Leslie Massey
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. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg attempted to reassert his country's independence but was coerced into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet and ultimately pressured to resign. The annexation was met with enthusiastic support from most Austrians, and throughout World War II, 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces. However, there were also instances of resistance and revolts against Nazi rule in Austria, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Germany's annexation of Austria | 12 March 1938 |
| Name of Germany's annexation of Austria | The Anschluss |
| Political parties in Austria that favoured a union with Germany | Social Democratic Party of Austria (SDAP), the nationalist Great German Union (Großdeutsche Vereinigung), which became the Greater German People's Party (Großdeutsche Volkspartei, or GVP) in 1920 |
| Political parties in Austria that were against a union with Germany | Austrian National Socialists (Deutsche Nationalsozialistische Arbeiterpartei, or DNSAP) |
| Number of Austrians who fought for the Nazi German armed forces during World War II | 950,000 |
| Number of casualties suffered by the Red Army in Austria | 94,185 |
| Number of Austrian civilians raped by the Red Army in Vienna alone | Between 70,000 and 100,000 women |
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What You'll Learn
Austria was annexed by Germany in 1938
Austria was annexed by Germany on March 12, 1938, in an event known as the Anschluss. The annexation occurred when German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This was the culmination of a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis, for the second time in four years, plotted to take control of the Austrian government by force. Upon learning of the conspiracy, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, hoping to reaffirm Austria's independence. However, Hitler coerced him into appointing several Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. On March 9, Schuschnigg called for a national vote to settle the question of annexation once and for all. Nevertheless, before the vote could take place, he yielded to Hitler's pressure and resigned on March 11. In his resignation speech, Schuschnigg pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist the German advance.
Hitler entered Austria with German troops on March 12, greeted by enthusiastic crowds. He appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the annexation was officially proclaimed. Austria became a federal state of Germany and remained so until the end of World War II. During this period, 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces, and many others participated in the Nazi administration, including death camp personnel and senior Nazi leadership.
The Allied powers declared the Anschluss void after the war and re-established an independent Austria. The majority of Austrians sought solace in the myth that their country was the first victim of the Nazis. However, it is important to note that antisemitism was widespread in Austria, even among high-ranking government officials, and many Austrians actively supported the annexation and participated in the Nazi regime.
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The annexation was supported by most Austrians
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, occurred on March 12, 1938, when German troops marched into the country to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This event was preceded by a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. When Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg learned of this plot, he met with Adolf Hitler to assert Austria's independence but was coerced into appointing Austrian Nazis to his cabinet.
The support for the annexation can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, there was a significant presence of Austrian Nazis who actively conspired to unite with Nazi Germany. Secondly, the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SDAP) favoured a union with Germany, which was also a republic at the time (Weimar Republic). Additionally, the absence of a thorough denazification process in Austria after World War II allowed factions of Austrian society to propagate the idea that Austria was the first victim of the Nazis, rather than an active participant.
However, it is important to note that public opinion about German annexation was not unanimously positive. In 1933, Austrian public opinion about annexation was estimated to be at least 60% against. Additionally, Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg attempted to resist the annexation by calling for a national vote on the issue. Unfortunately, he succumbed to pressure from Hitler and resigned before the vote could take place.
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Austrian Nazis had tried to seize the Austrian government
Austrian politics in the early 20th century was characterised by infighting and political violence. The rise of the Nazis in 1933 further exacerbated the situation. Austrian chancellors Engelbert Dollfuss and Kurt von Schuschnigg transformed Austria into a right-wing authoritarian regime. Dollfuss's government was diplomatically aligned with Fascist Italy and authoritarian Hungary, and he was committed to crushing the political left in Austria.
Austrian Nazis, however, continued to operate illegally within the country. In May 1933, they began a propaganda and terror campaign funded by Germany, aiming to undermine the Dollfuss regime. On July 25, 1934, Austrian Nazis attempted a coup, assassinating Dollfuss. Members of the Vienna SS took control of the Austrian chancellery, while other plotters seized control of the state radio station in Vienna and announced the coup. This led to considerable fighting in parts of Carinthia, Styria, and Upper Austria, and limited resistance in Salzburg.
The coup was only partially successful, and leading Austrian Nazis fled to Germany, forming the paramilitary Austrian Legion. Despite the failure, the Austrian Nazis continued terrorist attacks against the government, causing a death toll of over 800 between 1934 and 1938. Schuschnigg, Dollfuss's successor, initially followed a similar political course, using the police to suppress Nazi supporters and holding them in internment camps. However, facing increasing violence and pressure from Hitler, Schuschnigg eventually conceded to some of Hitler's demands, including the release of imprisoned Nazis and the appointment of Nazi sympathizers to his cabinet.
