- Hitler's arguments for Anschluss with Germanic peoples living outside the Reich
What is Anschluss?
Anschluss is a German word meaning “annexation” or “connection”, and was the term used in Nazi propaganda to reference the annexation of Austria to Nazi Germany in the spring of 1938.
Austrian Nazi strategy was a long campaign of violence and chaos within the country before Hitler set a meeting with Chancellor Schuschnigg in 1938. At the meeting, Hitler proposed an agreement that would place members of the Nazi party in prominent positions throughout Austrian government and threatened a full-on armed invasion if he didn’t sign. Both chancellor and President Miklas signed the document, and Hitler gave a speech on February 20th of that year stating that all German people leaving outside of Germany (such as those in Austria and Czechoslovakia) had the right to “protection” from the German Reich.
In a last-ditch effort to save Austria from Nazi control, Chancellor Schuschnigg proposed a poll asking the Austrian population if they’d like to declare independence, this enraged Hitler and he ordered Operation Otto to begin the formal occupation of Austria.
On March 12, 1938, Adolf Hitler entered Austria on the same day the new Austrian government passed a law solidifying their status as a province of the German Reich. Another “vote” was run on April 10th, when the heavily coerced and frightened masses of Austria voted with 99% certainty that they’d like to be absorbed by Germany.
Austrian Nazi strategy was a long campaign of violence and chaos within the country before Hitler set a meeting with Chancellor Schuschnigg in 1938. At the meeting, Hitler proposed an agreement that would place members of the Nazi party in prominent positions throughout Austrian government and threatened a full-on armed invasion if he didn’t sign. Both chancellor and President Miklas signed the document, and Hitler gave a speech on February 20th of that year stating that all German people leaving outside of Germany (such as those in Austria and Czechoslovakia) had the right to “protection” from the German Reich.
In a last-ditch effort to save Austria from Nazi control, Chancellor Schuschnigg proposed a poll asking the Austrian population if they’d like to declare independence, this enraged Hitler and he ordered Operation Otto to begin the formal occupation of Austria.
On March 12, 1938, Adolf Hitler entered Austria on the same day the new Austrian government passed a law solidifying their status as a province of the German Reich. Another “vote” was run on April 10th, when the heavily coerced and frightened masses of Austria voted with 99% certainty that they’d like to be absorbed by Germany.
Hitler’s Justification for
Annexing Austria
Austrian Social Democrats had supported a union with Germany since before 1920, as well as a long-term goal of Austrian-born Adolf Hitler. As a pro-Nazi sentiment began brewing in 1930s Austria, Hitler saw his opening at last. Chancellor Schuschnigg initially entered his agreement with Hitler in a sort of appeasement strategy, agreeing to appoint a Nazi the chief of Austrian police and allowing for greater influence from the Reich.
The German foreign minister Hermann Goering faked a cry for help in March 1938 from within the Austrian government (from a planted Nazi within their ranks) to justify their invasion. Soon after Austria became a state of the German Reich, they began conducting their usual persecutions of political dissidents and Jewish peoples. The annexation of Austria was just another step in Adolf Hitler’s rise to political power, continental domination, and the extermination of Jews. As we saw with much of his ascent to power, he was aided by the initial appeasement of high ranking officials in the Austrian government.
The German foreign minister Hermann Goering faked a cry for help in March 1938 from within the Austrian government (from a planted Nazi within their ranks) to justify their invasion. Soon after Austria became a state of the German Reich, they began conducting their usual persecutions of political dissidents and Jewish peoples. The annexation of Austria was just another step in Adolf Hitler’s rise to political power, continental domination, and the extermination of Jews. As we saw with much of his ascent to power, he was aided by the initial appeasement of high ranking officials in the Austrian government.
History.com staff. (2009). Hitler announces an Anschluss with Austria - Mar 12, 1938 - HISTORY.com. Retrieved from http:// www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hitler-announces-an- anschluss-with-austria
Stokes, P. (2011, May 10). Anschluss - The Annexation of Austria - 1938. Retrieved from secondworldwar.co.uk/index.php/biography- of-adolf-hitler/144-anschluss-the-annexation-of-austria-1938
Stokes, P. (2011, May 10). Anschluss - The Annexation of Austria - 1938. Retrieved from secondworldwar.co.uk/index.php/biography- of-adolf-hitler/144-anschluss-the-annexation-of-austria-1938