Lexi Webster
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi regime. It was a significant moment in Nazi Germany's foreign policy and demonstrated Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions. Hitler's invasion of Austria was driven by his belief in the superiority of the German race and his desire to acquire more territory, particularly in Eastern Europe. The international community's failure to intervene and hold Nazi Germany accountable for violating international treaties only served to embolden Hitler's aggressive foreign policy further. This event raises important questions about why Germany didn't stop after taking Austria and the subsequent choices available to other countries to respond to Germany's aggression.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Annexation | 12 March 1938 |
| Reason | Hitler believed in the "reunification" of Austria and Germany |
| He also wanted to restore the borders of Germany or Austria from a few decades prior | |
| He believed in the superiority of the German race and wanted to acquire more territory | |
| He wanted to incorporate German-speaking groups into the Reich | |
| He wanted to expand into Eastern Europe and Russia | |
| He wanted to oppose Communism | |
| He wanted to protect Germany and German minorities in other countries | |
| He wanted to fulfill his idea of lebensraum, or living space, for the Aryan people | |
| International Response | The British and French failed to intervene or punish Germany for violating the Versailles Treaty |
| The British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, stated that Britain had no treaty obligations with Austria | |
| Winston Churchill warned that countries should take "effective measures" to respond to Germany's aggression | |
| Austrian Response | Large sections of the Austrian population were pleased to see German troops |
| Austrian chancellor Schuschnigg resigned and pleaded with Austrian forces not to resist |
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's Austrian birth and desire to reclaim historical German lands
Adolf Hitler was born in Braunau am Inn in Austria-Hungary on 20 April 1889. He moved to Germany in 1913, at the age of 24. In his youth, Hitler began to develop German nationalist ideas, expressing loyalty only to Germany. He despised the declining Habsburg monarchy and its rule over an ethnically diverse empire. Hitler's nationalism was also influenced by the Austrian Christian Social Party (Christlichsoziale Partei) and its leader, the antisemitic politician Karl Lueger. Lueger used economic antisemitism and new political tactics to gain electoral support. Hitler later claimed that his antisemitic political ideology was formed in Vienna during this time.
Hitler's Austrian birth and subsequent move to Germany are important to understanding his desire to reclaim historical German lands. Hitler believed that the German people, whom he considered to be a "master race", needed to acquire more territory. He wanted to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe, considering the postwar international borders to be unfair and illegitimate. Hitler expressed his desire for an Austro-German union in his earliest writings and speeches. In Mein Kampf, he wrote about his vision for the future relationship between Austria and Germany:
> "The reunification [of Germany and Austria] is a life task to be carried out by all means! German-Austria must be restored to the great German Motherland… People of the same blood should be in the same REICH."
Hitler's annexation of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the Nazi regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. It marked a significant breach of the post-World War I international order. The international community did not intervene to stop the Anschluss or punish Nazi Germany for violating international treaties, setting a precedent for appeasement of Hitler's aggressive foreign policy.
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The failure of Britain and France to intervene
In March 1938, both Britain and France were facing significant political challenges. The British Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden, had just resigned over Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain's decision to negotiate with Italy's Fascist dictator, Mussolini. Meanwhile, the entire French government had resigned, leaving the country in a state of flux. This turmoil hindered any potential joint response to Germany's actions.
Additionally, Britain and France had pursued a policy of appeasement towards Hitler, hoping to avoid another European war. Chamberlain, in particular, was determined to appease Hitler, and there was little political will to confront Germany militarily. This stance was influenced by the belief that a union between Austria and Germany, both German-speaking nations, was not inherently threatening.
The British public also opposed the idea of another war in Europe. This sentiment further reduced the likelihood of Britain intervening in Austria.
The failure to act had significant consequences. It emboldened Hitler, reinforced his aggressive foreign policy, and shifted the balance of power in South-Eastern Europe towards Germany, increasing their influence in the Balkans. It also demonstrated a failure to uphold the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and St. Germain, which specifically prohibited the union of Austria and Germany.
In summary, the combination of political turmoil, a policy of appeasement, and a war-weary public contributed to Britain and France's inaction as Germany annexed Austria. This inaction had far-reaching implications for the future course of history.
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The support of the Italian dictator, Mussolini
The Italian dictator Benito Mussolini had a complex relationship with Hitler and Nazi Germany. Mussolini, a former socialist, was an Italian nationalist who harked back to the glories of ancient Rome. He was also a fascist and the founder of the National Fascist Party. As a dictator, he inspired the international spread of fascism during the interwar period.
Mussolini initially supported Hitler's rise to power in 1933, publicly praising it and hailing the rise of Nazism as an endorsement of his fascist ideology. However, in private, he was dismissive and scornful of Hitler, believing his ideas to be "coarse" and "simplistic". Mussolini, prone to narcissism and egomania, considered his own rise to power to be more glorious than Hitler's. Despite their differences, the two dictators managed to cooperate to varying degrees.
Mussolini provided some financial support to the rising Nazi Party and allowed the SA and SS to train with his paramilitary brigade, the Blackshirts. He also threatened Hitler with war if Germany invaded Austria, and opposed the Anschluss, promoting the Stresa Front against Germany in 1935. However, in 1936, he told the German Ambassador that Italy had no objections to Austria becoming a German satellite, removing a key obstacle to Italo-German relations. In the same year, Mussolini agreed to the Rome-Berlin Axis with Germany, and in 1939, he signed the Pact of Steel, binding the two countries in a full military alliance. Mussolini also supported Hitler during the Abyssinia Crisis of 1935-1936, invading and occupying Abyssinia (Ethiopia) himself, and later providing substantial military support to Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War.