In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired for the second time to seize the Austrian government by force. Schuschnigg, upon learning of the plot, met with Hitler to negotiate, but ultimately gave in to his demands, resigning on March 11, 1938. In his resignation address, Schuschnigg pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance" into the country. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, annexing the nation for the Third Reich. Hitler appointed a new Nazi government, and Austria became a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II.
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Austria's chancellor was pressured to resign and appoint Nazis to his cabinet
Austria was annexed by Germany on March 12, 1938, in an event known as the Anschluss. In the lead-up to this, Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg attempted to maintain Austria's independence. However, he faced significant pressure from Nazi Germany and its leader, Adolf Hitler.
Schuschnigg's predecessor, Engelbert Dollfuss, had been assassinated by the Nazi Otto Planetta during the July Putsch in 1934. Schuschnigg, aware of the strong Nazi presence in Austria, attempted to prevent a German annexation by calling for a plebiscite, or referendum, on Austrian independence. This was scheduled for March 13, 1938. However, Hitler demanded that Schuschnigg appoint members of Austria's Nazi Party to his cabinet and give full political rights to the party, or face an invasion.
Fearing an invasion and potential bloodshed, Schuschnigg cancelled the plebiscite and, on March 11, 1938, he resigned from his position as chancellor. In his resignation address, he pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist a German "advance" into the country. Schuschnigg was imprisoned soon after resigning and spent time in various concentration camps. He was eventually liberated by the advancing United States Army in 1945.
Hitler accompanied German troops into Austria, where they were met with enthusiastic crowds. He appointed a new Nazi government, led by Arthur Seyss-Inquart as the new chancellor of Austria. On March 13, 1938, the Anschluss was officially proclaimed, and Austria became a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II.
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The annexation was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany
The annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria to annex the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. The annexation was the culmination of a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. The Austrian Chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg, attempted to maintain his country's independence by meeting with Adolf Hitler, but he was coerced into appointing Austrian Nazis to his cabinet and ultimately resigned on March 11.
Hitler accompanied the German troops into Austria, where they were greeted by enthusiastic crowds. He appointed a new Nazi government, and on March 13, the Anschluss was officially proclaimed. Austria became a federal state of Germany and remained so until the end of World War II. During this period, Austrians actively participated in the Nazi regime, with 950,000 Austrians fighting for the Nazi German armed forces and others serving in various administrative roles, including senior Nazi leadership positions.
The majority of Austrians initially supported the annexation, influenced by Nazi propaganda campaigns and slogans such as "Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer" ("One People, One Empire, One Leader"). However, by 1936, Austrian public opinion had shifted, with at least 60% opposing German annexation. The annexation of Austria was followed by widespread arrests, the suppression of political opposition, and the establishment of concentration camps.
After World War II, the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and reestablished an independent Austria. The Moscow Declaration of 1943 acknowledged Austria as the first victim of Nazi aggression but also held the country accountable for its participation. The lack of a comprehensive denazification process in Austria, compared to post-war Germany, allowed factions to promote the narrative of Austria as the first victim of Nazi aggression.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria was a country of approximately 6.5 million people between World War I and World War II, and most of these Austrians considered themselves ethnically German. Many Austrians enthusiastically welcomed the unification of Austria and Germany, and 950,000 Austrians fought for the Nazi German armed forces during World War II.
The annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the Nazi German regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. The annexation violated the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of Austria and Germany. However, the other European powers did not punish Nazi Germany for violating these international treaties, and world leaders like Britain's Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain remained silent, feeling that Austria was not worth fighting for.
The Soviet Union's Red Army suffered around 94,185 casualties in Austria, with 26,006 killed and 68,179 wounded. The Soviets occupied parts of Austria, including the capital Vienna, while Anglo-American troops entered from Germany and Italy. The Soviet conduct in Austria was similar to that in Germany, with looting and rape being prevalent.
The annexation resulted in an outburst of public violence against Austrian Jews, and many Austrians participated in the Nazi persecution of the country's Jewish population. Austrians held key roles in the Nazi administration, from death camp personnel to senior Nazi leadership, and the majority of the bureaucrats who implemented the Final Solution were Austrian.
