Lyla Lindsey
The annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938 was a significant event in history, known as the Anschluss. It marked the political union of Austria with Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, and was the culmination of years of Austrian dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Saint Germain and the rise of pro-unification sentiments in both countries. This event had far-reaching consequences, triggering a wave of violence against Jewish people and their properties in Austria, and it also influenced American foreign policy, prompting criticism of Germany's aggressive expansionism and lawlessness.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 11-13 March 1938 |
| German Troops Enter Austria | 12 March 1938 |
| Referendum | 10 April 1938 |
| Result | 99.7% approval |
| Austrian Jews | 192,000 |
| Austrian Jews Remaining in 1939 | 57,000 |
| US Reaction | Criticism, establishment of an organisation for Austrian refugees, refusal to sell helium to Germany |
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What You'll Learn
- The annexation of Austria was the result of Austrian dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Saint Germain
- The Nazis cultivated pro-unification tendencies in Austria
- The annexation was followed by violence against Jews, who were driven through the streets and plundered
- The United States criticised the increasing lawlessness of Germany and formulated a foreign policy to respond to Hitler's aggressive foreign policy
- The Allied powers declared the Anschluss void at the end of World War II and re-established an independent Austria
The annexation of Austria was the result of Austrian dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Saint Germain
The annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938, known as the Anschluss, was the result of Austrian dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Saint Germain, signed in 1919. The treaty was imposed on Austria by the victorious Allies of World War I, and it had significant repercussions for the country. One of the key points of contention was the prohibition of a union between Austria and Germany, which angered both Austrians and Germans, who believed it would solve their financial problems and unite German speakers. This desire for unification became a central tenet of the Nazi ideology, known as "Heim ins Reich".
The Treaty of Saint Germain led to a significant reduction in Austria's land and resources. Austria lost territories such as Bohemia, Moravia, Dalmatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and parts of South Tyrol to neighbouring countries, leaving them with only 25% of their pre-war landmass. This loss of industrially productive areas severely restricted their economy and left them financially dependent on trade. The treaty also imposed limitations on the size of the Austrian army, further weakening their position.
Additionally, the treaty required Austria to refrain from compromising its independence, which meant that the country's name had to be changed from German-Austria to simply Austria. This change was particularly harsh for Austrian Germans, who constituted a vast majority and supported the idea of a single German nation-state. The economic weakness that followed the treaty further fuelled support for the idea of unification with Nazi Germany.
In the lead-up to the annexation, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government by force and unite with Germany. Under pressure from pro-unification activists, Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg announced a referendum on unification, which was ultimately manipulated by the Nazis to show overwhelming support for the Anschluss. On March 12, 1938, German troops crossed the border into Austria, unopposed, and Hitler proclaimed the unification of the two countries.
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The Nazis cultivated pro-unification tendencies in Austria
The annexation of Austria was an important event in history, known as the "Anschluss", which means "connection" or "joining" in German. This event occurred on March 12, 1938, when German troops marched into Austria and annexed the German-speaking nation for the Third Reich. This was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany, violating the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint-Germain, which expressly forbade the unification of the two countries.
The Nazis' desire for unification was an integral part of their "Heim ins Reich" concept, which aimed to incorporate as many ethnic Germans outside of Germany into a "Greater Germany". This ideology was present in the 1920 National Socialist Program, which stated, "We demand the unification of all Germans in the Greater Germany on the basis of the people's right to self-determination." This desire for unification was also expressed by Hitler in a 1921 essay, where he wrote about incorporating German-Austrians into the empire.
Austrian Nazis played a crucial role in cultivating pro-unification sentiments. In 1934, Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was assassinated by Austrian Nazis during a failed coup attempt. Following the coup's defeat, many leading Austrian Nazis went into exile in Germany, from where they continued their efforts to unify the two countries. They persistently pushed for unification, and in early 1938, they exerted enough pressure on the Austrian chancellor, Kurt Schuschnigg, to announce a referendum on unification.
The referendum, scheduled for March 13, 1938, was intended to decide between a possible union with Germany and maintaining Austria's sovereignty. However, Hitler threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign, causing the referendum to never occur. On March 12, German troops crossed the border into Austria unopposed, and Hitler accompanied them, receiving an enthusiastic welcome. The annexation was formalized on March 13, 1938, when the "Reunification with Germany Law" was passed, making Austria a German province.
The annexation of Austria was a significant event, not only because it was the first act of territorial expansion by Nazi Germany but also because it demonstrated the Nazis' disregard for international treaties and their aggressive foreign policy. It set a precedent for Hitler's expansionist agenda and allowed for the rapid Nazification of Austria, transforming the country almost overnight.
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The annexation was followed by violence against Jews, who were driven through the streets and plundered
The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938 was the regime's first act of territorial aggression and expansion. German troops entered Austria on March 12, 1938, and the annexation was proclaimed on March 13. This was followed by violence against Jews across the country, including in Vienna, where they were driven through the streets and their homes and shops were plundered.
The violence against Jews in Austria began immediately after the annexation. Austrian Nazis had license to attack Jews without fear of repercussions and forced them to participate in humiliating acts like cleaning public toilets and scrubbing the streets while crowds mocked them. The Jews of Vienna were specifically targeted, and their homes and shops were plundered. This wave of violence also extended to Jewish-owned property, with synagogues and prayer houses in Vienna being destroyed.
