nazi Party be appointed to his cabinet and that they be granted full political rights. Schuschnigg, fearing an invasion, called for a national plebiscite to take place on March 13, so Austrians could decide on their nation's independence. However, this only accelerated Hitler's plans to invade.
On March 9, Schuschnigg announced a referendum on the Austrian annexation to the German Reich, which was officially presented as a public opinion poll. He chose the text for the poll himself, appealing to voters with a statement supporting a "free and German, independent and social, [and] Christian and united Austria."
By March 11, Schuschnigg was aware of Hitler's imminent invasion plans. To avoid bloodshed, he cancelled the plebiscite and offered his resignation. In his resignation address, he pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist the German "advance." The next day, Hitler entered Austria with German troops and was met with enthusiastic crowds.
Schuschnigg's resignation marked the beginning of the end of Austrian independence, as the country was soon fully annexed into Nazi Germany in what became known as the Anschluss.
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German troops invaded Austria on March 12, 1938
On March 12, 1938, German troops invaded Austria, marking a significant event in the country's history and the broader European political landscape. This invasion, known as the "Anschluss," was the culmination of several years of rising nationalist sentiment and pro-Nazi conspiracies within Austria.
In the years leading up to the invasion, there were several attempts by Austrian Nazis to seize power and unite with Nazi Germany. One notable incident occurred in July 1934 when Austrian Nazis, with Hitler's approval and assistance from German officials, tried to overthrow the Austrian government. While this coup attempt failed, it set the stage for future efforts.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired once more to take control of the government and unite with Germany. This time, they had the support of the German ambassador in Vienna, Franz von Papen, who arranged a meeting between Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg and Adolf Hitler. During this meeting, Hitler bullied von Schuschnigg into appointing Austrian Nazis to his cabinet and threatened to invade if his demands were not met.
Fearing an invasion, von Schuschnigg called for a national plebiscite, or vote, on March 13 to determine whether Austria should remain independent or join the Third Reich. However, Hitler decided to act quickly to prevent the vote from taking place. On March 11, von Schuschnigg resigned under coercion from the Nazis, pleading with Austrian forces not to resist a German advance.
The following day, March 12, heavily armed German troops and police crossed the Austrian frontier, accompanied by Hitler himself. They were met with enthusiastic crowds in some areas, relieved that bloodshed had been avoided and hopeful for improved economic conditions under Nazi rule. The German forces quickly occupied public buildings and offices throughout Austria, and the formation of the Greater German Reich was announced from the balcony of the Council House in Linz.
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of the two countries. This act of aggression went unpunished by other European powers, allowing Hitler to continue his expansionist policies unchecked. The invasion also marked the beginning of a wave of street violence against Jewish people and the Nazification of Austrian society, with the active participation of many Austrians.
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The Anschluss was proclaimed on March 13, 1938
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, was proclaimed on March 13, 1938. This event marked a significant step in Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions and his vision of a Greater German Reich.
In the lead-up to the Anschluss, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg faced increasing pressure from pro-unification activists and the Austrian Nazi Party. Fearing a takeover by Hitler, Schuschnigg called for a national plebiscite, or referendum, to be held on March 13, 1938, to decide between a union with Germany and maintaining Austria's independence. However, Hitler threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign, cancelling the plebiscite.
On March 11, 1938, Schuschnigg resigned, and the German Army crossed the border into Austria on March 12, unopposed by the Austrian military. Hitler accompanied the troops and was met with enthusiastic crowds. The next day, the Anschluss was proclaimed, and Austria became a federal state of Germany.
The Anschluss was followed by a wave of violence against Jewish people and property in Vienna and other Austrian cities. This campaign of antisemitism culminated in the Kristallnacht riots and pogrom of November 9-10, 1938, during which synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses were destroyed, and thousands of Jews were arrested and deported to concentration camps.
The Allied powers declared the Anschluss void at the end of World War II and reestablished an independent Austria.
