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Austria was invaded and annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, an event known as the Anschluss. German troops entered Austria on March 12, 1938, and the country was incorporated into Germany the following day. The annexation was proclaimed on March 13, 1938, and it marked the beginning of a dark period for Austria, with the establishment of concentration camps and the persecution of Jews and other minorities. The country remained a part of Nazi Germany until April 27, 1945, when Allied-occupied Austria declared independence.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Nazi German annexation of Austria | 11-13 March 1938 |
| Common term for the annexation | Anschluss |
| Percentage of the population that voted for the merger with Germany | 99.73% |
| Date German troops entered Austria | 12 March 1938 |
| Date of Austrian independence from Nazi Germany | 27 April 1945 |
| Date of the Berlin Declaration for Germany confirming Austrian independence | 5 June 1945 |
| Date of the first tranche of Marshall Plan aid | March 1948 |
| Date of the end of the occupation of Austria | 27 July 1955 |
| Date of full Austrian independence | 15 May 1955 |
| Date the last occupation troops left | 25 October 1955 |
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What You'll Learn
German troops enter Austria on March 12, 1938
On March 12, 1938, German troops entered Austria, bringing an end to the country's independence. The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, had the support of most Austrians. The German army crossed the border and marched towards key cities, unopposed by the Austrian military. Austrian troops even joined them as they made their way through the country.
The Austrian Legion, comprising 30,000 Nazis who had fled to Germany after the putsch of 1934, returned to Austria during the night. The next day, Adolf Hitler accompanied German troops into Austria, where they were met by enthusiastic crowds. The Austrian Nazi leader, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, had been appointed chancellor the previous day, and he asked Hitler to send troops.
The idea of the Anschluss—a united Austria and Germany forming a "Greater Germany"—had been gaining support since the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. The referendum on the issue, initially planned for March 13, was cancelled after Hitler threatened invasion and demanded Schuschnigg's resignation. The German army's entry into Austria was the culmination of a long period of economic stagnation, political dictatorship, and intense Nazi propaganda inside the country.
Following the annexation, the Mauthausen concentration camp was established near Linz, becoming the main Nazi camp in Austria. The Germans designated it a special penal camp with a harsh regime. During the war, forced labour using prisoners from concentration camps became increasingly important to German armaments production.
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Austria is renamed Ostmark
Austria has undergone many changes throughout its history, including the period between 1938 and 1945 when it was annexed to Germany and did not exist as an independent country. In 1938, Austrian-born Adolf Hitler united Austria and Germany, an action known as the Anschluss, which was supported by a large majority of Austrians. The official name of the country was "Land Österreich" ("State of Austria") from the Anschluss until 1939.
After the union between Austria and Germany was completed, the Nazi government renamed the incorporated territory. The name Austria ("Österreich" in German, meaning "Eastern Realm") was replaced by "Ostmark", referring to the 10th-century "Marcha orientalis". This change was meant to refer to Austria as the new "eastern march" of the Reich. The term Ostmark was also used historically to refer to the Margraviate of Austria, a medieval frontier march.
The use of the term "Ostmark" by the Nazis was part of their propaganda to justify the union between Austria and Germany. However, by 1942, the term "Ostmark" was still too reminiscent of the old, independent state of Austria, and the official name was changed to "Alpen- und Donau-Reichsgaue" ("Danubian and Alpine Reichsgaue"). This change reflected the desire to distance the country from its previous independence and emphasize its integration into the Reich.
It is important to note that the use of the term "Ostmark" to refer to Austria is technically incorrect after the Nazi period. The term was used officially for only a few years, and referring to Austria as "Ostmark" today may be considered inappropriate and may carry political connotations.
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Anti-Nazi Austrian political party leaders are arrested
Austria was conquered by Nazi Germany in 1938. German troops entered the country on March 12, 1938, and received the overwhelming support of most Austrians. The annexation of Austria to Germany was proclaimed on March 13, 1938, and this event is known as the Anschluss.
In the lead-up to the Anschluss, there were several political parties in Austria, some of which were anti-Nazi. The Social Democratic Party of Austria (SDAP), for example, was one of the three major political groups competing in the young republic of Austria after World War I. The SDAP, along with other parties like the Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ), opposed the unification of Austria and Germany. However, by the time the Anschluss occurred, many Austrian political leaders had already been arrested or exiled.
