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Austrian Nazism or Austrian National Socialism was a pan-German movement that took form in the early 20th century. The Austrian Nazi Party was a significant political force in the country, with thousands of members and the support of Benito Mussolini's Fascist Italy. The party was led by figures such as Alfred Proksch, Hermann Neubacher, and Josef Leopold, and many Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces during World War II. The country was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, and Austrians played a significant role in the Nazi war machine, both in the administration and on the battlefields.
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What You'll Learn
Austrian Nazism's origins
The origins of Austrian Nazism or Austrian National Socialism can be traced back to the beginning of the 20th century. It was a pan-German movement that took shape on November 15, 1903, with the establishment of the German Worker's Party (DAP) in Austria. The DAP's secretariat was based in the town of Aussig (now Ústí nad Labem in the Czech Republic). The movement was influenced by the German-Czech conflict within the multi-ethnic Austrian Empire, as argued by Professor Andrew Gladding Whiteside.
In May 1918, the DAP changed its name to the Deutsche Nationalsozialistische Arbeiterpartei (DNSAP) or "German National Socialist Workers' Party". The DNSAP produced a National Socialist Program, which is believed to have influenced the later German Nazi manifesto. The swastika became the party symbol from 1920 onwards. The Austrian DNSAP experienced internal divisions, splitting into factions like the Deutschsozialer Verein (German-Social Association) led by Dr. Walter Riehl, and the Schulz-Gruppe.
After 1930, many former DNSAP members shifted their allegiance to the German NSDAP, led by Austrian-born Adolf Hitler. They actively supported the pro-Nazi coup in 1938, leading to the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the "Anschluss." This annexation was met with enthusiasm by most Austrians, and Nazi supporters engaged in acts of terrorism against opposing political groups. The Patriotic Front, a political organisation claiming to transcend partisan interests, was formed in 1933 to counter the Nazis, but it failed to prevent the Nazi takeover.
Austrian Nazism was not universally accepted, and a small minority of Austrians actively resisted it. An estimated 100,000 Austrians were imprisoned for opposing the regime, and resistance groups emerged, including those associated with the Communist Party, the Catholic Church, and the Habsburg groups. However, these groups were largely exposed and their members executed. The rise of Austrian Nazism culminated in the incorporation of Austria into Nazi Germany, with Austrians embracing the union in a manipulated plebiscite.
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Austrian Nazis in the SS
Austrian Nazis played a significant role in the SS, the Schutzstaffel, or the Protection Squadron, which was a major organisation within Nazi Germany. Austrians comprised about 13% of the SS, despite making up only 8% of the Third Reich's population. They were never officially recognised as a separate branch of the SS, but the term "Austrian SS" is often used to describe members of the SS from Austria. Austrian SS members served in every branch of the SS, including concentration camps, Einsatzgruppen, and the Security Services.
The Austrian SS was founded in 1930 and acted as a covert force to bring about the annexation of Austria with Germany, which occurred in March 1938. Austrian Nazis continued to operate illegally within the country after the SS was declared an illegal organisation by the Austrian government in 1936. On 25 July 1934, Austrian Nazis, including members of the Vienna SS, attempted to overthrow the Austrian government. They forced their way into the Chancellor's office in Vienna, killing Chancellor Dollfuss. Another group occupied the building of the Austrian National Radio and announced that the Government of Dollfuss had fallen and Anton Rintelen was the new head of government. This false report was intended to start a Nazi uprising throughout the country but only had partial success.
One of the largest formations of the Austrian SS was the 11th SS-Standarte, operating out of Vienna. After the annexation of Austria, the Austrian SS was folded into the SS-Oberabschnitt Donau. Austrians were disproportionately involved in the Final Solution, comprising 40% of concentration camp personnel and 70-75% of concentration camp commanders. Amon Göth was another infamous Austrian-SS member, along with Adolf Eichmann, one of the major organisers of the Holocaust.
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Austrian Nazi leaders
Austrian Nazism, or Austrian National Socialism, was a pan-German movement that emerged in the early 20th century. The German Worker's Party (DAP) was established in Austria in 1903 and later changed its name to the Deutsche Nationalsozialistische Arbeiterpartei (DNSAP) in 1918. The DNSAP produced a National Socialist Program that influenced the German Nazi manifesto.
Austrian-born Adolf Hitler, the leader of the German Nazi Party, played a significant role in shaping Austrian Nazism. In 1938, he orchestrated the annexation of Austria to Germany, known as the Anschluss, which was supported by most Austrians. Hitler's appointment as Chancellor of Germany in 1933 and his position as Führer from 1934 to 1945 further solidified his influence over Austrian Nazis.
Several Austrian Nazis held prominent positions within the Nazi regime:
- Ernst Kaltenbrunner: From Upper Austria, he replaced Heydrich as the leader of the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (RSHA) in 1943. He was also promoted to SS-Brigadeführer and led the SS-upper section in Austria.
- Arthur Seyß-Inquart: He was involved in covering up or organizing several Nazi crimes in the Netherlands.
- Odilo Globocnik: He was the SS and police leader in Poland from 1939 and oversaw the construction of four extermination camps: Belzec, Sobibor, Treblinka, and Majdanek. He was responsible for the murder of approximately 2 million Polish Jews.
