Anschluss was the annexation of Austria into Germany, on March 12-13, 1938. The independence of Austria was restored in April 1945, after its occupation by Allied forces toward the end of World War II, and legalized by the 1955 State Treaty that dissolved the Anschluss.
After the collapse of Austria-Hungary as a result of World War I, two German states appeared on the political map: Germany and Austria. The latter was considered an unviable and artificial formation due to its’ small size, and the loss of industrial capacities and agricultural lands. The movement for reunification was very strong on both sides, especially in the immediate aftermath of the war, but it was artificially held back by the victorious countries. In March 1931, the governments of Germany and Austria made a proposal for a customs union. However, the victorious countries opposed this.
With the advent of Hitler in Germany, the Anschluss became part of Germany’s official foreign policy. In all state structures of Austria, agents of the Nazi regime were being introduced. At the same time in Austria, the idea of Anschluss with the Nazi dictatorship began to provoke active rejection. Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss banned the activities of the Nazi Party in Austria. Unlike other ultra-right regimes of those years, Austro-fascism relied on the strong support of the clergy, and denied the very possibility of foreign influence on Austria’s political affairs.
Realizing that their crude methods of influence didn’t give the desired result, the German government changed tactics, including the SD and Gestapo, and significantly increased diplomatic pressure on the Austrian government, led by Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnig. Trying to delay the denouement, Schuschnig concluded an agreement on July 11, 1936, with the Third Reich; according to which Austria actually undertook to follow the line of German policy. For its part, Germany recognized the sovereignty and independence of Austria, and promised not to exert any pressure on its’ foreign policy. To confirm the provisions of the treaty, Schuschnig appointed Austrian Nazis to various administrative posts, agreed to allow some of their organizations to the Fatherland Front and, finally, amnestied several thousand convicted Nazis.
Even more favorable for Hitler was the situation in 1937, when the Western powers began to consider the seizure of Austria not as an act of aggression and a revision of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, but as a step toward pacification of Germany. In November 1937, the English Prime Minister, during negotiations with Hitler, gave his government’s consent to “acquire” Austria by Germany. British Prime Minister Chamberlain stated in Parliament that Austria cannot count on the protection of the League of Nations.
On February 12, 1938, the Austrian Chancellor was summoned to the Nazi residence of Berchtesgaden, where, under the threat of an immediate military invasion, he was forced to sign an ultimatum of three points, which practically placed the country under the control of Berlin and practically turned it into a German protectorate. Austrian Nazi leader Artur was appointed Minister of the Interior and head of the detective police, which provided the Nazis complete control over Austrian law enforcement; A new political amnesty was declared for the Nazis, who still had restrictions on liberty or civil rights; the Austrian Nazi Party joined the Fatherland Front.
Hitler’s Ultimatum
On March 13, 1938, a plebiscite was going to be held on the question of Austria’s independence. Afraid of rejecting the idea of uniting on a plebiscite, Hitler reacted to the plebiscite announcement by an order to mobilize the 8th Army, intended for the invasion of Austria. On March 10, he delivered the ultimatum to the Chancellor and began mobilizing supporters. The next day, the abolition of the plebiscite and the resignation of Schuschnig in favor of Seyss-Inquart in an ultimatum, was demanded by Hermann Goering. On instructions from Berlin, the Austrian National Socialists occupied the administration of the Chancellor.
In the afternoon of March 11, Schuschnig agreed to the abolition of the plebiscite, and in the evening, Hitler obtained his consent to resignation and transfer of power to Seyss-Inquart. Schuschnig announced his resignation on the radio, and ordered the Austrian army to retreat in the event of German troops entering Austria, and not enter into hostilities. Austrian President Wilhelm Miklas resisted entrusting the formation of a new government to Seyss-Inquart, but Miklas eventually capitulated.
Anschluss of Austria
On the night of 11 to 12 March 1938, German troops, previously concentrated on the border in accordance with the plan entered the territory of Austria. The Austrian army, which received an order not to resist, capitulated.
March 13 at 7pm, Hitler solemnly entered Vienna, accompanied by Chief of the High Command of the German Armed Forces, Wilhelm Keitel. On the same day, the law “On the Reunification of Austria with the German Empire” was published, according to which Austria was declared “one of the lands of the German Empire” and henceforth became known as the “Ostmark”.
O April 10, Germany and Austria held a plebiscite about the Anschluss. According to official data, 99.08% of residents voted for the Anschluss in Austria, 99.75% of the vote in Austria.
Effects
Having joined with Austria, Hitler received a strategic springboard for the seizure of Czechoslovakia and further offensives in Southeast Europe and the Balkans, sources of raw materials, human resources and military production. As a result of the Anschluss, the territory of Germany increased by 17%, the population by 10%. Austrians, in general, were loyal to Hitler until the fall of the Third Reich.
During the Second World War, the allied countries of the anti-Hitler coalition took a course toward the annulment of the Anschluss. After the end of the war, Austria was separated from Germany, all previously included territories were returned to it; however, it also carried out the occupation regime. In accordance with the Agreement of control over Austria, the country was divided into zones in which the occupying troops of the four Allied Powers were stationed. The control over Austria continued until 1955, when the country was restored as an independent state.