Damon Mcknight
On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi German regime. The annexation, known as the Anschluss, was achieved through coercion and intimidation of the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, who was forced to resign and pressured to plead with Austrian forces not to resist a German advance. Hitler's invasion of Austria demonstrated his aggressive territorial ambitions and was enabled by the failure of British and French intervention.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 12 March 1938 |
| Reason | To seize Austria's economy to gain the lead in the arms race with Britain and France |
| Reason | To unify all Germans into one state |
| Reason | To plunder the country |
| Reason | To attain hegemony in Europe |
| Reason | To satisfy Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions |
| Reason | To seize control of the Austrian Government |
| Reason | To unite Austria with Nazi Germany |
| Reason | To satisfy Hitler's interest in Lebensraum ("living space") |
| Reason | To seize Austria's former colonies in Africa |
| Reason | To prevent bloodshed |
| Reason | To establish peace and order in Austria |
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's popularity in Germany increased Austrian Nazi supporters
The German annexation of Austria in March 1938, known as the Anschluss, was the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. The Anschluss was the culmination of a years-long effort by Austrian Nazis to seize their government and unite Austria with Nazi Germany.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Austrian Nazi Party was weak, divided, and ineffective. However, by 1931, the bulk of Austrian Nazis recognized Hitler as their leader, and as his popularity in Germany increased, so too did the number of Austrian Nazi supporters. Hitler's popularity in Germany was due in part to his ability to offer Germans a coherent vision of national greatness, in which history and geopolitics destined Germany for a leading role in Europe. This vision resonated with many Germans, especially in the context of the Great Depression, which had hit the country hard and left millions unemployed. The parliamentary government coalition was seen as weak and ineffective in addressing the economic crisis, which further contributed to Hitler's growing popularity.
Hitler's appointment as German chancellor in January 1933 further bolstered the support for Austrian Nazis. In 1936, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg was forced to come to an agreement with Germany, in which he declared Austria a "German state" that would follow Germany's lead in foreign policy and allowed members of the "National Opposition" into his cabinet. However, this did not satisfy Hitler, and in early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired for the second time in four years to seize the Austrian government by force.
On March 9, 1938, Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence by calling for a plebiscite (referendum) on the issue. However, before the plebiscite could take place, he gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on March 11. The next day, German troops marched into Austria, where they were met by enthusiastic crowds, and Hitler appointed a new Nazi government. The seizure of Austria demonstrated Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions and the failure of the British and French to take action against him for violating the Versailles Treaty.
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Austrian Nazis conspired to unite Austria with Nazi Germany
Austrian Nazis had been conspiring to unite Austria with Nazi Germany for years before they finally achieved their goal in 1938. The idea of uniting the two countries was not new, with discussions and debates about Austria's role in a German nation-state dating back to the 19th century. In the 1920s, many Austrians felt that their country could not survive economically without the lands previously held by Austria-Hungary, and some saw unification with Germany as a solution.
Austrian Nazis gained supporters in 1931–1932 as Hitler’s popularity in Germany increased, and this trend accelerated after Hitler was appointed German chancellor in January 1933. In 1933, Engelbert Dollfuss transformed Austria from a democratic republic into a right-wing authoritarian regime. Dollfuss was committed to crushing the political left in Austria and was supported in this by Fascist Italy and authoritarian Hungary. However, he opposed the violent tactics of the Austrian Nazis, and in 1934, a group of Austrian Nazis, led by Theodor Habicht, revolted against the government and assassinated Dollfuss. The coup attempt failed, and Mussolini sent troops to the Austro-Italian border to defend Austrian sovereignty.
In 1936, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg, who had taken over after Dollfuss's death, signed an agreement with German ambassador Franz von Papen, in which Schuschnigg agreed to the release of Nazis imprisoned in Austria and Germany promised to respect Austrian sovereignty. Under the terms of the Austro-German treaty, Austria declared itself a "German state" that would always follow Germany's lead in foreign policy, and members of the "National Opposition" were allowed to enter the cabinet, in exchange for which the Austrian Nazis promised to cease their terrorist attacks against the government. However, this did not satisfy Hitler and the pro-German Austrian Nazis.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired for the second time to seize the Austrian government by force and unite their nation with Nazi Germany. Chancellor Schuschnigg met with Hitler in the hopes of reasserting his country’s independence but was instead bullied into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, Schuschnigg called a national vote to resolve the question of Anschluss, or “annexation,” once and for all. However, before the plebiscite could take place, Schuschnigg gave in to pressure from Hitler and resigned on March 11. In his resignation address, he pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist a German “advance” into the country. On March 12, German troops marched into Austria, and Hitler appointed a new Nazi government. The next day, the Anschluss was officially proclaimed, uniting Austria and Nazi Germany.
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Hitler wanted to plunder Austria's economy
Austria's annexation by Germany in March 1938, known as the Anschluss, was the Nazi regime's first act of territorial expansion. The invasion was orchestrated by Hitler, who accompanied German troops into Austria on March 12, 1938. This annexation was Hitler's attempt to plunder Austria's economy to gain the upper hand in the arms race with Britain and France.
