Lyla Lindsey
The Anschluss, which took place in March 1938, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. It was the annexation of Austria, which saw German troops cross the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. The invasion was the first big test of the Wehrmacht's machinery, and Hitler rode into Austria with a 4,000-man bodyguard. The Anschluss was the result of a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to unite their nation with Nazi Germany, and it was the culmination of years of pro-unification activism in both Austria and Germany.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of invasion | 12 March 1938 |
| Reason for invasion | To unite Austria and Germany into one nation-state |
| Reason for invasion | To incorporate as many Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans outside Germany) as possible into a "Greater Germany" |
| Reason for invasion | Hitler's belief that Austria was German: "How can anyone say that Austria is not German! Is there anything more German than our old pure Austrianness?" |
| Reason for invasion | Hitler's statement in his 1925 book, Mein Kampf: "German-Austria must return to the great German motherland, and not because of economic considerations of any strong." |
| Reason for invasion | To prevent a plebiscite on Austrian independence |
| Reason for invasion | To continue Hitler's expansionary policies unchecked |
| Reason for invasion | To annex Austria and violate the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain |
| Reason for invasion | To transform Austria and carry out the Nazification of all aspects of Austrian life |
| Response from Austria | Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg announced a referendum on a possible union with Germany vs. maintaining Austrian sovereignty |
| Response from Austria | Austrian chancellor resigned and instructed Austrian forces not to resist |
| Response from international community | No punishment for violating international treaties; the other European powers' acceptance of the Anschluss was a significant act of appeasement |
| Response from international community | Winston Churchill warned that countries should take "effective measures" to respond to Germany's aggression |
| Response from the populace | Many Austrians supported the invasion and actively participated in the Nazification of their country |
| Response from the populace | Relief that bloodshed was avoided |
| Response from the populace | Hope for improved material conditions and economic achievements |
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's expansionist policies
In the lead up to the Anschluss, Hitler had his sights set on Austria, his country of birth, which held significant importance to him. In his 1925 book, Mein Kampf, Hitler wrote about the unification of German-Austria with the German motherland, regardless of economic considerations. This unification was an integral part of the Nazi "Heim ins Reich" concept, which aimed to bring as many Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans outside Germany) as possible into a "Greater Germany".
Hitler, however, wanted to prevent this vote from taking place. On March 11, 1938, he issued an ultimatum to Schuschnigg, demanding that he hand over power to the Austrian Nazis or face an invasion. Schuschnigg resigned, and on March 12, the German army crossed the border into Austria, unopposed. Hitler himself rode into Austria with a 4,000-man bodyguard, greeted by cheering Austrians. The annexation was complete, and the Nazis quickly moved to Nazify all aspects of Austrian life, persecuting the country's Jewish population.
The Anschluss demonstrated Hitler's expansionist ambitions and his disregard for international treaties, as the unification of Austria and Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain. The acceptance of the Anschluss by other European powers emboldened Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked, shaping the course of history in the lead-up to World War II.
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Violation of international treaties
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, was a clear violation of two international treaties: the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
The Treaty of Versailles, signed after World War I, was intended to prevent German aggression and the unification of Austria and Germany. It expressly forbade the unification of the two countries, which was exactly what the Anschluss set out to achieve. By invading Austria, Hitler and the Nazis blatantly disregarded the terms of the treaty, demonstrating their disdain for the post-World War I European order. This act of territorial expansion went unpunished by the other European powers, who chose to appease Hitler, allowing his expansionary policies to continue unchecked.
Similarly, the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, which was signed in 1919, also prohibited the unification of Austria and Germany. France had previously opposed the unification, citing violations of Article 88 of the treaty. However, when the Nazis rose to power in Germany, the Austrian government withdrew from economic ties with France, undermining the treaty.
The Nazis' violation of these treaties had significant consequences. It not only allowed them to expand their territory but also enabled them to carry out the Nazification of Austria. Austrian civil servants, soldiers, and police officers took an oath to Adolf Hitler, and various organizations and institutions adopted Nazi ideas and implemented Nazi policies. The persecution of Austria's Jewish population soon followed, with many organizations expelling their Jewish members and firing Jewish employees.
The Anschluss was a pivotal moment in Hitler's expansionist agenda, and it set a precedent for further acts of aggression. The violation of international treaties went unchallenged, emboldening the Nazis to continue their quest for a "Greater Germany." This ultimately led to the outbreak of World War II, as Hitler's ambitions for territorial expansion and racial ideology fueled conflict across Europe.
