Lexi Webster
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria 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. The idea of a union between Austria and Germany, or a Greater Germany, had been around since the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. In his 1925 book, Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler wrote about his desire to see Austria return to the great German motherland.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 March 1938 |
| German Leader | Adolf Hitler |
| Austrian Leader | Kurt von Schuschnigg |
| German Military Leader | Gen. Friedrich Fromm |
| Nazi Justification | Austria had descended into chaos |
| Austrian Response | 99.75% of voters supported annexation |
| International Response | No intervention or punishment |
| Impact on Jews | Persecution, expulsion, and suicide |
| Impact on Austria | No longer an independent nation |
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's expansionist policies
The idea of the Anschluss, or the unification of Austria and Germany, was not new. It emerged after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austrian Germans from the German Empire. This sentiment gained further traction after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, when the Republic of German-Austria attempted to unite with Germany. However, the Treaty of Saint-Germain and the Treaty of Versailles prohibited this union and even forbade the use of the name "German-Austria."
Hitler, an Austrian German himself, had expressed his desire for this unification in his 1925 book, "Mein Kampf." He wrote, "German-Austria must return to the great German motherland... Common blood belongs in a common Reich." Despite his claims that economic considerations were not the driving force, Austria's rich resources, labour force, and skilled workers likely contributed to the appeal of annexation.
In the lead-up to the annexation, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite with Germany. When Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg learned of this, he met with Hitler, who bullied him into appointing Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. Schuschnigg initially tried to assert Austria's independence by calling for a national vote on the issue. However, before the vote could take place, he gave in to Hitler's pressure and resigned on March 11, 1938.
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, and the annexation was formalized. The next day, a referendum was held in Austria, with 99.75% of voters supporting the union with Germany. This referendum, however, was not anonymous, and opponents of the annexation did not dare vote against it. The annexation of Austria was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany, and it went unchecked by other European powers, allowing Hitler to continue his expansionist policies.
The consequences of the annexation were significant. Austria ceased to exist as a nation and became a province of Germany. The Nazis quickly imposed their anti-Jewish legislation, leading to an outburst of public violence against Austrian Jews, forcing many to flee the country. The annexation also set in motion a Jewish refugee crisis and transformed all aspects of Austrian life, with Austrians enthusiastically participating in the "Nazification".
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Austria's economic turmoil
Austria's economy was in a state of turmoil in the years leading up to its annexation by Germany in 1938. The country was facing significant economic challenges, with high unemployment, unstable commerce and industry, and the negative impact of the Great Depression.
In the aftermath of World War I, Austria experienced a period of economic distress characterised by massive currency devaluation and slow recovery. Despite international support and loans, the country struggled to regain its financial footing. By the 1930s, the global economic crisis had hit Austria hard, and the country was once again facing financial instability. The bankruptcy of Creditanstalt, Austria's most influential banking house, in 1931 brought the country to the brink of economic disaster.
The Austrian economy in the 1930s was also marked by conflicting policies and interventions. While the authoritarian state paid lip service to the private sector's autonomy, it increasingly intervened in various sectors of the economy, including agriculture, trade, and industry. This interventionism was at odds with the ideals of a "free economy" espoused by advocates of liberal economic theory. The state's interventions were meant to address the economic crisis, but they highlighted the gulf between theory and practice in Austrian economic policy during this period.
The economic turmoil in Austria did not go unnoticed by Nazi Germany, which had its own expansionist agenda. Germany's rapid rearmament and interest in annexing Austria were fuelled by the latter's rich resources, including raw materials, labour, and skilled workers. Additionally, the idea of a united Austria and Germany, or the Anschluss, had been gaining support since the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918.
Hitler, himself an Austrian German by birth, had expressed his desire for a union between the two nations in his 1925 book, "Mein Kampf." He wrote that even if the union were economically detrimental, it ought to be pursued to unite common blood in a common Reich. Thus, Austria's economic turmoil, coupled with Germany's nationalist ambitions, set the stage for the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938.
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The rise of the Nazi Party
Hitler, an Austrian-German by birth, had expressed his desire to unite Austria and Germany as early as 1925 in his book, "Mein Kampf." He wrote that German-Austria must return to the German motherland, regardless of economic considerations. This unification was also a way to assert his nationalist ideology and gather support for his regime.
