Damon Mcknight
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, annexing 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 annexation was the culmination of almost two decades of Austrian dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Saint Germain, a lack of consistent political and economic support from Western democracies, and international instability in the 1930s. While the international community did not intervene to stop the annexation, it marked a significant breach of the post-World War I international order and violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. The Nazis justified their invasion by claiming that Austria had descended into chaos and circulated fake reports of rioting and street fights caused by Communists. On April 10, 1938, a plebiscite was held under the supervision of the German army, with 99.75% of Austrian voters supporting a union with Germany. This support can be attributed to several factors, including relief that bloodshed had been avoided, satisfaction over the revival of wartime solidarity, and hopes for economic improvement under Hitler's leadership.
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's influence and Austrian Nazi support
Hitler, an Austrian-born German politician and leader of the Nazi Party, had expressed his desire to incorporate Austria into a "great German motherland" as early as 1925 in his book, Mein Kampf. He viewed Austria as part of the German nation due to their shared blood and heritage. This idea of a unified German state resonated with many Austrians, especially those with nationalist sentiments.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Austrian Nazi Party was initially weak and divided. However, as Hitler's popularity surged in Germany, particularly after becoming Chancellor in 1933, he gained a significant following in Austria as well. By 1931, most Austrian Nazis recognized Hitler as their leader, and he worked to strengthen the party's presence in Austria.
Hitler's influence on Austrian politics became more pronounced in the mid-1930s. In 1935, he publicly declared that Germany had no intention of interfering in Austrian affairs or pursuing annexation, temporarily easing tensions. However, in 1938, Hitler pressured Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to implement measures favourable to Austrian Nazis and appoint Nazi supporters to his cabinet. When Schuschnigg attempted to hold a referendum on Austrian independence, Hitler mobilized troops and forced Schuschnigg to resign, preventing the vote.
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, and the annexation was formalized. The Nazis justified their actions by falsely claiming that Austria was in a state of chaos and that their intervention was necessary to restore order. The next day, Austria's parliament approved the annexation, and Austria became a province of Germany. A referendum held in April 1938 showed overwhelming support for the union, with 99.75% of Austrian voters in favour. This support can be attributed to several factors, including relief that bloodshed had been avoided, memories of wartime solidarity with Germany, and expectations of economic improvements under Hitler's leadership.
In conclusion, Hitler's influence and the support of Austrian Nazis were instrumental in the German annexation of Austria. The unification of the two countries had been a long-standing goal of Hitler, and his popularity in Austria, coupled with the strength of the Austrian Nazi Party, facilitated the successful execution of the Anschluss.
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International community's inaction
The annexation of Austria by Germany, known as the Anschluss, was an act of open aggression and the first instance of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany. It was also a violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany.
Despite this, the international community did not intervene to stop the Anschluss or punish Nazi Germany for violating these international treaties. This inaction was a significant act of appeasement, allowing Hitler to continue his expansionist policies unchecked. The annexation of Austria marked a significant breach of the post-World War I international order, and the international community's failure to act had far-reaching consequences.
While there was some protest and concern from certain nations, such as the United States, France, and Great Britain, these amounted to little more than diplomatic rhetoric. The United States, for example, was constrained by domestic issues and a weak economy, and its official reaction was shaped by a pragmatic approach to foreign policy. Roosevelt, for instance, did not want an unnecessary rift with Germany, and the State Department wished to maintain normal economic relations.
The British and French policies of appeasement, meanwhile, effectively accepted the fait accompli of the annexation. The only government that truly opposed the Anschluss was Mexico, which lodged a protest with the secretary-general of the League of Nations, but this proved futile.
The international community's inaction towards the Anschluss can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the complex political and economic landscape of the 1930s, the desire to avoid confrontation, and the underestimation of Hitler's aggressive foreign policy intentions. Regardless of the reasons, the failure to intervene had significant consequences, emboldening Hitler and setting a precedent for further acts of territorial aggression and expansion.
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Austria's political and economic instability
Austria's acceptance of German annexation can be attributed to several factors, including political and economic instability. In the years leading up to the annexation, Austria experienced a prolonged period of economic stagnation and political dictatorship. The country had endured economic difficulties and lacked consistent political and economic support from Western democracies, which left many Austrians dissatisfied with the status quo.
Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg attempted to maintain the country's independence, but he faced a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the government and unite with Nazi Germany. Under pressure, Schuschnigg agreed to appoint several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. However, the situation escalated when Hitler's troops entered Austria on March 12, 1938, accompanied by Hitler himself.
