Leslie Massey
On March 12, 1938, German troops entered Austria, and the annexation of Austria to Germany was proclaimed the following day. This event, known as the Anschluss, marked the unification of Austria and Germany into a Greater Germany. The idea of the Anschluss arose after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. While there was enthusiasm for the union, particularly among Nazis in both countries, it is doubtful that a majority of Austrians supported the Anschluss. The annexation of Austria demonstrated Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions and disdain for the post-World War I European order, as it violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of the two countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Annexation | 12 March 1938 |
| German Troops Enter Austria | 11-13 March 1938 |
| Austrian Chancellor | Kurt von Schuschnigg |
| Nazi Leader | Adolf Hitler |
| Nazi Government in Austria | Headed by Seyss-Inquart |
| Violated Treaties | Treaty of Versailles and Treaty of Saint-Germain |
| Annexation Proclaimed | 13 March 1938 |
| Annexation Reason | Austria was rich in iron |
| Nazi Propaganda | Glorified speeches and events |
| Nazi Goal | Demonstrate Austrian enthusiasm for the Anschluss |
| Nazi Intention | Justify the illegal takeover of Austria |
| Nazi Intention | Continue expansionary policies |
| Nazi Intention | Transform Austria and eradicate Jews |
| Nazi Intention | Carry out the "Nazification" of Austria |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The Anschluss: annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938
The Anschluss ("joining" or "connection" in German) refers to the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938. The idea of a union between Austria and Germany first emerged after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. Support for the union, or Anschluss, grew after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, and the subsequent Republic of German-Austria attempted to unite with Germany. However, the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and the Treaty of Versailles prohibited this union and banned the use of the name "German-Austria". The treaties also resulted in the loss of territories for Austria, including the Sudetenland.
In the 1930s, Nazi Germany pursued an aggressive foreign policy, which included the remilitarization of the Rhineland and the return of the Saar region to Germany through a plebiscite. During this period, Austria was facing significant economic damage due to a German boycott. In 1936, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg was forced to agree to the release of imprisoned Nazis and to allow members of the National Opposition into his cabinet in exchange for German respect for Austrian sovereignty. Despite this agreement, Hitler continued to pursue the idea of annexation, telling Goebbels in 1937 that Austria would eventually have to be taken "by force".
In February 1938, Hitler invited Schuschnigg to Germany and forced him to give the Austrian Nazis a free hand. Schuschnigg then attempted to hold a plebiscite on Austrian independence, but was pressured to cancel it and resign on March 11, 1938. German troops crossed the border and were met with enthusiasm, rather than resistance, by the Austrians. On March 12, German troops invaded Austria, and the next day, Austrian Nazi Chancellor Arthur Seyss-Inquart signed the "Reunification of Austria with Germany" law, formally incorporating Austria into Nazi Germany. This event marked the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany, and it was followed by a wave of street violence against Jewish people and property in Austrian cities.
The annexation of Austria demonstrated Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions and the failure of Britain and France to take action against his violations of the Versailles Treaty. The Republic of Austria ceased to exist as an independent state, and the country was absorbed directly into the German Reich, despite Hitler's initial intention to establish a satellite state with Seyss-Inquart as its head.
Spruce vs. Pine: Which Tree is Better for Your Garden?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Violation of the Treaty of Versailles and Treaty of Saint-Germain
The Treaty of Versailles, signed on May 7, 1919, imposed a series of strict terms on defeated Germany, including massive reparations, demilitarisation of the Rhineland, and loss of 13% of its territories. The treaty was viewed as an unfair punishment by the German population, and the German government considered it a "violation of honour". As a result, the German government, whether democratic or authoritarian, quickly resorted to violating the military and financial terms of the treaty. This became a key element in their foreign policies, contributing to destabilisation in international politics.
The Treaty of Saint-Germain, also signed in 1919, officially recognised the breakup of the Habsburg Empire, establishing the independence of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Yugoslavia, and redistributing territories. The treaty expressly forbade the union of Austria with Germany without the consent of the Council of the League, and limited Austria's military capabilities. Austrian officials protested the violation of the principle of self-determination in the treaty.
The idea of Anschluss, or the unification of Austria and Germany, gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. However, both the Treaty of Saint-Germain and the Treaty of Versailles prohibited this union and stripped Austria of some territories. Despite these treaties, the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party), led by Adolf Hitler, rose to power in Germany during the 1920s and 1930s, fuelled by promises to rearm, reclaim German territories, and restore national pride after the humiliating defeat in World War I.
On March 11-13, 1938, German troops invaded Austria, annexing it into the German Reich in what became known as the Anschluss. This violation of the treaties was met with little resistance from the British and French, demonstrating Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions and the failure of the international community to hold him accountable.
