Ruqayyah Snyder
On March 12, 1938, German troops entered Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This event, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. The idea of a unified Austria and Germany dated back to 1919, but it was not until 1938 that Hitler was able to act on it, with Austrian Nazis taking control of the country without armed resistance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 March 1938 |
| Country | Germany |
| Leader | Adolf Hitler |
| Type of annexation | Political union |
| Propaganda term | Anschluss |
| Austrian Nazi Chancellor | Arthur Seyss-Inquart |
| Austrian Chancellor | Kurt von Schuschnigg |
| German Nazi Minister | Hermann Göring |
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What You'll Learn
The Anschluss
The idea of the Anschluss dated back to the 1920s, when many Austrians and Germans supported the unification of the two countries. This was partly due to the belief that Austria, having lost its imperial land, was not economically viable. Support for the unification of the two countries was particularly strong among Austrian citizens of the political left and center. However, by the end of 1933, Austrian public opinion about German annexation had shifted, and was at least 60% against the idea.
In February 1938, Hitler invited the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, to Germany and forced him to agree to give the Austrian Nazis a free hand. Schuschnigg later announced a plebiscite on the question of the Anschluss, but was pressured to cancel it and resign. On March 11, German troops entered Austria, and they were met with cheers and flowers rather than armed resistance. The annexation of Austria to Germany was proclaimed on March 13, 1938, and Austrian Nazi Chancellor Arthur Seyss-Inquart signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, formally incorporating Austria into Nazi Germany.
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Hitler's involvement
On March 12, 1938, German troops crossed the border into Austria and annexed the country to the German Reich. This event, known as the "Anschluss," was a significant step in Adolf Hitler's plan to establish a Greater German Empire and expand Nazi control across Europe. Here is an overview of Hitler's involvement in the annexation of Austria:
Hitler's Early Life and Austrian Connections:
Adolf Hitler was born in Austria in 1889 and spent his early years in the country. He applied to the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna but was rejected twice, which left him bitter towards the establishment. During his time in Vienna, he developed his racist and nationalist ideologies, which would later form the basis of Nazi ideology.
Hitler's Rise to Power and Ideology:
Hitler joined the German Workers' Party (which later became the Nazi Party) in 1919 and quickly rose through its ranks. He was imprisoned after the failed Beer Hall Putsch in 1923 but used this time to write "Mein Kampf," which outlined his ideological beliefs, including his desire to unite all Germans under one nation and his belief in the superiority of the Aryan race.
Once Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, he began to consolidate power and transform the country into a totalitarian state. He saw the unification of Germany and Austria as a crucial step in creating a powerful Greater Germany.
Planning the Annexation:
Hitler had long desired to incorporate Austria into the German Reich. He believed that the Austrian Germans belonged as part of a larger German nation and that Austria was a natural extension of German influence in Central Europe. From the mid-1930s, Hitler and his supporters in Austria, known as Nazis, began to plan for the annexation.
Hitler installed sympathetic leaders in Austria, such as Arthur Seyss-Inquart, who became the Minister of Interior and later Chancellor of Austria. The Nazis also established a powerful propaganda machine to influence public opinion in favor of unification.
Invasion and Annexation:
By early 1938, Hitler was ready to act. He pressured Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to resign and ordered German troops to cross the border on March 12, 1938. The German army met with little resistance, and many Austrians welcomed the German troops as liberators. Hitler himself crossed the border and was greeted by enthusiastic crowds in Vienna.
A referendum was held on April 10, 1938, to ratify the annexation, with an official result of 99.73% in favor. This referendum was neither free nor fair, as Nazis used intimidation tactics and suppressed opposition. The international community, despite some initial protests, ultimately failed to take effective action to prevent or reverse the annexation.
The annexation of Austria was a critical event in Hitler's expansionist agenda and a significant step towards World War II. It demonstrated Hitler's willingness to use force to achieve his ideological goals and marked the beginning of a series of aggressive moves that would lead to the outbreak of war in 1939. Hitler's involvement in the annexation of Austria was central to his vision of a unified German nation and the establishment of Nazi dominance in Europe.
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The Austrian Nazi Party
Austrian Nazism, or Austrian National Socialism, was a pan-German movement that emerged at the beginning of the 20th century. The movement took shape on November 15, 1903, when the German Worker's Party (DAP) was established in Austria. The DAP later reorganised under the name "German Workers' Party in Austria". In May 1918, the party changed its name to the Deutsche Nationalsozialistische Arbeiterpartei (DNSAP).
