Lyla Lindsey
Austria was under pressure in 1935 due to the rise of Nazism and the desire for unification with Germany. After Hitler's rise to power in 1933, the Nazis sought to incorporate ethnic Germans outside Germany into a Greater Germany. This put pressure on Austria, which had a significant German population. The Austrian government, led by Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, tried to maintain independence and suppress Nazi supporters, but they faced increasing pressure from pro-unification activists and the threat of invasion from Nazi Germany. By 1938, Austria was diplomatically isolated, and despite attempts to hold a referendum on independence, it ultimately succumbed to German annexation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nazi Germany's desire for unification | Austria was seen as an integral part of the Nazi "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept, which sought to incorporate as many Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans outside Germany) as possible into a "Greater Germany"</https://>. |
| Nazi infiltration and influence in Austria | Nazi Germany's agents cultivated pro-unification tendencies in Austria and sought to undermine the Austrian government. |
| Austrian political and diplomatic isolation | Austria lost the support of Fascist Italy, which drew closer to Nazi Germany in 1935-1936, and was diplomatically isolated by early 1937-1938. |
| Austrian government's repression of dissent | An authoritarian right-wing government kept perhaps half the population from voicing legitimate dissent, preventing concerted resistance to Nazi influence. |
| Nazi terrorism and propaganda | Austrian Nazis continued terrorist attacks and propaganda campaigns against the Austrian government, causing a significant death toll between 1934 and 1938. |
| International community's lack of intervention | The international community, including Britain and France, showed little interest in maintaining Austrian independence. |
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's rise to power in Germany
Austria was under pressure in 1935 due to the rise of Nazi Germany and its desire for unification. By 1935, Adolf Hitler was a well-known figure in Germany with widespread support. He rose to power during a time of economic and political instability in the country, which made it difficult for the government to govern. The Nazi Party, led by Hitler, became the largest elected party in the Reichstag by 1933, and Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany by German President Paul von Hindenburg on January 30, 1933.
Hitler's rise to power can be traced back to 1919 when he joined the German Workers' Party, which later became the Nazi Party. The Nazi Party was one of many radical new political movements active in Germany during the early 1920s. In November 1923, the Nazis attempted to overthrow the government in what became known as the Beer Hall Putsch. This failed coup resulted in Hitler's arrest and a temporary ban on the Nazi Party.
Following his release from prison in 1924, Hitler restructured the Nazi Party to create groups for different professions and ages, such as the Hitler Youth and the League of German Girls. He also changed tactics and focused on winning elections democratically rather than trying to seize power by force. Beginning in 1930, the Nazi Party started to gain more votes, largely due to the economic and political crisis in Germany. Joseph Goebbels, who joined the Nazi Party in 1924, played a key role in using propaganda to increase the party's appeal and build an image of Hitler as a strong and stable leader.
By 1932, the Nazi Party's electoral successes made governing Germany difficult. Hitler demanded to be appointed chancellor, and in January 1933, he was offered the position without the right to rule by presidential decree. He initially refused, but after continued economic and political instability, Hindenburg appointed him chancellor in 1933. This marked the beginning of Nazi Germany and its desire for unification with other German-speaking countries, including Austria.
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Nazi pressure on Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg
Kurt Schuschnigg, an Austrian politician, was the Chancellor of the Federal State of Austria from 1934 to 1938. Schuschnigg considered Austria a "German state" and Austrians to be Germans, but he was strongly opposed to Adolf Hitler's goal of absorbing Austria into the Third Reich and wished for it to remain independent.
In 1935, Schuschnigg used the police to suppress Nazi supporters. Police actions under Schuschnigg included gathering Nazis and holding them in internment camps. However, his efforts to keep Austria independent ultimately failed. In 1938, under increasing pressure from pro-unification activists, Schuschnigg announced that there would be a referendum on a possible union with Germany. He scheduled a plebiscite (referendum) for Sunday, March 13, 1938, asking voters to support or reject Austrian independence.
Hitler, however, had other plans. He pressured Schuschnigg to cancel the plebiscite and resign, threatening to invade Austria if he did not comply. On March 11, 1938, Schuschnigg gave in to Hitler's demands and resigned. In his radio address, he instructed Austrians and the Austrian military not to resist German troops if they invaded. He was unwilling to fight a war or spill blood for Austrian independence.
After his resignation, Schuschnigg was placed under house arrest in Vienna. He was then imprisoned by the Nazis and kept in solitary confinement. He was eventually interned in various concentration camps until he was liberated by the advancing United States Army in 1945. Schuschnigg emigrated to the United States, where he became a professor of political science at Saint Louis University from 1948 to 1967 and gained American citizenship in 1956.
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Austria's isolation after Italy's conquest of Abyssinia
Austria was under immense pressure in 1935 due to the rise of Nazism and the country's proximity to Nazi Germany. By 1935, Adolf Hitler had risen to power in Germany, and the Nazis were actively working to undermine the Austrian government and push for unification with Germany.
Now, here is a detailed account of Austria's isolation after Italy's conquest of Abyssinia:
The Italo-Abyssinian War:
In October 1935, Italy, under the rule of Benito Mussolini, invaded Abyssinia, which was one of the few remaining independent countries in Africa at the time. This invasion, known as the Italo-Ethiopian War or the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, lasted from 1935 to 1937. Italy sought to expand its empire and fulfill its expansionist policies.