In the 1930s, Austria experienced economic turmoil due to the Great Depression, resulting in high unemployment and unstable commerce and industry. This made Austria an attractive target for German investment, and by 1937, rapid German rearmament increased Berlin's interest in annexing resource-rich Austria. The country was a supplier of magnesium and had a strong iron, textile, and machine industry. Additionally, Austria had gold and foreign currency reserves, skilled workers, and potential hydroelectric resources.
The idea of the Anschluss gained popularity in both Germany and Austria. Many Germans and Austrians supported the unification, feeling that they had shared cultural and ethnic ties. On April 10, 1938, a referendum was held in Austria, meant to legitimize the annexation. Under the supervision of the German army and in an atmosphere of intimidation, 99.75% of Austrian voters supported the union with Germany.
The annexation of Austria was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany and a significant breach of the post-World War I international order. It demonstrated the Nazis' disdain for international treaties and their aggressive foreign policy intentions. The international community's failure to intervene or punish Nazi Germany for this violation set a precedent for future expansionary moves by the regime.
The Anschluss had immediate consequences for Austria, particularly its Jewish population. Austrian and German Nazis quickly carried out the "`Nazification' of Austrian society, seizing Jewish businesses, arresting those who resisted, and forcing Jews out of their social, economic, and cultural lives. This resulted in an outburst of public violence against Jews, with many fleeing the country and others tragically committing suicide.
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International appeasement
The annexation of Austria by Germany, known as the Anschluss, was an act of open aggression and the first instance of Nazi Germany's expansionist policy. It was also a violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly prohibited the unification of Austria and Germany.
The international community's response to the Anschluss was one of appeasement. They did not intervene to stop the annexation, nor did they hold Nazi Germany accountable for violating international treaties. This inaction allowed Hitler to continue his expansionist agenda without restraint. Winston Churchill, however, did warn that countries should take "effective measures" to counter Germany's aggression.
The Anschluss was a significant event in Nazi Germany's foreign policy. It demonstrated their disregard for the post-World War I European order and set in motion a refugee crisis, particularly impacting the Jewish population, who were subjected to violence, persecution, and expulsion from economic, social, and cultural life.
The international community's failure to act decisively in response to the Anschluss had far-reaching consequences. It emboldened Hitler and the Nazis to continue their aggressive expansion, ultimately leading to the outbreak of World War II in Europe in September 1939.
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The violation of international treaties
The annexation of Austria by Germany, known as the Anschluss, was a significant breach of the post-World War I international order and violated several international treaties.
The idea of the Anschluss, or the "joining" of Austria and Germany to form a "Greater Germany", was not new. It emerged after the 1871 unification of Germany, which excluded Austria and German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire. Attempts to form a union after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918 were expressly forbidden by the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and the Treaty of Versailles. These treaties, which aimed to uphold the independence of Austria, also stripped the country of some of its territories, such as the Sudetenland.
The violation of these treaties was further exacerbated by the Nazis' aggression towards Austria. In 1936, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg was pressured into signing an agreement with German ambassador Franz von Papen, which allowed for the release of imprisoned Nazis in Austria and the inclusion of pro-German Austrian Nazis in his cabinet. Despite Hitler's assurances to the contrary, this agreement marked a significant step towards the eventual annexation.
By 1937, rapid German rearmament and economic interests increased Berlin's desire to annex Austria, which was rich in raw materials, labour, and industrial resources. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, and the country was annexed into Nazi Germany. This act of territorial expansion demonstrated the Nazis' disdain for the post-World War I European order and their willingness to redraw the map of Europe according to their expansionary goals.
The international community's failure to intervene or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties was a significant act of appeasement. It allowed Hitler to continue his aggressive foreign policy unchecked, leading to further territorial ambitions and the persecution of Austria's Jewish population.
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Frequently asked questions
The annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the Nazi German regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. The unification of Austria and Germany was an idea that gained support after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. The Nazis justified the invasion by claiming that Austria had descended into chaos.
The Anschluss demonstrated Nazi disdain for the post-World War I European order, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain. The international community did not intervene or punish Nazi Germany for violating these treaties, which was a significant act of appeasement.
The annexation transformed Austria and set into motion a Jewish refugee crisis. 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 many took their own lives.