The DNSAP produced a National Socialist Program, which is thought to have influenced the German Nazi manifesto. The swastika was adopted as the party symbol in 1920, replacing the previous symbol of a hammer, oak leaves, and a quill. The Austrian DNSAP underwent several splits and reorganisations, with factions led by figures such as Walter Riehl and Karl Schulz. Despite their low electoral success, the Austrian National Socialists continued to gain support, particularly in the Tyrol region bordering Nazi Germany.
In the early 1930s, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize control of the government and unite Austria with Nazi Germany. Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss suppressed the DNSAP, banning it in 1933. However, the party continued to operate from Germany, and those who remained in Austria carried out terrorist attacks, resulting in the deaths of over 800 people between 1934 and 1938. After Dollfuss was assassinated by Austrian Nazis in 1934, his successor, Kurt Schuschnigg, used police to suppress Nazi supporters, interning them in camps.
In 1938, Austrian Nazis played a key role in the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the "Anschluss". Austrian Nazis took control of the country without armed resistance, and Austrian Nazi Chancellor Seyss-Inquart signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, formally incorporating Austria into Nazi Germany.
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The Allied Powers' response
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. The annexation of Austria, also known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany.
The Allied Powers, including the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and the United States, responded to the German annexation of Austria with verbal condemnation but no military action. They were committed to upholding the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of St. Germain, which specifically prohibited the union of Austria and Germany. However, their reaction was moderate and did not lead to any confrontation. Even the strongest voices against the annexation, such as Fascist Italy, France, and Britain (the "Stresa Front"), remained at peace. The loudest verbal protest came from the government of Mexico, which denounced the annexation as an aggressive act by Nazi Germany.
The Allied Powers recognized the annexation as a significant act of appeasement, allowing Adolf Hitler to continue his expansionist policies without consequence. They declared the annexation null and void and worked towards re-establishing an independent Austria after World War II. They considered themselves not bound by any changes made in Austria since the annexation and expressed their desire for a free and independent Austria, allowing the Austrian people and neighbouring states to find political and economic security.
The annexation of Austria had a profound impact on the country, with Austrian Nazis carrying out the rapid Nazification of Austrian society. Austrians participated enthusiastically in this process, and the country's Jewish population became a target of persecution. The Allied Powers' response to the annexation was influenced by their commitment to upholding the post-World War I European order and their recognition of the need for a lasting peace in the region.
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The impact on Austrian Jews
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi German regime. The annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, saw the beginning of a terrifying time for Austrian Jews.
The Austrian Jewish community had existed since the 3rd century CE. In 1890, a Habsburg statute granted Austrian Jews religious autonomy. However, the situation changed drastically after the German annexation. Immediately after the Anschluss, the Nazis began implementing anti-Jewish measures throughout the country. Jews were expelled from all cultural, economic, and social life in Austria. They were forced to perform humiliating tasks, such as scrubbing the streets of Vienna while being mocked by jeering crowds. Soon, Austrian Jews were also subjected to the same discriminatory laws and restrictions as Jews in Nazi Germany.
The expropriation of Austrian Jewish property began in mid-March 1938, accompanied by extreme intimidation and violence towards Jewish people. Jewish businesses were 'aryanised', meaning they were sold for a fraction of their value or seized outright. By December 1938, there was an "order regarding the use of Jewish assets", and by February 1939, 77.6% of the 'aryanisation' of Jewish shops and businesses had been achieved. Many of these businesses were given to Nazi Party members.
The main wave of Jewish emigration from Austria began in March 1938, with the Anschluss, and continued to November 1938, when nearly all synagogues in Austria were destroyed. An estimated 117,000 Jews fled Austria between 1938 and 1940, with some seeking refuge in countries like the United States, China, and France. However, not all attempts to escape were successful, and some were trapped in Nazi-occupied areas. By October 1942, only about 2,000 to 5,000 Jews remained in Austria, with the rest having emigrated or gone into hiding. The total number of Austrian Jews murdered during the Holocaust is estimated to be about 65,500 people.
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Frequently asked questions
Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938.
German troops entered Austria on March 12, 1938, and the annexation was proclaimed on March 13, 1938.
Hitler was warmly welcomed by Austrians as he travelled through the country. Austrian Nazis had already taken over the country without firing a shot, and German troops were met with cheers and flowers rather than armed resistance.
The annexation was denounced by the Mexican Delegate to the International Office of Labor, Isidro Fabela, who voiced an energetic protest. The UK, the Soviet Union, and the USA also agreed that Austria should be liberated from German domination and that the annexation was null and void.
Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers declared the annexation void and re-established an independent Austria.
