Leslie Massey
Hitler's annexation of Austria in 1938, known as the Anschluss, was the first step in his plan to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe. Hitler considered the postwar international borders unfair and illegitimate, and the annexation of Austria was the first step in his plan to achieve a Greater Germany. Hitler, an Austrian German by birth, had expressed his desire for an Austro-German union in his earliest writings and speeches, and his autobiography, Mein Kampf, opens with his vision for the future relationship between Austria and Germany. In addition to this, Austria was rich in raw materials and labour, supplying Germany with magnesium and the products of the iron, textile and machine industries. It also had gold and foreign currency reserves, many unemployed skilled workers, hundreds of idle factories, and large potential hydroelectric resources.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lack of response from Britain and France | Britain and France chose to respond with diplomatic measures rather than military action |
| Appeasement policies of Britain and France | Britain and France allowed Hitler to take the Sudetenland in exchange for promises to stop further aggression |
| Belief in his leadership | Hitler believed in the concept of 'Lebensraum' or 'living space' |
| Strength of the Third Reich | Hitler believed the Third Reich was the more powerful government |
| Belief in unification of all German-speaking peoples | Hitler aimed to unify all German-speaking peoples and expand living space for the German population |
| Austria's economic turbulence | Austria experienced economic turbulence due to the Great Depression, with a high unemployment rate and unstable commerce and industry |
| Austria's resources | Austria was rich in raw materials and labour, supplying Germany with magnesium and the products of the iron, textile and machine industries |
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's Austrian birth and nationalist ideology
Adolf Hitler was born in Austria in Braunau am Inn in Austria-Hungary and moved to Germany in 1913. Hitler's parents were Austrian, and he spent his childhood in Austria. However, he expressed loyalty only to Germany and not to Austria. Hitler's favourite teacher, Dr. Leopold Poetsch, was a German historian who also gave public speeches. Hitler later quoted himself as saying that Poetsch "used our budding nationalistic fanaticism as a means of educating us, frequently appealing to our sense of national honour".
Hitler's time in the German Army during World War I further reinforced his German patriotism. He was shocked by Germany's capitulation in November 1918 and believed in the Dolchstoßlegende (stab-in-the-back myth), which claimed that the German army had been "stabbed in the back" by civilian leaders, Jews, and Marxists. The Treaty of Versailles, which imposed economic sanctions and heavy reparations on Germany, further shaped Hitler's ideology.
Hitler's Austrian birth and early life influenced his nationalist ideology, which was also shaped by his experiences and observations in Austria and Germany. He believed in the unification of all Germans in a Greater Germany (Großdeutschland) and expressed this desire in his earliest writings and speeches. Hitler's nationalism was not limited to Austria or Germany but extended to the idea of a Pan-Germanic race, uniting all Germans regardless of their state or nationality.
Hitler's nationalist ideology was also influenced by his opposition to the Austrian monarchy, which he saw as corrupt and mediocrity, and his belief in the superiority of the German race. He considered himself ethnically German, and his ideology was shaped by his interactions with Germans and Austrians, as well as his experiences in both countries.
In conclusion, Hitler's Austrian birth and early exposure to German nationalist ideas laid the foundation for his extreme nationalist ideology. However, it was his later experiences and personal beliefs that shaped and intensified his ideology, ultimately leading to his desire to annex Austria and unite it with Germany.
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Austria's economic turmoil and natural resources
Austria's economic landscape in the 1930s was a mixed bag. The country was still recovering from the economic fallout of World War I. Between 1919 and 1921, Austria's urban population relied heavily on relief from the United States and Great Britain, and inflation threatened financial collapse in 1922. However, by October 1922, Austria had achieved some stability and relative prosperity under the leadership of Seipel.
Unfortunately, this progress was short-lived. The global financial crisis known as the Great Depression, which began with the stock market crash of 1929, hit Austria hard. The country's most influential banking house, Creditanstalt, went bankrupt in May 1931, bringing Austria to the brink of economic disaster. The country's industrial production and prices declined, and the banking crisis led to a decrease in the availability of loans.
Despite these challenges, Austria had significant natural resources that contributed to its economic potential. These included:
- Arable land
- Scenery that attracted tourism
- Minerals such as magnesite, iron ore, lignite, anhydrous gypsum, lead, zinc, and antimony
- Wind power for electricity generation
- Timber from its vast forested areas
- Fish from its rivers and lakes
Austria was also a producer of oil and natural gas, although it had to import additional resources to meet its industrial and consumer needs. The country's natural resources and economic turmoil in the 1930s likely played a role in Hitler's assumptions about annexing Austria, as he may have seen both opportunities and vulnerabilities in Austria's economic situation.