Impact on Austria:
- Shifting Alliances: Italy's invasion of Abyssinia caused a rift within the Stresa Front Alliance, which included Italy, France, and Britain. While Britain and France were officially disapproving of Italy's actions, they were more concerned about containing Nazi Germany's expansionist ambitions. They did not want to isolate Italy and push it closer to Germany. This dynamic left Austria without strong allies to counterbalance the growing threat from Nazi Germany.
- Isolation from Italy: Before the invasion, Italy's leader, Mussolini, had initially treated Austria as a buffer between Italy and Nazi Germany. However, as Italy drew closer to Germany during this period (1935-1936), Mussolini began pressuring the Austrian leadership to cooperate with the Germans. This shift in Italian policy isolated Austria further and removed a potential guarantor of its independence.
- Nazi Infiltration: While Italy was occupied with the war in Abyssinia, Nazi Germany took advantage of the situation to cultivate pro-unification tendencies in Austria. They continued to undermine the Austrian government and push for unification with Germany, which further weakened Austria's position.
- Lack of International Support: The international community, particularly Britain and France, showed little interest in maintaining Austrian independence. They were more focused on managing the threat posed by Nazi Germany and were willing to accept an Austro-German union as inevitable.
- Internal Pressures: Austria was also facing internal pressures at the time. The Austrian Nazis, who had attempted a failed coup in 1934, continued their terrorist attacks and efforts to unify with Germany. This created a sense of instability and further weakened Austria's position in the eyes of the international community.
In conclusion, Italy's conquest of Abyssinia in 1935 contributed to Austria's isolation and increased the pressure it was already facing from Nazi Germany. The shifting alliances and dynamics in Europe left Austria without strong allies, and the growing influence of Nazi ideology within the country further exacerbated the sense of isolation.
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The failed Austrian coup of 1934
On 25 July 1934, 154 Schutzstaffel (SS) men disguised as Bundesheer soldiers and policemen entered the Austrian chancellery. They assassinated Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss, who was shot twice by Nazi Otto Planetta. The remaining Austrian government officials managed to escape. Another group of Nazis occupied the RAVAG radio building and broadcast a false report about the transfer of power from Dollfuss to Anton Rintelen, which was to be the call for Nazis across Austria to begin an uprising against the state.
The coup attempt, known as the July Putsch, was defeated by the Austrian police, military, and paramilitary units loyal to the government. There was fighting in several locations across Austria, and the failed coup resulted in the deaths of between 223 and 270 people.
After the defeat of the coup, many leading Austrian Nazis fled to Germany, where they continued to push for unification. The remaining Austrian Nazis continued terrorist attacks against Austrian governmental institutions, causing a death toll of more than 800 between 1934 and 1938. Kurt Schuschnigg became the new chancellor of Austria, and he followed a similar political course to his predecessor. In 1935, Schuschnigg used the police to suppress Nazi supporters, interning them in camps.
By 1938, Austria was facing an increasingly aggressive Nazi Germany, and the international community showed little interest in maintaining Austrian independence. On 12 March 1938, German troops crossed the border into Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. Chancellor Schuschnigg resigned and was placed under house arrest, and Austrian president Wilhelm Miklas appointed the Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as chancellor.
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The Austrian Civil War
On March 4, 1933, Engelbert Dollfuss, the Christian Social chancellor, suspended the Austrian Parliament, declaring that it had ceased to function and blocking attempts to reconvene it. This move left the Social Democrats without their primary platform for political action. Dollfuss's government began to rule by decree, suspending civil liberties and imprisoning members of the Social Democratic Party.
In February 1934, the calling of a general strike sparked the Austrian Civil War. The fighting was particularly intense in Vienna, where the battles were fought for control of large municipal housing estates, including Karl-Marx-Hof, Reumannhof, and Sandleiten. The use of artillery by the government forces, the imbalance in numbers between the two sides, and the failure of the general strike call contributed to the defeat of the Protection League. The civil war ended on February 15, 1934, with the government forces, supported by the Heimwehr, emerging victorious.
The aftermath of the Austrian Civil War had significant consequences for the country's political landscape. The Social Democrats were targeted by the government, with many of their leaders arrested and incarcerated. Chancellor Dollfuss was assassinated by Austrian Nazis in July 1934, in a failed coup attempt. This led to a wave of repression against the Austrian Nazis, with many fleeing to Germany, from where they continued to push for unification with Nazi Germany. The Austrian Civil War weakened Austria's ability to resist National Socialism, setting the stage for the country's eventual annexation by Nazi Germany in March 1938.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria was under pressure from Nazi Germany, which sought to undermine the Austrian government and unify the two countries. In 1935, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg used the police to suppress Nazi supporters, interning them in camps.
The Austrian government took several measures to resist Nazi pressure. In 1934, Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss suppressed a coup attempt by Austrian Nazis, which resulted in his assassination. Following this, the Austrian Nazi Party was banned, and many of its members fled to Germany. Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, Dollfuss's successor, continued to resist Nazi pressure by using the police to suppress Nazi supporters and attempting to maintain Austrian independence.
The international community's response to the situation in Austria was mixed. Italy, under Benito Mussolini, initially supported Austria and treated it as a buffer between Italy and Nazi Germany. However, after Italy's conquest of Abyssinia in 1935, Mussolini was internationally isolated and began to strengthen his relations with Hitler, abandoning his support for Austria. By 1937-1938, Austria was diplomatically isolated, and the international community showed little interest in maintaining its independence.
