The annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, was a critical event in the lead-up to World War II. This political union between Germany and Austria occurred in March 1938 and marked the beginning of Nazi expansionism in Europe. The process was marked by a combination of coercion, political maneuvering, and strategic exploitation of existing tensions within Austria. But how did this takeover unfold?
The Background: Austria’s Vulnerability
Austria in the early 1930s was politically unstable, grappling with the aftermath of World War I, economic hardship, and a fragmented political landscape. The Treaty of Saint-Germain, which ended World War I, had forbidden Austria from uniting with Germany, partly due to fears of a resurgent German empire. However, by the mid-1930s, Austrian political life was dominated by a split between two main factions: the Austrian Nazis (who were loyal to Adolf Hitler and sought unification with Germany) and the conservative, pro-monarchy government led by Engelbert Dollfuss and later Kurt Schuschnigg.
The political climate in Austria was further exacerbated by the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany, who sought to expand his influence and control over the entire German-speaking world, including Austria. This desire was rooted in the concept of Lebensraum (living space), which called for the incorporation of Austria and other territories into a Greater Germany. Austria was, therefore, vulnerable to Nazi pressure and influence.
Nazi Influence and Covert Operations
In the years leading up to 1938, Nazi Germany began secretly supporting pro-Nazi groups within Austria. Hitler’s regime funneled funds and resources to the Austrian Nazi Party, which had been operating underground. This support bolstered the Nazi cause in Austria, despite its official illegality. Austrian Nazis attempted to seize power on multiple occasions throughout the 1930s, including an attempted coup in 1934, but were thwarted by the Austrian government.
At the same time, Hitler applied constant diplomatic and economic pressure on Austria. Germany used propaganda to spread Nazi ideology within Austria, portraying the unification of the two nations as a natural and inevitable outcome for the German-speaking peoples.
The Role of Kurt Schuschnigg and His Weaknesses
Kurt Schuschnigg, who became Austria’s chancellor in 1934, initially resisted Nazi pressure. Schuschnigg attempted to maintain Austria’s independence through a combination of authoritarian rule and appeasement to some pro-German elements within Austria. In 1936, Schuschnigg’s government signed an agreement with Hitler, known as the Austrian-German Agreement, which allowed the Nazi Party to operate legally in Austria in exchange for guarantees of Austrian sovereignty. However, this agreement proved to be a weak concession, and Hitler's ambitions for Austria’s integration into the Third Reich only grew stronger.
By early 1938, Schuschnigg faced increasing pressure from Hitler to allow for greater Nazi influence within the Austrian government. In a desperate attempt to preserve Austrian independence, Schuschnigg scheduled a plebiscite for March 13, 1938, asking the Austrian people whether they supported the country’s independence from Nazi Germany.
The Nazi Invasion: March 12, 1938
Hitler, determined to annex Austria without facing international opposition or allowing for any resistance, moved swiftly. On March 12, 1938, just days before the plebiscite, German troops were ordered to march into Austria. The invasion, which took place with little opposition, was presented as a "liberation" of the Austrian people. Hitler’s propaganda machine immediately began broadcasting messages claiming that Austrians were welcoming the German troops as they entered the country.
The invasion itself was a mere formality. The Nazi army marched into Austria, and Hitler's puppet Austrian Nazi leader, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, was installed as the country’s new Chancellor. Schuschnigg, who was powerless to stop the invasion, resigned in disgrace, and soon after, Seyss-Inquart requested Germany’s intervention, effectively giving Hitler the pretext he needed to officially annex Austria.