Elisabeth of Austria: A Young Bride's Story
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Hitler's expansionist policies and aggressive territorial ambitions
Hitler's expansionist policies were driven by the belief that Germany must control Lebensraum in the "East", which would justify German territorial expansion into Central and Eastern Europe. This included Poland and the Soviet Union, where Hitler envisioned Germans populating these areas, enslaving or driving out the "inferior" Slavic population, and removing Jews entirely from German-dominated territory. To prepare for this war, Hitler sought to undo the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles, build alliances, and incorporate territories with German populations into the Reich.
Hitler's first act of territorial expansion was the annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss. This violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. The international community's appeasement of Hitler's aggressive foreign policy allowed him to continue his expansionist policies unchecked. The Munich Agreement of 1938, for example, was sold to the German public as one of Hitler's successful peace policies, while also giving him confidence that Britain and France would not resist further German expansion.
Hitler's expansionist policies continued with the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1938-1939, breaking the agreement reached in Munich and occupying the remaining Czech lands, including Prague. This convinced Britain and France that Hitler's territorial ambitions were limitless, and they became determined to prevent German domination of Europe. Finally, in September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, an act of territorial aggression that started World War II. This invasion was preceded by a non-aggression pact between Germany and the Soviet Union, in which they agreed to divide Poland between them.
Austria's Snowfall: A Comprehensive Overview
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Austria's rich iron resources
The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, took place on March 12, 1938. The unification of Austria and Germany to form a "Greater Germany" gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918.
Austria's mining sector extracts high-quality raw materials, including iron ore, that are processed into sought-after products worldwide. Austrian iron and steel production has long been a leading industry, and the country is a global leader in fireproof products. An important Austrian innovation in steelmaking is the basic oxygen process, originally named for the cities of Linz and Donawitz. This process is used under license by steelworks worldwide. A considerable portion of Austria's iron and steel industry is involved in construction abroad, furnishing plants and installations in every phase of construction in Europe, North America, and elsewhere.
Austria also has the largest underground tungsten ore deposit in the western world, the largest talcum deposit in Central Europe, and the largest siderite deposit globally. The country's raw material companies set trends in the sustainable handling of natural resources, with legal requirements and company guidelines in place to ensure sustainability and environmental protection in mining practices.
Austria's Historical Occupation of the Netherlands: Fact or Fiction?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![The German Empire - A History of the Rise of Germany from Bismarck to World War I [Quintessential Classics] (Illustrated)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91k-GhSF-gL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Anti-Semitic persecution and violence
The persecution and violence against Jews in Austria and Germany have a long history, with roots in ancient times. While antisemitism was prevalent in ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, it became institutionalised in European Christianity after the destruction of the ancient Jewish cultural centre in Jerusalem. This led to two millennia of segregation, expulsions, persecutions, pogroms, and ultimately, the Holocaust in 20th-century Nazi-occupied Europe, where 67% of European Jews were murdered.
In the early Middle Ages up to the 18th century, Jews in Germany experienced various persecutions but also enjoyed brief periods of tolerance. The 19th century began with riots and pogroms against Jews, but this was followed by emancipation in 1848. By the early 20th century, German Jews were the most integrated Jewish community in Europe. However, the situation took a turn for the worse in the early 1930s with the rise of the Nazis and their explicitly antisemitic agenda.
Newspapers and pamphlets, such as the Völkischer Beobachter and Der Stürmer, propagated hate speech and blamed Jews for Germany's defeat in World War I. Nazi cartoons and propaganda depicted Jews as physically unattractive and badly dressed, often in traditional religious garments. Starting in 1933, repressive laws were enacted against Jews, culminating in the 1935 Nuremberg Laws, which stripped Jews of their citizenship rights based on racial descent rather than religion.
The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, occurred on March 12, 1938. This was preceded by a secret speech given by Göring in April 1937, in which he stated that the only solution to the problems with meeting steel production targets was to annex Austria, which was rich in iron. Following the annexation, a wave of street violence against Jewish people and property swept across Vienna and other cities. This culminated in the Kristallnacht riots and violence of November 9-10, 1938.
The persecution and violence against Jews in Austria and Germany were part of a broader trend of antisemitism in Europe. In Slovakia, for example, a consensus of antisemitism emerged across society by the mid-1930s, leading to the deportation and murder of most Slovak Jews by the Slovak People's Party government. The rise of Nazi power and ideology in Germany and Austria during the 1930s had devastating consequences for Jewish communities, setting the stage for the horrors of the Holocaust.
Racism in Vienna, Austria: A Troubling Reality?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Anschluss was the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938.
The idea of a union between Austria and Germany arose after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. The Anschluss was the fulfilment of the German people's destiny to form a "Greater Germany".
In 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite with Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Hitler, who bullied him into naming Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. Schuschnigg resigned on 11 March 1938, and German troops, accompanied by Hitler, entered Austria on 12 March 1938.
The Anschluss was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain. However, the other European powers did not punish Nazi Germany for violating these treaties, allowing Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked.