In summary, the Anschluss represented a clear breach of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, demonstrating the Nazis' disregard for international agreements and their determination to pursue their ideological goals through aggressive expansion.
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Support for unification
The unification of Austria and Germany was also an integral part of the Nazi "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept, which sought to incorporate as many Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans outside Germany) as possible into a "Greater Germany". This idea had been the subject of debate since the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806 and continued until the break-up of the German Confederation in 1866.
In the lead-up to the Anschluss, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, aware of this plot, met with Hitler in February 1938, but was coerced into appointing several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. Despite this, Schuschnigg continued to advocate for Austrian independence and announced a plebiscite on the issue. However, he was pressured by Hitler to cancel the vote and resign, which he did on March 11, 1938.
On March 12, German troops entered Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military, and were greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes, Nazi flags, and flowers. The "invasion" without any shots fired was dubbed the Blumenkrieg ("Flower War"). Hitler himself crossed the border that afternoon, riding in a car with a 4,000-man bodyguard. The enthusiasm of the Austrian populace gave Hitler the cover to annex Austria outright on March 13, 1938.
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Austrian Nazi conspiracy
The Austrian Nazi conspiracy, culminating in the Anschluss, was a long-held ambition of the Nazi regime. From the very beginnings of the Nazi government, high-ranking German officials considered the incorporation of Austria into Germany a "political and economic necessity".
In the 1920s, the idea of unification had strong support in both Austria and Germany, particularly among Austrian citizens of the political left and centre. However, by the time Hitler rose to power in 1933, the Nazis were gaining votes at the expense of other German nationalist groups, and the unification of Austria and Germany became an integral part of the Nazi "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept.
Hitler's government subjected Austria to systematic agitation, economic pressure, and propaganda. The Nazis also received financial, logistic, and material support from Germany, and they generated a wave of terrorism in Austria, targeting individuals and government institutions. In 1934, Austrian officials reported a new wave of Nazi terrorist attacks, and by 1938, the Nazi threat to Austria was clear, though the speed of the invasion still caught people by surprise.
In February 1938, Hitler invited Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to Germany and forced him to agree to give the Austrian Nazis a "free hand". Schuschnigg later announced a plebiscite on the question of unification, but he was bullied into cancelling it and resigning. On March 12, German troops entered Austria, unopposed and with the enthusiastic support of most Austrians. The annexation of Austria was proclaimed the following day.
Following the Anschluss, Austrian civil servants, soldiers, and police officers took an oath to Hitler, and many organisations and institutions adopted Nazi ideas and policies. The Nazis also quickly extended anti-Jewish legislation to Austria, and Austrians participated in the persecution of the country's Jewish population.
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The Nazification of Austria
The Austrian government, military, civil servants, police, and many organisations and institutions all fell in line with Nazi ideology and policies. The Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, had attempted to maintain Austria's independence, but he was forced to resign by Hitler, who then invaded with German troops on March 12, 1938. The Austrian military had been ordered not to resist, and Hitler was greeted by cheering Austrians with Nazi salutes and flowers.
Hitler quickly established a new Nazi government, and the country of Austria ceased to exist. Austrian civil servants, soldiers, and police officers took a new oath to Hitler, often in public celebrations with parades. Many organisations expelled Jewish members and fired Jewish employees. The persecution of Austria's Jewish population was led by Austrian Nazis and their supporters.
The Nazis' violation of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany, went unpunished by other European powers. This acceptance allowed Hitler to continue his expansionist policies unchecked.
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Frequently asked questions
Hitler invaded Austria as part of the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. This was the annexation of Austria into the German Reich, also known as the Anschluss.
Hitler's reasons for invading Austria were twofold. Firstly, he wanted to incorporate Austria into the German Reich, as he believed that "common blood belongs in a common Reich". Secondly, he wanted to prevent a plebiscite on Austrian independence, which was scheduled for March 13, 1938.
On March 11, 1938, Hitler gave the Austrian government a series of ultimatums, demanding that they hand over power to the Austrian Nazis and cancel the plebiscite. When these demands were not met, Hitler ordered German troops to cross the border into Austria on March 12. The invasion was unopposed and was greeted by cheering Austrians. Hitler himself rode into Austria with a 4,000-man bodyguard, and on March 13, the Anschluss was proclaimed.
