Ruqayyah Snyder
In March 1938, Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg called for a referendum (plebiscite) on Austria's independence, in an attempt to prevent German annexation. The vote was scheduled for March 13, 1938, but on March 11, Hitler threatened to invade Austria if the plebiscite was not called off and Schuschnigg resigned. Hitler's forces suppressed all opposition, with the German army crossing the border into Austria on March 12, 1938, unopposed by the Austrian military. This article will explore the reasons why Hitler stopped the Austrian plebiscite and the subsequent annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of planned Austrian plebiscite | 13 March 1938 |
| Reason for plebiscite | To assert Austrian sovereignty and independence |
| Reason Hitler stopped plebiscite | To prevent a vote on Austrian independence |
| Hitler's actions | Threatened invasion, demanded resignation of Austrian chancellor, demanded appointment of Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as chancellor, sent troops to Austria |
| Plebiscite held post-invasion | 10 April 1938 |
| Official plebiscite result | 99.73% in favour, with 99.71% turnout |
| Plebiscite result caution | Large-scale Nazi propaganda, abrogation of voting rights of 360,000 people (8% of eligible voters), lack of ballot secrecy |
| Estimated true support for Anschluss | 20% of Austrian population |
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's ultimatum to Schuschnigg
On 11 March 1938, Hitler sent an ultimatum to Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, demanding that he hand over all power to the Austrian Nazis or face an invasion. The ultimatum was set to expire at noon, but was extended by two hours. Hitler had already signed the order to send troops into Austria at 1 pm.
Hitler's ultimatum came in response to Schuschnigg's announcement that there would be a referendum on a possible union with Germany versus maintaining Austria's sovereignty. The plebiscite was scheduled for 13 March 1938, just four days after Hitler's ultimatum. Infuriated, Hitler demanded that Schuschnigg call off the plebiscite and resign, threatening an invasion of Austria by the German military if his demands were not met.
Schuschnigg desperately sought support for Austrian independence in the hours following the ultimatum but realised that neither France nor Britain was willing to offer assistance. That evening, he resigned, and Austrian radio announced the cancellation of the upcoming plebiscite. Within minutes of Schuschnigg’s resignation, swastika armbands and flags appeared on the streets, and Austrian Nazis seized power without bloodshed.
Hitler's forces suppressed all opposition. In the weeks between the Anschluss and the plebiscite, authorities rounded up Social Democrats, Communists, other potential political dissenters, and Austrian Jews, imprisoning them or sending them to concentration camps. A sham referendum on the Anschluss was held on 10 April 1938, alongside one in Germany. German troops had occupied Austria one month earlier, and the official result was reported as 99.73% in favour, with a 99.71% turnout.
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The suppression of opposition
Hitler's forces suppressed all opposition. Before the first German soldier crossed the border, Heinrich Himmler and a few Schutzstaffel (SS) officers landed in Vienna to arrest prominent representatives of the First Republic, including Richard Schmitz, Leopold Figl, Friedrich Hillegeist, and Franz Olah. During the few weeks between the Anschluss and the plebiscite, authorities rounded up Social Democrats, Communists, other potential political dissenters, and Austrian Jews, imprisoning them or sending them to concentration camps. Within a few days of 12 March, 70,000 people had been arrested. The disused northwest railway station in Vienna was converted into a makeshift concentration camp.
The plebiscite was subject to large-scale Nazi propaganda and the abrogation of the voting rights of around 360,000 people (8% of the eligible voting population), mainly political enemies, such as communists, socialists, and Austrian citizens of Roma or Jewish origin. The secrecy of the ballot was non-existent, with many marking the ballot paper in front of campaign workers.
Hitler's actions were motivated by his desire to prevent a demonstration of the little hold National Socialism had in Austria. The Austrian historian Alfred D. Low supports this, stating that one of the reasons why Germany did not allow the plebiscite was that the Nazi regime feared being defeated at the polls. According to estimates, in a fair plebiscite, the Anschluss would have been supported by only 20% of the Austrian population. According to some Gestapo reports, only a quarter to a third of Austrian voters in Vienna were in favour of the Anschluss, while in most rural areas, especially in Tyrol, the support was even lower.
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The role of Nazi propaganda
The Austrian plebiscite was an attempt by Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg to assert Austrian independence and prevent the German annexation of Austria. The referendum asked voters to support or reject Austrian independence.
