Lyla Lindsey
Austria was annexed by Germany in 1938 when German troops marched into the country to unite it with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg attempted to reassert his country's independence but was forced to resign. Austria remained 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. Ten years after World War II, Austria became an independent republic as the Second Austrian Republic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Austria's Annexation by Germany | 1938 |
| Reason for Annexation | Austrian-born Adolf Hitler wanted to unite his nation with Nazi Germany |
| Austria's Status after Annexation | A federal state of Germany |
| Year Austria Regained Independence | 1955 |
| Year Austria Joined the European Union | 1995 |
| Austria-Hungary's Armistice | Signed on November 3, 1918 |
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What You'll Learn
Austrian-born Hitler annexes Austria to Germany
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This was the culmination of a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government and unite their nation with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg attempted to resist this takeover, meeting with Hitler to reassert his country's independence. However, he was forced to name several Austrian Nazis to his cabinet and, ultimately, to resign on March 11, 1938.
Hitler, an Austrian-born German nationalist, had risen to power in the Weimar Republic, and his ideology included the desire to create a Greater German Reich that would include all ethnic Germans and territories lost by the German Empire after World War I. The annexation of Austria was one of the first major steps in this direction.
In the lead-up to the annexation, the idea of Austria joining Germany gained popularity among Austrians, partly due to Nazi propaganda campaigns with slogans like "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" ("One People, One Empire, One Leader"). By 1936, the Austrian economy was suffering from a German boycott, and the country was experiencing economic turbulence due to the Great Depression, with high unemployment and unstable commerce and industry. These factors may have contributed to the growing support for unification with Germany.
Hitler's annexation of Austria violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of the two countries. This act demonstrated Nazi disdain for the post-World War I European order and went unchecked by other European powers, allowing Hitler to continue his expansionist agenda.
The annexation transformed Austria almost overnight. Austrian and German Nazis collaborated in the Nazification of Austrian life, and many Austrians participated enthusiastically in this process, including the persecution of the country's Jewish population. Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers reestablished an independent Austria.
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Austrian Nazis conspire to unite with Nazi Germany
Austrian Nazis conspired to unite with Nazi Germany in 1938, marking the second time in four years that they had attempted to seize the Austrian government by force. The idea of uniting Austria and Germany was not new, with discussions and debates about Austria's role in a German nation-state dating back to the 19th century. The hope for a union between the two nations gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, as many Austrians believed that their country could not survive economically without the lands previously held by the Empire.
Hitler and the Nazis wanted to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe, considering the international borders established by the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain unfair and illegitimate. Hitler, himself an Austrian-born German, had written in his 1925 book, 'Mein Kampf', that he would create a union between Austria and Germany by any means possible. In a 1921 essay, he argued for the incorporation of the ten million German-Austrians into the German Empire, stating that the German Reich had a single task of "dethroning the Habsburgs, the most miserable dynasty ever ruling."
The Austrian Nazi movement, led by Theodor Habicht, planned a coup in 1934, which ultimately failed. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, upon learning of the conspiracy, met with Hitler in an attempt to reassert his country's independence. However, he was pressured into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet, including Edmund Glaise-Horstenau, Guido Schmidt, and Arthur Seyß-Inquart.
In March 1938, Austrian Socialists offered to back Schuschnigg's government in exchange for political concessions, but before a national vote could take place, Schuschnigg gave in to pressure and resigned on March 11. German troops then marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. Hitler accompanied the troops and was met by enthusiastic crowds. Austria became a federal state of Germany and remained so until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers declared the annexation void and re-established an independent Austria.
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Austria becomes a federal state of Germany
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, annexing the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This event, known as the Anschluss, or "annexation," was supported by a large majority of Austrians. Austrian Nazis had conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite their nation with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, hoping to reassert his country's independence. However, he was coerced into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet and eventually resigned under pressure. Hitler accompanied the German troops into Austria, where they were met with enthusiastic crowds. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and Austria became a federal state of Germany.