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Austria was a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II
On March 12, 1938, German troops invaded Austria and incorporated it into the German Reich, an event known as the Anschluss. This was preceded by a series of events that began on July 25, 1934, when Austrian Nazis attempted to overthrow the Austrian government, killing Chancellor Dollfuss. The coup attempt failed, and Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg took over, continuing his predecessor's authoritarian policies. In 1936, Schuschnigg accepted the July Agreement with Germany, releasing imprisoned Nazis and allowing some previously banned Nazi newspapers into Austria.
In February 1938, Hitler met with Schuschnigg and demanded that he appoint members of Austria's Nazi Party to his cabinet and grant them full political rights, or face an invasion. Fearing an invasion, Schuschnigg called for a national plebiscite to decide whether Austria should remain independent or unite with Germany. Hitler, infuriated by this, decided to invade immediately to prevent the vote. On March 11, 1938, Schuschnigg resigned under coercion from the Nazis, pleading with Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance". The next day, German troops entered Austria, and the Anschluss was proclaimed on March 13, with the passing of the "Reunification with Germany Law".
The Anschluss was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. Austria then 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.
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany had significant consequences. It transformed Austria, with Austrian and German Nazis carrying out the Nazification of Austrian society, and the persecution of the country's Jewish population. The Nazis' violation of international treaties went unchecked, allowing Hitler to continue his expansionary policies. The period also saw the emergence of widespread anti-Semitic violence, perpetrated by Austrian Nazis and their accomplices. Following World War II, Austria collectively acknowledged its responsibility for the crimes committed during the Nazi occupation, abandoning the "victim theory".
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Austrian Nazis attempted to overthrow the Austrian government in July 1934
On 25 July 1934, Austrian Nazis attempted to seize control of the Austrian government in what became known as the July Putsch. The coup was planned in Germany with Adolf Hitler's approval and assistance from German officials.
On the day of the coup, 154 Schutzstaffel (SS) men, disguised as Bundesheer soldiers and policemen, pushed into the Austrian chancellery, where the cabinet was meeting. The conspirators shot and killed Chancellor Dollfuss. Other plotters seized control of the state radio station in Vienna and announced the coup. Outside Vienna, other Austrian Nazis also revolted against the government. However, the majority of Austrians remained loyal to the government, and the Austrian military and police forces quickly defeated the conspirators.
The coup attempt failed, and military tribunals and courts-martial were convened to prosecute the rebels. The number of fatalities varies depending on the source. One source claims that 270 people died, including 153 Nazi supporters, 104 on the government side, and 13 civilians. Another source puts the total number of deaths at 223, with a breakdown of 111 Nazi supporters, 101 on the government side, and 11 civilians.
In the aftermath of the failed coup, Hitler closed down the Munich office of the Austrian Nazi Party. Kurt Schuschnigg became the new Chancellor of Austria, and he followed a similar political course to his predecessor, Dollfuss, who had established Austria as a one-party state opposed to the Nazis and unification with Germany. Schuschnigg struggled to maintain Austrian independence in the face of increasing aggression from Nazi Germany. By the winter of 1937-1938, Austria was diplomatically isolated, and in February 1938, Hitler was ready to take full control of Austria. He demanded that Schuschnigg appoint members of Austria's Nazi Party to his cabinet and give them full political rights.
Fearing an invasion, Schuschnigg called for a national plebiscite to take place on 13 March 1938, to decide the question of annexation by Germany. However, before the vote could take place, Hitler invaded Austria, and Schuschnigg resigned under coercion on 11 March 1938. German troops entered Austria on 12 March, and Austria was incorporated into the German Reich, known as the Anschluss.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria was taken over by the Nazis on March 12, 1938.
Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. On March 9, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg called for a national vote to resolve the question of annexation. However, before the vote could take place, Schuschnigg resigned on March 11 under pressure from Hitler. On March 12, Hitler entered Austria with German troops and was met by enthusiastic crowds. On March 13, the "Reunification with Germany Law" was passed, completing the annexation, or Anschluss.
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of the two countries. However, the other European powers did not punish the Nazis for violating these international treaties, and their acceptance of the annexation allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked.
Austrian Nazis played a significant role in the annexation. They had previously attempted to overthrow the Austrian government in July 1934, and conspired for a second time in 1938 to seize power and unite with Nazi Germany. They carried out acts of street violence against Jewish people and property, and many Austrians participated in the Nazification of the country.