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Hitler's early writings and speeches
Hitler's early speeches and writings reveal his desire for an Austro-German union and his belief in German expansionism. In his earliest known speech in 1919 in Munich, and in subsequent speeches, Hitler expressed his desire to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe, considering the postwar international borders unfair and illegitimate. He aimed to unify all German-speaking peoples and expand living space for the German population, a concept known as 'Lebensraum'.
Hitler's first speech as chancellor on February 1, 1933, provides insight into his vision for Germany's future. He lamented the past fourteen years since Germany had been "blinded by promises," leading to the loss of the Reich's honour and freedom. He invoked God and a higher power, stating, "May Almighty God favour our work, shape our will in the right way, bless our vision and bless us with the trust of our people." He further emphasised that they had no desire to fight for themselves, only for Germany.
Hitler's speeches were known for their mesmerising delivery, combining volume, rhythm, modulation, and repetition to induce an emotional response from his followers. This style rendered him impervious to rational attack by political opponents and reporters. His speeches were often reprinted in Nazi Party papers, such as the Volkischer Beobachter in Munich and Der Angriff in Berlin, helping to spread his message across the country.
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German rearmament and military pressure
Hitler's aggressive foreign policy and rearmament continued, and in March 1936, he ordered German troops into the Rhineland, violating the 1925 Treaty of Locarno. Despite condemnation from Britain and France, neither nation intervened. This likely contributed to Hitler's assumption that he could get away with annexing Austria.
Hitler's confidence in the lack of response from Britain and France was a key factor in his decision to annex Austria. The policy of appeasement by these powers during the late 1930s emboldened him. The Munich Agreement of 1938, where Britain and France allowed Hitler to annex the Sudetenland, is often cited as a pivotal moment in this regard.
Hitler's decision to annex Austria was also influenced by the belief that the German military was strong enough to intimidate Austria into submission without facing significant resistance. In March 1938, German troops crossed the Austrian border and were met with cheers and flowers, not armed resistance. This was preceded by German pressure on Austrian chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to cancel a planned plebiscite on Austrian independence and resign. Hitler also threatened an invasion, which ultimately did not occur as Schuschnigg gave in to his demands.
Austria was rich in raw materials and labour, which increased Berlin's interest in annexing the country. The annexation provided Germany with magnesium and products from the iron, textile, and machine industries. Additionally, Austria had gold and foreign currency reserves, unemployed skilled workers, and potential hydroelectric resources. All of these factors made Austria an attractive target for German rearmament and expansion.
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The Austrian Nazi Party and public opinion
The Austrian Nazi Party failed to win any seats in the November 1930 general election. However, its popularity grew in Austria after Hitler came to power in Germany. The idea of Austria joining Germany also became more popular, partly due to a Nazi propaganda campaign that used slogans such as "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" ("One People, One Empire, One Leader") to convince Austrians to support the Anschluss.
Hitler himself was Austrian by birth and had expressed his desire for an Austro-German union in his earliest writings and speeches. The first point of the Nazi Party Platform (1920) stated: "We demand the union of all Germans in a Greater Germany (Großdeutschland) on the basis of the right of national self-determination."
In 1932, John Gunther estimated that Austrian public opinion was about 60% in favour of the Anschluss. By 1936, he revised this estimate, claiming that "In 1932 Austria was probably eighty percent pro-Anschluss". However, by the end of 1933, Austrian public opinion had shifted, and Gunther believed that at least 60% were against German annexation. This shift can be attributed to the violent and disruptive tactics employed by Austrian Nazis, who staged protests, brawls, and terrorist attacks to undermine the Dollfuss regime.
In 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. On March 9, 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence by calling for a plebiscite (referendum) on the issue. However, he was pressured by Hitler and resigned on March 11, 1938, before the plebiscite could take place.
On March 12, 1938, German troops entered Austria, and the country was swiftly transformed. Austrian and German Nazis collaborated to nazify all aspects of Austrian life, and many Austrians participated willingly. The Anschluss marked the beginning of the persecution of Austria's Jewish population and their enactment of Nazi policies.
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Frequently asked questions
Hitler wanted to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe, considering the postwar international borders unfair and illegitimate. He believed that Germans had been denied the right of self-determination. Austria was also rich in raw materials and labour, supplying Germany with magnesium and the products of the iron, textile and machine industries.
Hitler bullied Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. When Schuschnigg called for a plebiscite to vote on Austrian independence, Hitler pressured him to cancel the plebiscite and resign. On March 12, 1938, German troops occupied Austria 24 hours before the plebiscite was due to be held.
On April 10, 1938, Austrians were asked whether they supported the annexation. 99.75% of voters said that they supported Germany’s annexation of Austria into the Third Reich. Historian Evan Burr Bukey suggests that Austrians welcomed the annexation as a chance to put an end to the so-called ""Jewish Question".