Austria remained a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II. During this period, the Austrian identity within Germany was weakened by Germany's defeat in the war. After the war, the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and reestablished an independent Austria. Ten years later, in 1955, Austria became an independent republic as the Second Austrian Republic.
The history of Austria and Germany's relationship is complex and marked by several significant events. One notable event is the Battle of Königgrätz (Sadowa) in 1866, where Prussian armies defeated the Austrian forces, contributing to the struggle for hegemony in Germany. Additionally, the collapse of Austria-Hungary during World War I led to the establishment of independent states, including German Austria, proclaimed by German members of the Reichsrat in Vienna in 1918.
It is important to note that the territory understood by the term "Austria" has undergone drastic changes over time, raising questions about the scope of Austrian history. The inclusion of the period 1938-1945, when Austria nominally did not exist as an independent state, further complicates the narrative.
In conclusion, Austria's brief period as a federal state of Germany during the Nazi regime was a significant deviation from its history as an independent country. The annexation was a result of Nazi conspiracies and coercion, and its reversal after World War II restored Austria's sovereignty, leading to its eventual establishment as a republic.
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Austria regains independence after World War II
Austria was annexed by Germany in 1938, an event known as the Anschluss. The annexation was supported by a large majority of Austrians, and Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite the nation with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler to reassert his country's independence but was forced to name several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, 1938, and the next day, Hitler accompanied German troops into Austria, where they were met with enthusiastic crowds.
After World War II, the German identity in Austria was weakened, and the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void, reestablishing an independent Austria. In 1943, the Allies agreed in the Declaration of Moscow that Austria would be regarded as the first victim of Nazi aggression and treated as a liberated and independent country after the war. However, Austria was still held responsible for its participation in the war alongside Germany.
In the immediate aftermath of World War II, Austria was divided into four occupation zones jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France. Vienna was also subdivided, with the central district collectively administered by the Allied Control Council. While Austria regained its independence, it remained under the joint occupation of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union until 1955. During this time, the country was gradually emancipated from foreign control and evolved from a "nation under tutelage" to full independence.
In 1955, ten years after World War II, Austria became an independent republic as the Second Austrian Republic. The country joined the European Union in 1995.
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Austria becomes an independent republic in 1955
Austria became a part of Germany in 1938 when Austrian-born Adolf Hitler annexed Austria to Germany, which was supported by a large majority of Austrians. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg tried to resist by meeting with Hitler to reassert his country's independence but was forced to name several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of Anschluss, or "annexation," but before the vote could take place, he gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on March 11. The next day, German troops marched into Austria, and Hitler appointed a new Nazi government.
After World War II, the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and reestablished an independent Austria. Austria was occupied by Soviet, American, British, and French forces and divided into four zones. Vienna was similarly subdivided, but the central district was collectively administered by the Allied Control Council. Austria remained under joint occupation until 1955, when the Austrian State Treaty was signed in Vienna on May 15, 1955, by representatives of the four occupying powers and Austria. The treaty formally reestablished Austria as a "sovereign, independent, and democratic state" in its pre-1938 frontiers. It also prohibited any future political union between Austria and Germany and forbade the restoration of the Habsburgs. The treaty also guaranteed the rights of the Slovene and Croatian minorities in Kärnten, Steiermark, and Burgenland.
The last occupation troops left on October 25, 1955, and on October 26, a constitutional law of perpetual Austrian neutrality was promulgated. Austria also became a member of the United Nations in 1955 and of the Council of Europe in 1956.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria was annexed by Germany in 1938, when Austrian-born Adolf Hitler united the German-speaking nation with Nazi Germany. After Germany's defeat in World War II, Austria was reestablished as an independent republic.
After World War II, the Allied powers declared the annexation of Austria by Germany void, and Austria was reestablished as an independent republic, known as the Second Austrian Republic, in 1955.
Austria was a republic before it was annexed by Germany.
