Leslie Massey
The Nazis invaded Austria in 1938, marking the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany. This invasion, known as the Anschluss, was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, with Austrian Nazis attacking their political opponents and Jews without fear of repercussions. Austria remained part of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied Powers declared the Anschluss void and reestablished an independent Austria.
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's ultimatum to Schuschnigg
The Anschluss, or the Annexation of Austria, was the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. It took place on March 12, 1938, when the German army crossed the border into Austria and annexed the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany.
In the lead-up to the Anschluss, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg attempted to maintain Austria's independence and sovereignty, which was increasingly threatened by the growing strength of the Austrian Nazis and Hitler's ambitions to absorb Austria into Nazi Germany. Schuschnigg's efforts included a policy of appeasement towards Hitler and aligning himself with Austria's southern and eastern neighbours, Italy and Hungary. However, these efforts ultimately failed.
On March 11, 1938, Hitler gave the Austrian government a series of ultimatums, demanding that Chancellor Schuschnigg call off the planned plebiscite on Austrian independence and that Austrian President Wilhelm Miklas appoint Arthur Seyss-Inquart, a leader of the outlawed Austrian Nazis, as the new Austrian chancellor. Hitler threatened to invade Austria with the German military if these demands were not met.
Faced with Hitler's ultimatum and the massing of German troops along the Bavarian frontier, Schuschnigg desperately sought support for Austrian independence from France and Britain. However, realising that neither country was willing to offer assistance, Schuschnigg resigned on the evening of March 11. Despite Schuschnigg's resignation, Hitler ordered the invasion to commence at dawn on March 12. A plebiscite was held on April 10, 1938, with the ballot manipulated through threats and coercion, resulting in 99.7% approval for the annexation.
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The Blumenkrieg (Flower War)
On March 11, 1938, Hitler sent an ultimatum to Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, demanding he hand over all power to the Austrian Nazis or face an invasion. The ultimatum was set to expire at noon but was extended by two hours. Without waiting for an answer, Hitler had already signed the order to send troops into Austria at one o'clock.
The next day, the 8th Army of the German Wehrmacht crossed the Austrian border. The troops were greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers. The "invasion" without any shots fired was dubbed the Blumenkrieg ("Flower War"). Hitler, riding in a car, crossed the border at his birthplace, Braunau am Inn, with a 4,000-man bodyguard. In the evening, he arrived at Linz and was given an enthusiastic welcome by 250,000 Austrians who had gathered to meet him and support the Anschluss—the unification of Austria with Germany.
The Blumenkrieg was the first big test of the Wehrmacht's machinery. Although the invading forces were badly organized and coordination among the units was poor, it mattered little because the Austrian government had ordered the Austrian Bundesheer not to resist. The enthusiasm displayed toward Hitler and the Germans surprised both Nazis and non-Nazis, as most people had believed that a majority of Austrians opposed the Anschluss.
The idea of unification had strong support in Austria and Germany in the 1920s, particularly among Austrian citizens of the political left and center. However, by 1938, there was majority support for Austrian independence. Support for unification with Germany came mainly from the belief that Austria, stripped of its imperial land, was not viable economically. After Hitler rose to power in 1933, the desire for unification became associated with the Nazis, for whom it was an integral part of their "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept, which sought to incorporate as many ethnic Germans outside Germany as possible into a "Greater Germany".
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Austria's independence
Following World War I, the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire led to the establishment of the Austrian Republic on November 13, 1918. This marked the country's first attempt at independence, free from the rule of the Empire. However, the post-World War I period was fraught with economic challenges, and by 1922, Austria required an international loan supervised by the League of Nations to stabilise its currency and economy. This loan placed Austria under the control of the League of Nations, compromising its independence.
In the lead-up to World War II, Austria's independence was once again tested. The rise of Nazi Germany and Adolf Hitler's ambitions posed a significant threat. On March 11, 1938, Hitler issued an ultimatum to Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, demanding he hand over power to the Austrian Nazis. When Schuschnigg resigned rather than comply, Hitler ordered troops to invade Austria. This invasion, known as the Anschluss, resulted in the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, and the country lost its independence once more.
During World War II, Austria became an integral part of the Third Reich, with many Austrians joining the Nazi Party and serving in the Wehrmacht. However, it's important to note that not all Austrians supported the Nazis, and there were Austrian socialists and left circles who vehemently opposed the Anschluss. After the war, Austria was occupied by the Allied forces, and the Soviet Union played a crucial role in shaping its post-war policies.
