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Questions and Answers
Anschluss means 'annexation'
False
The Post WWI Peace Conference dismantled the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War I.
True
Adolf Hitler's first attempt to unite Austria with Germany was in 1933.
False
The Anschluss was part of Hitler's expansionist agenda aimed at establishing Greater Germany by uniting all ethnic Germans living throughout Europe.
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Mussolini had opposed the first attempt at Anschluss in 1934
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Engelbert Dollfuß, the Chancellor of Austria in 1934, supported the incorporation of Austria into Nazi Germany.
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Adolf Hitler believed that the union of Germany and Austria was a matter of national necessity.
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Seyss-Inquart was the Austrian Chancellor at the time of the Anschluss.
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The Austrian Nazi Party, led by Arthur Seyss-Inquart, played a major role in fomenting political unrest in Austria.
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Chancellor Schuschnigg 'angered' Hitler by calling for a referendum.
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Seyss-Inquart replaced Kurt Schuschnigg as Chancellor of Austria
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After marching troops in, Hitler organised a plebiscite in which Austrians 'rejected' the Anschluss.
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France and Britain threatened Germany with military intervention if Germany 'occupied' Austria.
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Hitler marched the 8th Army of the German Wehrmacht (Army) Austria on March 12, 1938
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Hitler's popularity at home decreased after the Anschluss of 1938.
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Study Notes
The Anschluss of 1938
- The Anschluss was a defining moment in European history, marking Nazi Germany's annexation of Austria in 1938.
- The seeds of the Anschluss were sown in the aftermath of World War I, when the Treaty of Versailles dismantled the Austro-Hungarian Empire, leaving Austria a vulnerable nation.
Historical Context
- In 1934, Hitler's first attempt to unite Austria with Germany, the failed July Putsch, underscored his desire for a greater German Reich.
- By 1938, Hitler had consolidated power in Germany and sought to bring Austria into the fold to fulfill his vision of a unified German nation.
The Role of the Austrian Nazi Party
- The Austrian Nazi Party, led by Arthur Seyss-Inquart, played a crucial role in fomenting unrest and destabilizing the government of Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg.
The Annexation
- Facing mounting pressure, Schuschnigg attempted to assert Austrian independence in February 1938 by calling for a referendum on the country's future.
- However, under threat of invasion, he was forced to resign, paving the way for Seyss-Inquart to assume power and invite German troops into Austria.
- On March 12, 1938, German forces crossed the border unopposed, greeted by jubilant crowds and met with minimal resistance.
International Response
- The response from the international community was mixed, with some nations offering tacit support and others condemning the Anschluss as a flagrant violation of international law.
Consequences of the Anschluss
- The Anschluss brought not only territorial expansion but also strategic advantages, including access to Austria's resources and manpower.
- It bolstered Hitler's popularity at home, consolidating his power and reinforcing his status as the undisputed leader of the German people.
Austria
- The Austrian state was established after World War I and was made up of German speakers.
- Austria's political climate during this time was characterized by intense nationalism and anti-French sentiment, which would eventually contribute to the country's incorporation into Nazi Germany.
Adolf Hitler
- Adolf Hitler rose to prominence as the leader of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, commonly known as the Nazis.
- Hitler believed that Germany could only achieve greatness through expansionist policies, which would eventually lead to the conquest of Austria and Czechoslovakia.
Nazi Germany
- Nazi Germany was characterized by its totalitarian regime, which enforced strict control over every aspect of society and life in Germany from 1933 to 1945.
- Under Hitler's leadership, the country embarked on a campaign of aggression and expansionism aimed at establishing Greater Germany.
Consequences of the Anschluss (Continued)
- Following the Anschluss, Austria effectively became a province of Nazi Germany, with its own cabinet minister being appointed as a Reich Commissioner.
- The annexation of Austria brought approximately two-thirds of prewar Austrian troops into the Wehrmacht, along with most army and air force officers.
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Description
Delve into the historical context of the Anschluss of 1938, a defining moment in European history that marked Nazi Germany's annexation of Austria. Learn how the event was influenced by the aftermath of World War I and the dismantling of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
