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The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, was a significant event in the lead-up to World War II. It occurred on March 12, 1938, and was marked by the enthusiastic support of a large portion of the Austrian population. This support can be attributed to several factors, including Nazi propaganda, economic stagnation, and the presence of pro-Nazi sentiments in Austria. The idea of a united Austria and Germany, forming a Greater Germany, had gained traction after Austria was excluded from the 1871 unification of Germany. The Austrian Nazi Party's popularity grew after Hitler rose to power in Germany, and the notion of Anschluss was further bolstered by Nazi propaganda slogans. The complex and long-awaited unification of all Germans into one state, as well as the avoidance of bloodshed and expectations of economic improvements, contributed to the support for the union.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for Support | Unification of all Germans into one state |
| Avoiding bloodshed | |
| Improvement in material conditions of everyday life | |
| End to the so-called Jewish Question | |
| Long-awaited idea of a Greater Germany | |
| Common blood belongs in a common Reich | |
| Intense Nazi propaganda | |
| Economic stagnation | |
| Political dictatorship | |
| Austria's inclusion in the 1871 unification of Germany | |
| Austria's loss of territories, such as the Sudetenland | |
| Hitler's popularity | |
| Austria's previous attempts to form a union with Germany | |
| Austria's contribution to Nazi war crimes |
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What You'll Learn
- Austria and Germany have a shared history, including two world wars
- Austria was once part of the Holy Roman Empire, which also included Germany
- Germany drives Austria's tourism industry and is its biggest export market
- Many Austrian companies and employers are German-owned
- The idea of a united Austria and Germany, or Anschluss, gained support in the 1920s
Austria and Germany have a shared history, including two world wars
Austria and Germany share a history that includes two world wars. The first began with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary in 1914, igniting tensions between European powers and leading to the outbreak of World War I. In the aftermath of this conflict, the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed, and the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 prohibited the union of Austria and Germany, stripping Austria of some territories. This set the stage for the rise of nationalism and the appeal of a unified state, which Hitler later exploited with his ideology.
During the interwar period, Austria experienced economic stagnation, political dictatorship, and intense Nazi propaganda. These factors laid the groundwork for the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, known as the Anschluss. Hitler, born in Austria, advocated for the unification of Austria and Germany in his book Mein Kampf, published in 1925. He argued that common blood belonged in a common Reich, foreshadowing his ambitions for a Greater Germany.
The Anschluss itself was a significant event in the shared history of the two nations. On March 12, 1938, German troops entered Austria, receiving enthusiastic support from a substantial portion of the Austrian population. The idea of a unified state resonated with many Austrians, who saw it as a completion of the long-overdue unification of all Germans. The annexation was officially proclaimed the following day, on March 13, 1938.
The Soviet Union's response to the annexation of Austria is also worth noting. While they did not immediately prioritize Austria in their geopolitical strategy, the Red Army eventually approached Austria's border from Hungary in the winter of 1945, leading to brutal fighting. The Soviet occupation of Austria began in June 1941, coinciding with Hitler's genocidal war against the Soviet Union. The liberation of slave laborers and prisoners of war during this occupation played a role in the mayhem that ensued.
The shared history of Austria and Germany during World War II extended beyond the annexation. Austrians joined the Nazi Party and served as soldiers, contributing to Nazi atrocities on the Eastern Front. After the war, Austria faced the challenge of coming to terms with its role in Nazi war crimes and the complicity of its citizens. This period of reckoning and reconstruction shaped the trajectory of both nations in the post-war world.
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Austria was once part of the Holy Roman Empire, which also included Germany
Austria was once a vassal state of the Holy Roman Empire, which also included several German territories. The Holy Roman Empire was a decentralised political institution that provided loose affiliations between the German principalities, duchies, bishoprics, and kingdoms of central Europe. The Empire was ruled by an elected emperor, and the Habsburgs, who ruled Austria, were elected nearly every time. Through inheritance and conquest, the Habsburgs acquired a lot of territory, including Hungary and Milan, and became the major power bloc in the Holy Roman Empire.
The fall of the Holy Roman Empire was accelerated by French intervention in 1805, when an Austrian army was defeated by Napoleon's forces near the city of Ulm. Napoleon's victory encouraged rulers of certain imperial territories to ally themselves with the French and assert their independence from the Empire. The last Austrian Holy Roman Emperor abdicated after Napoleon defeated the Austrians at Austerlitz, and the Holy Roman Empire was effectively ended when Napoleon created a puppet state out of the former German territories.
After the fall of the Holy Roman Empire, Austria became the German-speaking heartland of the Austrian Empire, which lasted from 1804 to 1867. The Austrian Empire was officially known as the Empire of Austria and was a multinational European great power. It was created by Francis II in response to Napoleon's declaration of the First French Empire, unifying all Habsburg possessions under one central government. The Austrian Empire continued fighting against Napoleon throughout the Napoleonic Wars, except for a period when Austria was first allied with Napoleon during the invasion of Russia.
The Austrian Empire was succeeded by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which lasted until 1918. After the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the idea of unifying Austria and Germany arose, and the new Republic of German-Austria attempted to form a union with Germany. This was forbidden by the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles, which also stripped Austria of some of its territories. The idea of unification gained support in Austria, and in 1938, Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in what became known as the Anschluss. More than 99.75% of Austrian voters supported this union, and there was genuine enthusiasm among Austrians for joining Germany.