The campaign against the Jews culminated in the Kristallnacht pogrom of November 9-10, 1938, which took place across Germany, Austria, and the Sudetenland in the former Czechoslovakia, all of which had been annexed by the Third Reich. Over 6,000 Jews were arrested overnight, and the majority were deported to concentration camps in the following days. The mass deportation of Austrian Jews began in October 1941, with approximately 35,000 Jews sent to ghettos in Poland and Eastern Europe and another 15,000 sent to Auschwitz.
The persecution of Jews in Austria continued after the war, with insufficient restitution and compensation for the destruction and looting of their assets. In 1991, Chancellor Franz Vranitzky acknowledged the co-responsibility of Austrians for the suffering inflicted on the country's Jewish community. In 2002, an agreement was reached to resolve all remaining questions of compensation for destroyed or looted assets belonging to Jewish communities, with a payment of approximately $20 million finalized in 2005.
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The United States criticised the increasing lawlessness of Germany and formulated a foreign policy to respond to Hitler's aggressive foreign policy
The annexation of Austria was a significant event that highlighted Hitler's aggressive foreign policy and prompted a response from the United States. On March 12, 1938, German troops marched into Austria, and Austria became a federal state of Germany, known as the Anschluss. This annexation was the result of a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize control of the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. The United States, witnessing these events, criticised the increasing lawlessness of Germany and formulated a foreign policy to counter Hitler's aggressive actions.
Hitler's foreign policy was driven by his goal of establishing a racial hierarchy in Europe, with Germans as the "master race". He aimed to undo the restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, incorporate territories with ethnic Germans, acquire new lands in Eastern Europe, and build alliances. The annexation of Austria was a step towards achieving these goals.
The United States, recognising the threat posed by Hitler's expansionist agenda, took a stand against Germany's lawlessness. They criticised Germany's disregard for international borders and agreements established after World War I. The United States also opposed Germany's treatment of Jews, as waves of street violence against Jewish people and property followed the annexation.
In response to Hitler's aggressive foreign policy, the United States formulated a foreign policy aimed at countering Nazi Germany's influence and protecting democratic values. President Harry S. Truman, in his Truman Doctrine, sought to forestall communist domination in Greece and Turkey, marking a shift in US foreign policy and the official declaration of the Cold War.
Additionally, the United States worked with other international powers, such as Britain, France, and the Soviet Union, to contain Nazi Germany's aggression. The British, in particular, pursued a policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1937, making concessions to avoid war. However, Hitler's annexation of Czechoslovakia in March 1939 marked a turning point, leading to the British pledge of military support to Poland and a shift towards preparing for war.
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The Allied powers declared the Anschluss void at the end of World War II and re-established an independent Austria
The annexation of Austria, or the Anschluss, was a significant event in the lead-up to World War II. On March 12, 1938, German troops crossed the border and entered Austria, unopposed by the Austrian military. This action united the two countries under the Nazi regime, fulfilling Hitler's desire for an Austro-German union as outlined in his earliest writings and the Nazi Party Platform of 1920.
The annexation was not without warning signs. In early 1938, Austrian Nazis conspired to seize the Austrian government and unite with Nazi Germany. The Austrian Chancellor, Kurt Schuschnigg, attempted to resist by meeting with Hitler, but he was pressured into naming Nazis to his cabinet. Schuschnigg then called for a national vote on the question of annexation, but before this could take place, he gave in to Hitler's demands and resigned on March 11.
The annexation was met with enthusiasm by many Austrians, who welcomed Hitler and celebrated the unification. However, it also marked the beginning of a campaign of violence against the Jewish population in Austria, with their homes and shops plundered and synagogues destroyed.
Despite the acceptance of the Anschluss by other European powers at the time, the Allied powers declared it void at the end of World War II. In 1943, the Allies agreed in the Declaration of Moscow that Austria would be regarded as the first victim of Nazi aggression and treated as a liberated and independent country after the war. This decision was a significant shift, acknowledging that Austria had been forced into unification and recognising the need to restore Austrian sovereignty.
Following World War II, Austria was divided into four occupation zones, jointly occupied by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and France. Vienna, the capital, was similarly subdivided, with its historical centre declared an international zone. This joint occupation continued until 1955, with the country gradually regaining its independence. On 25 October 1955, Austria was finally free of occupying troops, and its parliament enacted a Declaration of Neutrality, refusing to join any military alliances. This marked the end of the Allied occupation and the re-establishment of a fully independent and neutral Austria.
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Frequently asked questions
The annexation of Austria was important because it was the cumulation of almost twenty years of Austrian dissatisfaction with the Treaty of Saint Germain, the lack of consistent political and economic support by the western democracies, and the international instability of the 1930s. It also represented a significant step in Hitler's plan for a "Greater Germany", which sought to incorporate as many ethnic Germans outside of Germany as possible.
The international reaction to the annexation of Austria was one of concern and protest. The United States, for example, was compelled to criticise the increasing lawlessness of Germany and formulate a foreign policy to respond more forcefully to Hitler's aggressive foreign policy.
The annexation of Austria resulted in widespread antisemitic actions and political violence. Austria's leading politicians were imprisoned, and anyone opposing Nazi rule was subject to arrest, torture, and death. Tens of thousands of Jews fled Nazi persecution, and by December 1939, only 57,000 Jews remained in Austria.
The annexation of Austria was a result of a conspiracy by Austrian Nazis to seize the Austrian government by force and unite their nation with Nazi Germany. Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg met with Hitler in an attempt to reassert his country's independence but was pressured into naming several top Austrian Nazis to his cabinet. A referendum was held on April 10, 1938, to approve the union, which was manipulated to indicate that about 99 percent of the Austrian people wanted the union.
