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The Anschluss of 1938: Germany's Annexation of Austria
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The Anschluss, or annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, occurred on March 12, 1938, marking a pivotal moment in the lead-up to World War II. This event was the culmination of years of political pressure, propaganda, and manipulation by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime, who sought to unite all German-speaking peoples under a single, authoritarian state.
After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles (1919) explicitly prohibited the union of Germany and Austria, fearing the creation of a dominant German state in Central Europe. However, many Austrians, particularly those with nationalist and pan-German sentiments, supported the idea of unification with Germany. The economic hardships of the Great Depression and political instability in Austria during the 1930s further fueled these desires.
In 1933, Hitler came to power in Germany and began pursuing his expansionist agenda. Austria, under the authoritarian rule of Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss and later Kurt Schuschnigg, resisted Nazi influence. However, the Austrian Nazi Party, supported by Berlin, grew increasingly powerful, engaging in acts of terrorism and political subversion.
By early 1938, Hitler intensified his efforts to force Austria into submission. In February, Schuschnigg met with Hitler at Berchtesgaden, where he was coerced into appointing Austrian Nazi Arthur Seyss-Inquart as Minister of the Interior. This move gave the Nazis control over Austria's police and security forces.
On March 9, 1938, Schuschnigg announced a plebiscite to allow Austrians to vote on independence. Fearing a defeat, Hitler demanded the cancellation of the vote and ordered the German military to prepare for an invasion. Under immense pressure, Schuschnigg resigned on March 11, and Seyss-Inquart assumed power. He immediately invited German troops to enter Austria to "restore order."
On March 12, 1938, German forces crossed the border into Austria, encountering no resistance. The occupation was met with widespread enthusiasm by many Austrians, who greeted Hitler with cheers and Nazi salutes as he traveled to Vienna. On March 13, the Anschluss was formally proclaimed, and Austria was incorporated into the German Reich as the province of Ostmark.
The Anschluss had profound and far-reaching consequences: 1. Political Repression: The Nazi regime swiftly dismantled Austria's democratic institutions, banned opposition parties, and began persecuting Jews, political dissidents, and other minority groups. 2. International Reaction: The international community, particularly Britain and France, responded with appeasement, unwilling to confront Hitler's aggression. This emboldened the Nazi regime to pursue further territorial expansion. 3. Economic Exploitation: Austria's resources, industries, and workforce were integrated into the German war machine, strengthening the Nazi economy. 4. The Holocaust in Austria: The Anschluss marked the beginning of systematic persecution of Austria's Jewish population, leading to mass emigration, deportation, and ultimately, the Holocaust.
The Anschluss remains a controversial and painful chapter in Austrian history. While many Austrians initially welcomed the union, the subsequent horrors of Nazi rule and the Holocaust have led to a reevaluation of this period. Today, Austria acknowledges its complicity in Nazi crimes and the importance of remembering this dark chapter to ensure it is never repeated.
The Anschluss was not merely a territorial expansion but a critical step in Hitler's broader plan for European domination, setting the stage for the catastrophic events of World War II.