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Germany drives Austria's tourism industry and is its biggest export market
Austria's economy is a highly developed social market economy, making it one of the 14 richest countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita. Tourism is a crucial aspect of Austria's economy, accounting for around 10% of its GDP. In 2019, Austria's tourism revenue was €37.8 billion, and in 2022, it amounted to €30.8 billion, representing 3.8% of the total GDP. In 2023, Austria welcomed 45.2 million visitors, with 30.9 million being international tourists. The leading source of foreign tourists to Austria is Germany, followed by the Netherlands, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, the Czech Republic, and Italy. In 2023, Germany accounted for 14.7 million visitors, or 33% of the market share.
Germany has historically been the main trading partner of Austria, making the Austrian economy vulnerable to rapid changes in the German economy. Austria's three largest sources of imports are Germany, China, and Italy, and its top export destinations are Germany, Italy, and the United States. Germany's economic slowdown due to its reliance on Russian natural gas for industrial production has added to economic challenges for both countries. However, Austria's membership in the European Union has reduced its economic dependence on Germany and drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted to its access to the European Single Market.
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Many Austrian companies and employers are German-owned
Austria is a federal republic and a landlocked country in Central Europe with a population of over 8.7 million people. It is bordered by the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. The country has a well-developed social market economy and a high standard of living, ranking 12th in the world in terms of GDP per capita.
Austria's economy has seen a shift from nationalisation to privatisation, with many large industry firms being state-owned until the 1980s. Today, Austrian businesses range from sole proprietorships to multinational corporations, some of which are German-owned. For example, the world-renowned energy drink brand Red Bull is headquartered in Fuschl am See, Austria. Similarly, Swarovski, the famous jewellery and home accessories company, is based in the market town of Wattens in Austria.
The presence of German-owned companies in Austria is not a recent development. Historically, there has been a close economic relationship between the two countries. This is exemplified by the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938, known as the Anschluss, which resulted in the unification of German and Austrian citizens into one state. The idea of the Anschluss gained popularity among Austrians due to several factors. Firstly, there was a sense of shared ethnicity and a desire for a "Greater Germany" that included Austria. Secondly, the Austrian population was subjected to extensive intimidation and suppression of political opposition by the German army, which had already occupied the country. Thirdly, many Austrians were aware of Hitler's economic achievements in Germany and hoped for similar improvements in their own country. Finally, the avoidance of bloodshed and the memory of wartime solidarity with Germany played a role in the support for the Anschluss.
While the specific number of German-owned companies in Austria may not be readily available, it is clear that the two countries have a history of economic interdependence, and German ownership of Austrian companies is not uncommon.
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The idea of a united Austria and Germany, or Anschluss, gained support in the 1920s
The idea of a united Austria and Germany, known as Anschluss, gained support in the 1920s due to several factors. Firstly, the exclusion of Austria from the 1871 unification of Germany left a sense of unfinished business for some. The Prussian-dominated German Empire did not include Austria or German Austrians, leading to a desire for a Greater Germany solution. Secondly, the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 further fuelled support for Anschluss. The Republic of German-Austria attempted to unite with Germany, but the Treaty of Saint Germain and the Treaty of Versailles prohibited this union and stripped Austria of some territories.
Economic factors also played a significant role in the 1920s. Austria experienced economic turmoil during the Great Depression, resulting in high unemployment and unstable commerce and industry. Many Austrians doubted their country's economic survival without the territories previously held by Austria-Hungary. They saw unification with Germany as a potential solution. Additionally, Germany's rapid rearmament in the late 1930s increased Berlin's interest in annexing Austria, which offered rich resources and labour.
The rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Germany further bolstered support for Anschluss among Austrians. Hitler, himself an Austrian, wrote in his 1925 book, Mein Kampf, about his desire to unite his birth country, Austria, with Germany. He stated that even if the union were economically detrimental, it ought to be pursued due to a shared blood and a common Reich. Hitler's popularity in Germany spilled over into Austria, and by the early 1930s, the Austrian Nazi Party gained traction, particularly after Hitler became German chancellor in 1933.
The idea of Anschluss resonated with Austrians who sought to complete the unification of all Germans into one state. However, it's important to note that support for Anschluss was not unanimous, and there were Austrians who opposed or felt ambivalent about it. Nonetheless, the factors mentioned above contributed to a growing sentiment in favour of a united Austria and Germany during the 1920s and beyond.
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Frequently asked questions
Many Austrians supported Germany due to a desire for a Greater Germany, which would unite all Germans into one state. This idea gained support after Austria was excluded from the 1871 unification of Germany.
Nazi propaganda campaigns in Austria played a significant role in shaping public opinion. Slogans like "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" ("One People, One Empire, One Leader") contributed to the growing support for the unification of Austria and Germany (known as the Anschluss).
Hitler's popularity in Austria increased after he came to power in Germany. His comments in support of a union, as expressed in his book "Mein Kampf", and his personal assurance that he would respect Italian independence, also contributed to pro-German sentiments in Austria.