Hitler's interest in Austria was not solely driven by ideological motives, such as unifying all Germans into one state, but also by practical economic considerations. In a meeting recorded in the Hossbach Memorandum on November 5, 1937, Hitler stated that Germany was falling behind in the arms race due to economic challenges. He saw Austria and Czechoslovakia as targets for conquest, believing that by seizing these countries, he could plunder their economies to bolster Germany's military might.
Austria, a German-speaking nation, had a significant number of Austrian Nazis who supported Hitler's regime. In early 1938, these Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Nazi Germany. This conspiracy prompted Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to meet with Hitler, hoping to preserve Austria's independence. However, Hitler coerced Schuschnigg into naming top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet and eventually forcing him to resign on March 11, 1938.
Hitler's invasion of Austria was met with little resistance, and he was able to install a new Nazi government. The seizure of Austria demonstrated Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions and his willingness to violate the Versailles Treaty. The annexation of Austria was a significant step in Hitler's plan to expand his realm and exploit the resources of conquered nations to strengthen Germany's position in the lead-up to World War II.
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Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions
Hitler's seizure of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the first act in his aggressive territorial expansion. The annexation of Austria in 1938 demonstrated Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions and his willingness to violate the Versailles Treaty. This move was also an attempt to unite all Germans into one state, which was welcomed by many Germans in Austria and Germany.
Hitler's interest in Austria can be traced back to the early 1930s when his popularity in Germany was increasing, and he had been appointed chancellor. Austrian Nazis gained supporters, and the country's politics became increasingly unstable, with infighting and political violence. In 1934, Austrian and German Nazis attempted a coup, which failed, resulting in the outlawing of the National Socialist Party in Austria. However, the National Socialist movement in Austria continued its illegal activities, and German Nazis actively supported them.
Hitler's ambitions for Austria became clearer in 1936 when he was unsatisfied with an agreement between Austria and Germany, which allowed for the release of imprisoned Nazis in exchange for recognition of Austrian sovereignty. By 1937, Hitler was openly discussing his plans to seize Austria and Czechoslovakia, as recorded in the Hossbach Memorandum. He believed that the economic gains from these invasions would help Germany gain the lead in the arms race with Britain and France.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. Hitler invited the Austrian chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, to Germany and forced him to agree to give Austrian Nazis more power. Schuschnigg called for a national vote on the question of annexation, but before this could take place, he resigned under pressure from Hitler. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, and Hitler accompanied them, met by enthusiastic crowds. This invasion gave Hitler the cover to annex Austria outright, and a controlled plebiscite in April showed a 99.7% approval for the union.
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Hitler's interest in Lebensraum (living space)
Hitler's interest in Lebensraum, or "living space", was a significant factor in his decision to seize Austria. The concept of Lebensraum was a geopolitical idea that land expansion was necessary for the survival and prosperity of the German people. This concept was not unique to Hitler, as it had been popularized in German politics since the 1890s and was especially prominent in the early 20th century. Renowned German geographer Friedrich Ratzel coined the term in 1901, and it became a geopolitical goal of Imperial Germany during World War I.
Hitler, however, took the idea of Lebensraum further. He believed that Germany's survival and transformation into a world superpower depended on expanding its geopolitical presence and securing adequate living space for the German people. In his unpublished second book, he expressed concern about Germany's inability to feed itself from its own land and resources. He admired the United States' territorial expansion and saw the destruction of Native American peoples and cultures as a model for German expansion. He intended to replicate this in occupied Europe, with the ultimate goal of establishing a Greater German Reich.
Hitler's interest in Lebensraum was a driving force behind his military conquests and racial policies. He looked eastward for Germany's expansion, targeting Central and Eastern European countries, including Austria, as he believed that the East offered "incalculable raw materials", "rich forests", and "incalculable farmlands". He added a racist element to Lebensraum by claiming that the Soviet Union was run by Jews, which justified Germany's right to take Russian land.
Hitler's strategic program for Greater Germany was based on the belief in the power of Lebensraum, especially when pursued by a racially superior society. People of non-Aryan races within the territory of Lebensraum expansion were subjected to expulsion or destruction. The eugenics of Lebensraum assumed the right of the German Aryan master race to remove indigenous people in the name of their own living space. This led to intensive planning for the mass starvation of over 30 million people in preparation for German colonization.
Thus, Hitler's interest in Lebensraum played a significant role in his decision to seize Austria as part of his larger expansionist agenda.
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Frequently asked questions
Hitler seized Austria as part of his aggressive territorial ambitions and pan-German nationalist ideology.
The seizure of Austria by Nazi Germany was called the "Anschluss".
Anschluss means "political union" or "annexation".
The Anschluss occurred on March 12, 1938, when German troops marched into Austria.
While many Austrians, particularly Austrian Nazis, welcomed the union with Germany, others opposed it. Austrian socialists, for example, reacted with "disgust".