Mussolini's support for Hitler and Nazi Germany was driven by his own ambitions and ideology. He saw opportunities for expansion and the creation of a new Roman Empire in Africa and the Balkans. He was also influenced by anti-Austrian Italian nationalist sentiments, believing that Italians in Austria-Hungary should be liberated from Habsburg rule. Additionally, Mussolini's anti-communist doctrines convinced many Catholics to actively support him. His pragmatic and opportunistic foreign policy centered on vindicating Italy's "mutilated victory" in 1918 and asserting its natural right" to supremacy in the Mediterranean.
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Hitler's belief in the superiority of the German 'master race'
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by the Nazi regime. It was also a significant moment in Nazi Germany’s foreign policy, as it demonstrated Hitler's aggressive territorial ambitions and the failure of the British and the French to take action against him for violating the Versailles Treaty. Hitler's belief in the superiority of the German master race was a crucial factor in his decision-making.
Hitler and the Nazis identified Germans as members of the Aryan race, which they believed to be the purest stock of Nordic people, including those from Germany, England, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. This ideology, known as Nazi racism or Nazi racial ideology, was based on Adolf Hitler's interpretation of race and was influenced by a mix of historical race concepts, anthropology, biology, racial biology, white supremacism, Nordicism, Social Darwinism, German nationalism, and antisemitism.
Hitler considered Germans to be the master race, at the top of the racial hierarchy, and believed that it was their destiny to rule over inferior races. In his book Mein Kampf, published in 1925, Hitler outlined his racist worldview, idealizing racial purity and racial struggle. He wrote, "We stop the endless German movement to the south and west, and turn our gaze toward the land in the East." This belief in German racial superiority provided justification for Nazi Germany's aggressive expansionist policies and its persecution of Jews, Slavs, Romani, and other groups considered inferior.
Hitler's belief in the superiority of the German master race was also influenced by his views on British colonialism. He admired Britain's role as a world power and colonial empire, seeing their brutality in the colonies and wars as a key feature of their success. This further reinforced his conviction that a master race should dominate and rule over inferior races. Additionally, Hitler's ideology was shaped by his opposition to Marxism, which promoted racial equality, and his belief in the racial inferiority of Russians and Slavs, whom he considered to be a threat to the German nation.
Hitler's determination to unite all Germans and create a Greater German Reich knew no bounds. He once exclaimed, "National Socialism would be worth nothing if it were restricted merely to Germany and did not seal the supremacy of the superior Race over the entire world for at least a thousand to two thousand years." This statement reflects his unwavering conviction in the superiority of the German master race and his ambition to establish their dominance globally.
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The German government's denial of interference in Austria
Initially, Hitler denied involvement in the failed coup attempt of 1934, orchestrated by the Austrian Nazi leader Theodor Habicht. This was a strategic move to bide time and plan for a successful takeover of Austria. Hitler's true intentions were laid bare in a secret speech by Göring in April 1937, where he emphasized the need to annex Austria to meet steel production targets. By early 1938, Hitler was actively considering replacing the ambassador to Austria with individuals loyal to the Nazi cause.
The Austrian chancellor, Schuschnigg, attempted to preserve Austrian independence and sovereignty in the face of growing German pressure. However, on February 12, 1938, Hitler presented Schuschnigg with a series of demands, including coordinating Austria's foreign and military policies with Germany and appointing a Nazi, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, to a position of power. Intimidated by the presence of German generals, Schuschnigg reluctantly signed the Berchtesgaden Agreement, further undermining Austrian independence.
Hitler's aggression escalated when he ordered the invasion of Austria on March 12, 1938, after Schuschnigg's last-ditch attempt to assert Austrian independence through a plebiscite. The German government's systematic agitation and economic sanctions against Austria, coupled with the presence of the paramilitary Austrian Legion on the border, all contributed to the eventual fall of Austria to Nazi control.
The international community's failure to intervene or punish Germany for violating international treaties further emboldened Hitler's expansionist agenda. The annexation of Austria set a precedent for appeasement and highlighted the determination of the Nazi regime to pursue territorial aggression, fueled by their toxic racial ideology and belief in the superiority of the German "master race."
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Frequently asked questions
Hitler's invasion of Austria, known as the Anschluss, was the first act of territorial aggression and expansion by Nazi Germany. It was driven by Hitler's belief in the superiority of the German race and his desire to acquire more territory, particularly in Eastern Europe. He saw the invasion as a reunification of Austria with Germany and a fulfillment of his ideology of lebensraum, or "living space" for the Aryan people.
The international community failed to intervene or punish Germany for violating international treaties. Britain and France did not offer assistance to Austria, and other world leaders remained silent. Winston Churchill was a notable exception, warning that countries should take "effective measures" to respond to Germany's aggression.
The Anschluss emboldened Hitler towards further aggression and territorial expansion. Austria existed as a federal state of Germany until the end of World War II, when the Allied powers declared the Anschluss void and reestablished an independent Austria.