Hitler was infuriated by the plebiscite and threatened to invade Austria if his demands were not met. He demanded that Schuschnigg resign and that Austrian president Wilhelm Miklas appoint Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as the new chancellor. Hitler's forces suppressed all opposition, arresting prominent representatives of the First Republic and rounding up Social Democrats, Communists, other political dissenters, and Austrian Jews, sending them to concentration camps.
The plebiscite was subject to large-scale Nazi propaganda and the abrogation of the voting rights of around 360,000 people, or 8% of the eligible voting population. The secrecy of the ballot was non-existent, with many voters marking their papers in front of campaign workers to avoid being suspected of voting against the Anschluss. Nazi propaganda was painted on the streets and sidewalks, urging voters to support Austrian independence. Hitler himself, along with other leading figures of the Nazi regime, held speeches as part of the propaganda campaign.
The official result of the referendum, held on April 10, 1938, was reported as 99.73% in favour, with a 99.71% turnout. However, this vote was likely manipulated through threats, coercion, and the Nazi propaganda machine. According to estimates, in a fair plebiscite, only around 20% of Austrians would have supported the Anschluss, while about 70% would have voted to preserve Austrian independence.
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The Austrian government's reaction
Hitler's plan was to have Seyss-Inquart call for German troops to enter Austria under the guise of restoring order, providing a veneer of legitimacy to the invasion. In the face of this threat, Schuschnigg announced the cancellation of the plebiscite, which was scheduled for March 13, 1938. He also resigned and, in his address to the nation, asked Austrians and the Austrian military not to resist German troops.
It is important to note that the Austrian Nazis played a significant role in these events. They had conspired to seize the government by force and unite Austria with Nazi Germany. Their presence and actions, including rioting and attacking their political opponents and Jews, further pressured the Austrian government to acquiesce to Hitler's will.
Overall, the Austrian government's reaction to Hitler's demands was a combination of initial resistance, attempts to assert independence, and, ultimately, capitulation in the face of overwhelming military and political pressure.
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The international community's response
France and Britain:
French and British governments were aware of Hitler's ultimatum to Schuschnigg and his threat to invade Austria if the plebiscite went ahead. However, neither country offered assistance or took steps to prevent Hitler's actions. This lack of intervention allowed Hitler to proceed with his plans unopposed.
Germany:
Hitler, infuriated by the prospect of the plebiscite, took a series of aggressive actions. He issued ultimatums to the Austrian government, demanding the resignation of Chancellor Schuschnigg and the appointment of a pro-Nazi chancellor, Arthur Seyss-Inquart. When these demands were not immediately met, Hitler ordered the invasion of Austria by German troops on March 12, 1938, effectively preventing the plebiscite from taking place.
Austria:
Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence and called for the plebiscite to be held on March 13, 1938. However, facing the German threat and realizing the lack of international support, he ultimately cancelled the plebiscite and resigned. The Austrian Nazis, led by Arthur Seyss-Inquart, seized power without facing armed resistance.
United States:
American journalist Edgar Ansel Mowrer, reporting from Paris for CBS News, offered a critical perspective on Hitler's actions. He suggested that Hitler's true intention was not to hold a fair plebiscite but to prevent the demonstration of the weak support for National Socialism in Austria.
Historical Analysis:
In the years following these events, historians and analysts have provided insights into the international community's response. British historian Donny Gluckstein noted the disgust expressed by Austrian socialists towards the endorsement of the Anschluss by certain political leaders. Hungarian historian Oszkár Jászi, writing in 1938, stated that the idea of the Anschluss was generally opposed by most political circles in Austria. Additionally, American historian Evan Burr Bukey cautioned that the result of the plebiscite held in April 1938 should be viewed with "great caution" due to the presence of large-scale Nazi propaganda and the suppression of opposition.
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Frequently asked questions
Hitler stopped the Austrian plebiscite because he wanted to prevent the world from seeing how little support National Socialism had in Austria. He was also infuriated by the idea of a plebiscite and wanted to suppress all opposition.
The Austrian plebiscite was a referendum called by Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg to assert Austrian independence and sovereignty.
The plebiscite was scheduled for Sunday, March 13, 1938.
Hitler invaded Austria on March 12, 1938, and annexed the country. A sham referendum was held on April 10, 1938, which showed 99.7% approval for the annexation, but this was manipulated through coercion and propaganda.
