Leslie Massey
Austria became part of Germany in 1938 in an event known as the Anschluss. This saw the unification of the two countries under Nazi rule, with the support of most Austrians. The unification was orchestrated by Adolf Hitler, who had risen to power in Germany in 1933. Hitler's actions were influenced by his belief in the Heim ins Reich (back home to the realm) concept, which aimed to incorporate as many ethnic Germans outside Germany into a Greater Germany. In the lead-up to the annexation, Hitler pressured Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to appoint Nazis to his cabinet and threatened to invade Austria if the country did not unite with Nazi Germany. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, and Hitler appointed a new Nazi government. 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.
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's desire for unification
Hitler's autobiography and political treatise, Mein Kampf, also included his vision for the future relationship between Austria and Germany. He wrote: "The reunification [of Germany and Austria] is a life task to be carried out by all means! German-Austria must be restored to the great German Motherland… People of the same blood should be in the same REICH." This idea of a "`Greater Germany`" was a core component of Nazi ideology, seeking to incorporate as many Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans outside Germany) as possible.
Hitler, himself Austrian-born, saw the unification of Austria and Germany as a crucial step in creating this "Greater German Reich." He believed that all ethnic Germans and the territories lost by the German Empire after World War I should be included in this expanded nation. Austria, with its predominantly ethnic German population, was a natural target for annexation, especially since it had been historically linked to Germany through the Holy Roman Empire and the German Confederation.
Hitler's unification agenda was met with opposition from various groups within Austria, including socialists, Catholics, Jews, old Hapsburgist officers, and a significant portion of Austrian capitalists. However, the failure of Britain and France to take action against him for violating the Versailles Treaty and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany, only emboldened Hitler to pursue his aggressive territorial ambitions further.
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Austrian Nazis' conspiracy to seize the Austrian government
In 1933, when Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany, the desire for unification was identified with the Nazis, who sought to incorporate as many ethnic Germans outside Germany as possible into a "Greater Germany". This ideology was known as "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm").
Austrian politics at the time was characterized by infighting and political violence. The rise of the Nazis in 1933 further destabilized the situation. Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss transformed Austria into a right-wing authoritarian regime, also known as the Austrofascist state. Dollfuss was not a Nazi, and his government was opposed to unification with Germany.
Beginning in May 1933, the Austrian Nazis, funded by Germany, waged a propaganda and terror campaign to undermine the Dollfuss regime. They set off explosives and tear gas bombs in public places and Jewish-owned businesses. In response to a fatal Nazi bombing, the Dollfuss regime banned the Austrian Nazi Party and its affiliates, making the Nazi movement illegal in Austria.
On July 25, 1934, Austrian Nazis attempted to overthrow the Austrian government. Members of the Vienna SS took control of the Austrian chancellery, where the cabinet was meeting, and shot and killed Chancellor Dollfuss. The coup attempt was defeated by the Austrian military and police forces, with the support of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, who sent troops to the Austro-Italian border to defend Austrian sovereignty.
Despite the failure of the 1934 coup, Austrian Nazis continued their efforts to unify Austria with Germany. In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired for the second time in four years to seize the Austrian government by force. They staged disruptive protests and brawled with political opponents and the police.
On March 9, 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of unification with Germany once and for all. However, before the plebiscite could take place, Schuschnigg resigned on March 11 due to pressure from Hitler, who threatened to invade Austria. Schuschnigg was replaced by the Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart, who immediately called for German troops to enter Austria and restore order.
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, and Hitler appointed a new Nazi government. Austria became a federal state of Germany and remained a part of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers declared the unification void and reestablished an independent Austria.
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Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg's failed attempts to assert Austrian independence
Austria's annexation by Germany in 1938 was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi German regime. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence in several ways, but ultimately failed.
Firstly, Schuschnigg continued the policies of his predecessor, Engelbert Dollfuss, which included the repression of Austrian Social Democrats and the arrest of thousands of Austrian Nazis. However, this did not stop the growth of the Austrian Nazis, who supported Hitler's ambitions to absorb Austria into Nazi Germany.
Secondly, Schuschnigg tried to prevent German annexation by calling for a plebiscite (referendum) on Austrian independence. He scheduled it for March 13, 1938, hoping to resolve the question of Anschluss ("annexation") once and for all. However, Hitler pressured him to cancel the plebiscite and resign, threatening to invade Austria if he did not comply.