The Moscow Declaration of 1943 and the subsequent Austrian State Treaty of 1955 were pivotal moments in Austria's journey towards independence. The Moscow Declaration proclaimed that Austria was a victim of Nazi Germany, and the Austrian State Treaty officially ended the occupation, declaring Austria a free, independent, and neutral state. This marked the beginning of a new era for the country, as it regained its sovereignty and worked to rebuild its identity.
Today, Austria is a sovereign nation with strong international relations, including with the United States. The country has come a long way since its struggle for independence, and its history serves as a reminder of the importance of freedom and self-determination.
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The Soviet Occupation of Austria
Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, with the support of the majority of the Austrian population. The annexation, known as the Anschluss, saw Austria become an integral part of the Third Reich, with 700,000 people, or 10% of the population, joining the Nazi Party.
In June 1941, Hitler's regime launched a genocidal war against the Soviet Union with Operation Barbarossa. The aim was to eliminate the Soviet Union as a military threat, and to starve and enslave its population, turning the country into a German colony. After almost four years of brutal combat, Soviet troops from the 3rd and 2nd Ukrainian Fronts crossed into Austria from Hungary in the winter of 1945. The Soviet troops took Vienna, and then advanced towards Linz and Graz in early May.
The Soviet occupation policies in Austria were largely shaped by the Moscow Declaration of 1943, in which the British, Americans, and Soviets proclaimed that Austria was Germany's first victim, but that it would also have to pay the price for its participation in Nazi aggression. The Red Army occupied only parts of Austria, including Vienna, while Anglo-American troops entered from Germany and Italy. Thereafter, France, Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union divided Austria into four occupation zones. Although Moscow treated Austria as a defeated Axis power, it maintained that Austria was a victim of Germany, and so the country avoided some of the worst fates of Germany.
In the initial eight months of occupation, Soviet military tribunals arrested around 800 Austrian civilians. By 1955, when the Red Army pulled out of the country, the Soviets had arrested 2,400 Austrians, 1,250 of whom were prosecuted for crimes ranging from war crimes to everyday criminal activity.
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The Austrian Resistance
Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, with the support of the majority of the Austrian population. This annexation, known as the Anschluss, was met with little resistance from the Austrian government, which had ordered the Austrian Bundesheer not to resist. Hitler himself crossed the border in the afternoon, accompanied by a 4,000-man bodyguard. In the evening, he arrived in Linz to an enthusiastic welcome from 250,000 Austrians.
Despite the apparent popularity of the Anschluss among Austrians, a small minority resisted the Nazi regime. It is estimated that out of a population of 6.8 million in 1938, around 100,000 Austrians opposed the regime and were convicted and imprisoned. The Austrian resistance was made up of various ideological groups, reflecting the spectrum of political parties before the war. The resistance carried out activities such as distributing anti-Nazi leaflets, collecting donations for the families of those arrested, and providing the Allies with information. Military resistance was limited, with most resisting by avoiding postings to active war fronts. However, there were some acts of sabotage targeting key civil and military installations, particularly in Carinthia, where most armed resistance was based.
The symbol and voice of the Austrian resistance was Crown Prince Otto von Habsburg, who would have been Kaiser of Austria if the monarchy had been re-established. The main cipher of the resistance was O5, which can still be seen at the Stephansdom in Vienna.
Jewish Austrians also resisted the Nazi regime, primarily by emigrating or helping others to do so. This often required a degree of collaboration with Nazi officials.
After World War II, there was a public discourse regarding the small minority who formed the Austrian resistance versus the majority who participated in the Nazi war machine. Austria was treated as a defeated Axis power by the Allies and was divided into four occupation zones. However, due to the belief that Austria was the first victim of Nazi Germany, it avoided some of the harshest aspects of Germany's fate and did not undergo the same thorough process of denazification.
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Frequently asked questions
World War II.
The Nazis invaded Austria in March 1938.
The invasion of Austria by the Nazis is known as the Anschluss, which is a German word that means "connection" or "joining".
On March 11, 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned. He also pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance" into the country. On March 12, 1938, German troops entered Austria and were greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers.
The Anschluss resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population. Austria remained a part of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and reestablished an independent Austria.