The Nazis quickly established a Nazi government in Austria, headed by Seyss-Inquart, and proclaimed the annexation, known as the "Anschluss." This marked the beginning of a systematic campaign to persecute Jews, communists, socialists, and other political opponents. Austrian Nazis, along with the Gestapo, looted and seized Jewish businesses and properties, forcing many Jews into exile.
The annexation of Austria was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order and violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. The international community's failure to intervene or punish Nazi Germany for these violations further enabled Hitler's expansionist agenda.
The acceptance of annexation by Austrians can be attributed to several factors, including the relief of avoiding bloodshed, the hope for improved economic conditions, and the influence of intense Nazi propaganda. The plebiscite held in April 1938, although manipulated, indicated an overwhelming majority of Austrians supported the union with Germany, showcasing the success of Nazi propaganda in shaping public opinion.
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German troops' invasion and occupation
On March 12, 1938, German troops crossed the Austrian frontier to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This event, known as the Anschluss, was the Nazi German regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. It was also the first time that Nazi Germany openly violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany.
In the lead-up to the invasion, Austrian Nazis had conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, learning of the conspiracy, met with Adolf Hitler in an attempt to reassert his country's independence. However, Hitler bullied him into appointing several Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, Schuschnigg called for a national referendum to resolve the question of annexation once and for all. Hitler responded by mobilizing the 8th Army and demanding Schuschnigg's resignation, which occurred on March 11.
Hitler then demanded that Arthur Seyß-Inquart, a Nazi, form a new government. On the morning of March 12, about 25,000 heavily armed German troops and police crossed into Austria. Hitler decided to accompany his troops to his birthplace at Braunau am Inn and then on to Linz, where he attended school. There, he called for an immediate Anschluss. The next day, Austria's parliament formally approved the annexation. Austria ceased to exist as a nation and became a province of Germany.
On April 10, 1938, Austrians were asked whether they supported the Anschluss. 99.75% of voters expressed their support for the union with Germany. Historian Evan Burr Bukey suggests that the initial enthusiasm was genuine and spontaneous, and that the populace was relieved that bloodshed had been avoided. The sight of well-equipped German soldiers marching through the country also evoked a sense of wartime solidarity and satisfaction that the humiliations of 1918 had been overcome. Many Austrians also hoped for improved material conditions under Hitler's rule.
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Anti-Jewish actions and violence
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany. It was widely popular in both Germany and Austria, with 99.75% of Austrian voters supporting a union with Germany. The annexation was also a significant breach of the post-World War I international order, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany.
The Anschluss resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austria's Jewish population. Austrian Nazis and their sympathizers beat, attacked, and humiliated Jews. They forced Jews to engage in humiliating activities, such as cleaning public toilets and scrubbing the streets of Vienna while being mocked by jeering crowds. These so-called "scrubbing parties" ("Reibpartien") were particularly notorious. The violence culminated in a series of pogroms, known as Kristallnacht or the Night of Broken Glass, targeting Jewish population centers across Germany, Austria, and the Sudetenland in the former Czechoslovakia, all of which had been annexed by the Third Reich.
Austrian Jews were subjected to discriminatory laws and restrictions, similar to those faced by Jews in Nazi Germany. Many Austrian Jews decided to leave the country, causing a rapid decline in the Jewish population. Within days of the annexation, Hitler visited Vienna, appearing at a rally in front of 200,000 people. Soon after, a manipulated electorate, which excluded Jews and Roma, voted to approve the annexation.
The persecution of Jews in Austria was part of a broader pattern of Nazi aggression and expansionism, which ultimately brought millions of Jewish people under German control. The international community's failure to intervene or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties contributed to the escalation of anti-Jewish actions and violence.
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Frequently asked questions
Anschluss is a German word that means "connection" or "joining".
The annexation of Austria was the first act of territorial expansion committed by Nazi Germany. Adolf Hitler had written in his 1925 book Mein Kampf that "German-Austria must return to the great German motherland".
The annexation of Austria by Germany caused great concern in Washington. The US criticised Germany's increasing lawlessness and formulated a foreign policy to respond more forcefully to Hitler's aggressive expansionism. France and Great Britain protested against the methods used by Hitler but accepted the annexation. The Soviet Union demanded that the West should stop further German aggression and that the League of Nations should handle the situation. The government of Mexico was the only government to formally protest the annexation.
The plebiscite was manipulated to indicate that about 99% of the Austrian people wanted the union with Germany.
The annexation resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austrian Jews. The Gestapo, along with Austrian Nazis and sympathizers, looted Jewish belongings, seized Jewish businesses, and arrested those who refused to surrender their property. Tens of thousands of Jews fled Nazi persecution, and by December 1939, only 57,000 Jews remained in Austria.