- Franz Josef Huber: Appointed chief of the Sicherheitspolizei (Security Police; SiPo) and Gestapo for Vienna and the "Lower Danube" and "Upper Danube" regions.
- August Eigruber: He served as the Gauleiter of Upper Austria.
- Josef Bürckel: Appointed by Hitler to reorganize the Nazi Party in Austria after the annexation.
- Theodor Habicht: Appointed by Hitler as the leader of the Austrian Nazi movement, he played a role in planning the 1934 coup attempt in Austria.
Before the annexation, Austrian Nazism was fragmented, with various factions and splinter groups. The leaders of the Austrian Nazi Party included Alfred Proksch (1931–1933), Hermann Neubacher (1935), and Josef Leopold (1936–1938). However, real power often rested with Theodor Habicht, who was sent by Hitler to oversee Nazi activities in Austria.
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Austrian Nazi supporters
Austrian Nazism or Austrian National Socialism was a pan-German movement that took shape at the beginning of the 20th century. The German Worker's Party (DAP) was established in Austria in 1903, marking the concrete formation of Austrian Nazism. The DAP's symbol was initially a combination of a hammer, oak leaves, and a quill, but in 1920, it adopted the swastika as its emblem. Austrian Nazism underwent several factions, including the Deutschsozialer Verein (German-Social Association) led by Dr. Walter Riehl, the Schulz-Gruppe, and the NSDAP-Hitlerbewegung.
The origins of Nazism in Austria are disputed and continue to be a subject of debate among scholars. However, it is clear that Austrian Nazis played a significant role in the regime's crimes. Despite comprising only 8% of the Third Reich's population, Austrians made up over 13% of the SS. Notable Austrian Nazis included Adolf Hitler, Eichmann, Kaltenbrunner, and Globocnik, who held key positions in the extermination projects of the Third Reich. Austrians also held a significant presence in the Nazi death camps, with over 75% of commanders and 40% of staff members hailing from Austria.
The Austrian Nazi Party faced challenges in the country's political landscape. In the 1927 General Election, the Austrian National Socialists linked to Hitler received only 779 votes. However, they gradually gained support, and by the 1930s, most former members of the Austrian Nazi Party became supporters of the German Nazi Party led by Austrian-born Hitler. This shift contributed to the pro-Nazi coup in 1938 that resulted in the annexation of Austria to Germany, known as the Anschluss.
The Anschluss, or the annexation of Austria, was not an inevitable outcome. However, historical factors and events facilitated the process. Austria had a significant population of people who considered themselves ethnically German, and the country faced diplomatic isolation and aggressive posturing from Nazi Germany. Additionally, Austrian politics at the time was marked by infighting and political violence, creating a volatile environment.
The entry of Nazi Germany's troops into Austria in 1938 was met with enthusiastic support from most Austrians. During World War II, 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces, and many others participated in the Nazi administration, including death camp personnel and senior Nazi leadership. Austrians were over-represented in the Nazi regime, particularly in the SS, which actively recruited individuals of German descent living in the former Austria-Hungary territory.
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Austria's annexation by Nazi Germany
Austrian Nazism or Austrian National Socialism was a pan-German movement that took shape in the early 20th century. The movement was formalised on 15 November 1903, with the establishment of the German Worker's Party (DAP) in Austria. The DAP changed its name to the Deutsche Nationalsozialistische Arbeiterpartei (DNSAP) in 1918 and adopted the swastika as its symbol in 1920.
In the 1927 Austrian General Election, the Austrian National Socialists linked to Hitler (Nazis) received only 779 votes. In the 1930 election, the Social Democrats were the largest single party, with the Austrian National Socialists receiving only 3.6% of the votes. However, in the following years, the Nazis gained more support at the expense of the various German national groups, who also wanted unity with Germany.
In 1932, Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss banned the DNSAP, but it was revived and incorporated into the German Nazi Party after the German annexation of Austria in 1938. This annexation, known as the Anschluss, occurred on March 12, 1938, when German troops entered Austria, and was proclaimed on March 13. The annexation was met with enthusiasm by most Austrians, and Austria became a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II.
During the German occupation, thousands of Jews were deported from Austria to concentration camps in Germany and occupied Poland and eastern Europe. The Mauthausen concentration camp, established near Linz in the summer of 1938, became the main Nazi camp in Austria. By November 1942, only about 7,000 Jews remained in Austria, and most of them were married to non-Jews.
After World War II, many Austrians sought to distance themselves from the Nazi regime, and Austria was reestablished as an independent country. However, it is important to note that Austrians played a significant role in the Nazi war machine, with 950,000 Austrians fighting for the Nazi German armed forces during the war and others participating in the Nazi administration and death camp personnel.
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Frequently asked questions
Many Nazis were Austrian, including Adolf Hitler, Eichmann, Kaltenbrunner, and Globocnik.
Austrians comprised only 8% of the Third Reich’s population, but over 13% of the SS were Austrian.
Austrians played a central role in Nazi crimes. Many of the key figures in the extermination project of the Third Reich were Austrian, as were over 75% of commanders and 40% of the staff at Nazi death camps.