The Austrian Nazi Party itself was initially weak, divided, and ineffective, but it gained support as Hitler's popularity in Germany grew. Austrian politics during this time was characterized by infighting and political violence, and the rise of the Nazis further destabilized the situation.
One notable anti-Nazi resistance group in Austria was led by the priest Heinrich Maier. This Catholic resistance group successfully passed on plans and production facilities for V-2 rockets, Tiger tanks, and aircraft to the Allies. They also informed the Allies about the mass murder of Jews taking place at Auschwitz.
Another important figure in the Austrian resistance was Kurt von Schuschnigg, who served as Austrian chancellor and dictator after the death of Engelbert Dollfuss. Von Schuschnigg continued Dollfuss's authoritarian policies and arrested thousands of Austrian Nazis, including some involved in a failed coup attempt in July 1934. However, he ultimately had to resign under pressure from Hitler and the Austrian Nazi Party in 1938, clearing the way for the Anschluss.
Overall, the anti-Nazi Austrian political party leaders and resistance groups faced significant challenges and opposition in the lead-up to the Anschluss, and many were arrested or forced into exile as Nazi influence in Austria grew.
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Austria declares independence from Nazi Germany on April 27, 1945
On April 27, 1945, Austria declared independence from Nazi Germany, bringing an end to its seven-year union with the country. This event, known as the Anschluss, had begun on March 13, 1938, when German troops entered Austria and received the enthusiastic support of most Austrians. The annexation was then approved in a plebiscite that was manipulated to indicate that about 99% of Austrians wanted the union. During World War II, 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces, and others participated in the Nazi administration and death camps.
The declaration of independence in 1945 came about as a result of the Vienna Offensive and the fall of the Third Reich. The Soviet Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France occupied Austria, dividing it into four zones. The Soviet soldiers, in particular, committed hundreds of thousands of sexual assaults, robberies, and murders as they advanced. However, as the end of the war neared, Soviet propaganda changed to differentiate ordinary Germans and Austrians from the Nazis, in an attempt to encourage soldiers to treat civilians correctly.
The Allied-occupied Austria was led by Karl Renner, who formed a provisional government at the instruction of the Soviets. Renner's cabinet included Austrian Communists, with one-third of the State Chancellor's seats going to the Communist Party. Renner's government declared the independence of Austria from Nazi Germany and called for the creation of a democratic state.
The Western Allies, however, were suspicious of Renner's government, believing it to be a puppet state, and refused to recognize it. The negotiations for Austrian independence continued until 1949, when the Soviets lifted their veto. Finally, on May 15, 1955, the Austrian State Treaty was signed in Vienna, and on July 27, the country was free of occupying troops.
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The Austrian resistance
Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany on March 12, 1938, with the support of the majority of the Austrian population. The Austrian resistance movement during World War II was small but significant. It was comprised of various groups with differing ideologies, including left-wing and conservative factions. An estimated 100,000 people participated in the resistance, with thousands imprisoned or executed for their anti-Nazi activities.
Another group, the "Great Austrian Freedom Movement" led by Jacob Kastelic, and the monarchist resistance group "Ostfrei" led by Wilhelm von Hebra, were also active. Religious figures, such as Baptist Arnold Koster and several priests, openly criticized the Nazi regime. Legitimist resistance groups, who considered Otto von Habsburg as their rightful head of state, also played a significant role. Approximately 4,500 legitimists were arrested and sent to concentration camps during the Nazi era.
Austrian resistance extended beyond national borders, with the main organized exile group based in London, within the Austrian Society or "Austrian Office." This group included both monarchist and liberal factions. Additionally, Otto, a cousin of Maximilian, Duke of Hohenberg, helped around 50,000 Austrians flee the country at the beginning of the war. He also founded an "Austrian Battalion" within the United States Army during his exile.
The resistance movement in Austria faced challenges due to the widespread support for Germany's wartime policies among the Austrian population. However, as the war progressed, Austrian soldiers also fought as Allies against the German army. Finally, when Soviet troops liberated Vienna on April 13, 1945, representatives from the resistance movement and former political parties established a free provisional government, marking Austria's independence once again.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, with the support of the majority of the Austrian population.
Soviet soldiers of the 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Fronts completed their conquest of Vienna, Austria's capital, on April 13, 1945.
Yes, Allied troops jointly occupied Austria until May 1955, when the United States and the Soviet Union reached an agreement for Austria to declare its perpetual neutrality in exchange for full independence.