Thirdly, Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence by meeting with Hitler in February 1938. He expected to discuss the tensions between the two countries, but Hitler presented a series of demands, including that Austria's foreign and military policies be coordinated with Germany's and that Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart be placed in charge of policing and security matters. Schuschnigg gave in and signed the agreement, known as the Berchtesgaden Agreement, which undermined Austrian sovereignty and independence.
Finally, Schuschnigg tried to strengthen ties with the fascist Italian government, led by Mussolini, who initially treated Austria as a buffer between Italy and Nazi Germany. However, by 1935-1936, Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany had begun to draw closer together, and Mussolini started pressuring Schuschnigg to cooperate with the Germans. By the winter of 1937-1938, Austria was diplomatically isolated, and the international community showed little interest in maintaining its independence.
In conclusion, despite Schuschnigg's efforts to keep Austria independent, he ultimately failed in the face of increasing pressure and aggression from Nazi Germany, as well as a lack of support from the international community.
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Hitler's appointment of a new Nazi government in Austria
The annexation of Austria by Germany, or the Anschluss, took place in March 1938. The process was initiated by Austrian Nazis, who conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. This was in line with Hitler's desire for an Austro-German union, which he expressed in his earliest writings and speeches.
Faced with this ultimatum, Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, pleading with Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance" into the country. Hitler's plan was for Seyss-Inquart to call for German troops to restore order, providing a pretext for the invasion. Seyss-Inquart was not immediately appointed chancellor, as Austrian President Wilhelm Miklas initially refused to appoint him. However, after Hitler ordered the invasion to commence at dawn on March 12, a forged telegram was sent in Seyss-Inquart's name, requesting German troops. Seyss-Inquart was finally installed as chancellor after midnight on March 12, just hours before the invasion.
Hitler himself entered Austria with German troops on March 12, greeted by enthusiastic crowds. He appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the Anschluss was officially proclaimed. Austria became a federal state of Germany, and Hitler's regime began to tighten its grip on Austrian society, with mass arrests targeting politicians, intellectuals, and Jews.
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The Anschluss and its implications
The Anschluss, or the unification of Austria and Germany, occurred on March 12, 1938, when German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This event was the culmination of a series of political manoeuvres by the Austrian Nazi Party and Adolf Hitler, who sought to unite the two countries under his Nazi regime.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. Under pressure from pro-unification activists, Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on the issue of unification, to be held on March 13. Hitler, in response, threatened to invade Austria and demanded Schuschnigg's resignation, forcing him to cancel the referendum and resign on March 11. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the Anschluss was officially proclaimed.
The implications of the Anschluss were significant. Firstly, it marked the beginning of Nazi Germany's expansionist policies, as Austria became the first country to be annexed by Hitler's regime. Secondly, it demonstrated the power of the Nazi Party and the support it had among Austrians, with many Austrians welcoming the German troops and joining the Nazi Party themselves. Thirdly, it had a profound impact on the Jewish population in Austria, as they became victims of Nazi persecution and were sent to concentration camps. Finally, the Anschluss altered the geopolitical landscape of Europe, as Austria became an integral part of the Third Reich, contributing to Nazi war efforts during World War II.
After World War II, Austria was occupied by Allied forces and declared its independence from Germany on April 27, 1945. The Allied powers recognised Austria as a separate country, although it remained divided into occupation zones until the Austrian State Treaty restored its sovereignty in 1955. The Soviet occupation of Austria, in particular, had significant repercussions, with Soviet troops committing crimes against civilians and contributing to the country's post-war struggles.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria was annexed by Germany in 1938, an event known as the Anschluss, which means 'union' or 'joining'. This was part of Hitler's plan to incorporate as many ethnic Germans outside of Germany as possible into a "Greater Germany".
Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg tried to maintain Austrian national integrity and called for a national plebiscite, or referendum, to take place on 13 March 1938. However, Hitler threatened to invade Austria and demanded Schuschnigg's resignation.
On 12 March 1938, about 25,000 heavily armed German troops and police crossed the Austrian frontier, encountering no resistance.
Large sections of the Austrian population were very pleased to see the German troops and police. However, it is estimated that about two-thirds of Austrians wanted Austria to remain independent.
