Adolf Hitler was a native Austrian. He served in the German Army during the First World War, a time when the Austria-Hungry Empire occupied significantly more territory than post-war Austria. Not only geographic neighbors, but Austria and Germany also shared Germanic heritage. Many Austrians favored a merger with Germany as early as 1919. Hitler also sought to join Germany and Austria because of the genealogical ties ("Hitler Announces an Anschluss with Austria", 2017).
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Not only did Hitler seek to Anschluss or union with Austria, but he also wanted to join all German-speaking countries in Europe under the Third Reich. Hitler’s primary goal was uniting Austria with Germany but also the speaking region in Czechoslovakia, called Sudetenland. However, Hitler’s intentions would directly violate the Treaty of Versailles that stated German and Austria could never unite ("Hitler's Plans for Austria", 2014).
Austrian Nazi supporters.
Photo credit: Anne Frank WebGuide |
In the mid-1930’s, Austria had a significant national movement supporting the German Nazi party and the union with Germany under Hitler. In 1934, Hitler ordered pro-Nazi Austrians to terrorize the streets of Austria and overthrow the government if possible. The Austrian Chancellor, Dollfuss was murdered in the attempted coup that was stopped by the Austrian military. Additionally, Austria requested help from Italy to prevent a German invasion, and Mussolini sent Italian troops to the border to avoid Hitler’s intent ("Hitler's Plans for Austria", 2014). In 1938, Hitler met with Austrian Chancellor Dollfuss’ successor, Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg. At the meeting, Hitler strongly suggested that Schuschnigg allow a greater Nazi political presence and appoint a Nazi minister of police of Hitler’s choosing. Schuschnigg reluctantly obliged because Hitler threatened a German invasion of Austria ("Hitler Announces an Anschluss with Austria", 2017)
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Chancellor Schuschnigg, disturbed by Hitler’s mandate, requested a vote to allow the people of Austria to decide if they wanted to be members of Hitler’s Germany. Enraged, Hitler rallied German troops at the Austrian border and threatened invasion if Schuschnigg did not call off the vote. Schuschnigg no longer had support from Italy since Hitler and Mussolini joined in an alliance after the 1936 Spanish Civil War. Furthermore, France and Britain were having political problems and could not aid Austria. Schuschnigg subsequently called off the vote ("Hitler's Plans for Austria", 2014)
Taking advantage of the timing, Hitler had the Nazi Austrian Interior Minister, Seyss-Inquart request help from Germany to aide Austria restore order ("Hitler's Plans for Austria", 2014). German troops entered Austria on March 12, 1938. Hitler insisted that the Austrians vote to join Germany be held. It is unknown if the vote was rigged by the Nazis or if Austria sought a union with Germany, but the vote was 99.7 percent in favor of the Austria-Germany merger. On April 10, Hitler announced the Anschluss with Austria ("Hitler Announces an Anschluss with Austria", 2017).
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German troops crossing the Austrian border.
Photo credit: Imperial War Museum |
Mixed emotions from Austrians under Hitler's regime.
Photo credit: Jewish Currents |
Germany gained a lot more than the nostalgic Austrian reunion with Hitler’s Anschluss. Germany instantly added seven million people to its populous and bolstered the German Army by 100,000 troops. Austria also contained valuable resources such as iron ore and steel that would be invaluable in the war to come. Furthermore, Germany now surrounded Czechoslovakia on three sides and shifted the European balance of power as Germany quickly became a significant threat to the world, again ("Hitler's Plans for Austria", 2014).
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