Eleanor Finch
Adolf Hitler's diplomacy played a significant role in the Anschluss, the annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938. Hitler's desire for a union with Austria dated back to his earliest writings and speeches, and he saw it as a way to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe and unite all German-speaking nations. Hitler used diplomacy and coercion to achieve his goals, exploiting Austria's political instability and economic troubles, cultivating support for unification, and pressuring Austrian chancellors Dollfuss and Schuschnigg to make concessions. Despite attempts to appease Hitler, Italy's reluctance to intervene, and warnings from anti-appeasers like Winston Churchill, Hitler ultimately achieved the annexation of Austria through a combination of diplomacy and force, marking a significant step in his expansionist agenda.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Hitler's desire for unification | To unite all German-speaking nations in Europe as part of Germany |
| Hitler's motivation for unification | To achieve the "Heim ins Reich" ("back home to the realm") concept |
| Hitler's goal for Austria | To annex Austria and achieve a union (Anschluss) with the country |
| Hitler's strategy for unification | To destabilise Austria, undermine its independence, and gain control of key government posts |
| Nazi Party's role | Cultivated pro-unification tendencies in Austria and sought to undermine the Austrian government |
| Nazi Party's tactics | Infiltrated the German Workers' Party (DAP) and used propaganda to spread nationalist ideas |
| Nazi Party's support | Gained supporters in Austria due to Hitler's increasing popularity in Germany |
| Nazi Party's foreign policy | Signed the German-Polish Non-Aggression Pact to ensure Poland did not ally with France |
| Nazi Party's military expansion | Established the Luftwaffe, increased the size of the German Army, and agreed to the Anglo-German Naval Agreement |
| European powers' response | Appeasement, allowing Hitler to continue his expansionary policies |
| Austria's response | Attempted to preserve independence through diplomatic alliances and agreements |
| Austria's political situation | Characterised by infighting, political violence, and a weak, divided Austrian Nazi Party |
| Austria's eventual fate | Annexation by Germany, resulting in its transformation and the persecution of its Jewish population |
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What You'll Learn
Hitler's expansionary policies
Hitler's desire for an Austro-German union was long-standing, expressed in his earliest writings and speeches. This desire was not simply a matter of nationalism but also served strategic purposes. Austria, rich in raw materials and labour, shared a border with the Sudetenland, a largely German-speaking area within Czechoslovakia that Hitler sought to control. By 1937, rapid German rearmament increased the Nazi regime's interest in annexing Austria.
Hitler's expansionism was not limited to Austria. He sought to incorporate as many ethnic Germans outside Germany as possible, a concept known as "Heim ins Reich". This included targeting German-speaking nations in Europe, such as Czechoslovakia, which he saw as a primary target for his desired "living space" (Lebensraum). Hitler's expansionist goals were laid bare in the Hossbach Memorandum, a record of a secret meeting in 1937, where he discussed his plans for foreign policy, declaring that the time for a war of expansion was near.
Hitler's diplomacy played a crucial role in his expansionist agenda. In the case of Austria, he employed a combination of coercion, infiltration, and destabilisation. He pressured Austrian chancellors, demanded key government posts for Nazis, and ordered Austrian Nazis to create chaos to justify a potential invasion. He also took advantage of international agreements, such as the German-Austrian Agreement of 1936, to advance his goals. By the time of the Anschluss in 1938, Hitler had successfully undermined Austrian independence and exploited the country's political instability.
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The remilitarisation of the Rhineland
From the outset, Germany objected to the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. Despite their objections, Germany signed the Treaty of Locarno in 1925, which reaffirmed the demilitarised status of the Rhineland. However, German military and diplomatic leaders considered this status temporary and sought opportunities to remilitarise the region. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Reichswehr planned for potential wars against France and Poland, anticipating the remilitarisation of the Rhineland. They maintained barracks, stored military supplies, and constructed versatile towers along the border in preparation.
The rise of Hitler and the Nazi regime in January 1933 marked a critical turning point. Hitler was determined to pursue his expansionist agenda, which included the unification of Germany with his native homeland, Austria, and the acquisition of the Sudetenland, a predominantly German-speaking region within Czechoslovakia. In March 1933, German Defence Minister General Werner von Blomberg began making plans for the remilitarisation of the Rhineland, and paramilitary Landspolizei units in the region received secret military training and weapons.
Hitler seized an opportunity to act in 1936. Using the Franco-Soviet Treaty of Mutual Assistance as a pretext, he ordered 20,000 German troops to march into the Rhineland on March 7, 1936, in direct contravention of the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Treaties. This move caused celebrations across Germany and shifted the balance of power in Europe towards Germany. Both France and Britain, reluctant to risk war, chose not to enforce the treaties, allowing Hitler's expansionism to go unchecked.
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Hitler's manipulation of Austria's political instability
The political climate in Austria during the early 1930s was characterised by significant instability and a sense of national crisis. The country had been struggling with economic depression, political polarisation, and a growing sense of disillusionment with the democratic system. This environment provided an ideal backdrop for Hitler and his Nazi Party to exploit and manipulate public sentiment.
Hitler's leadership played a crucial role in the annexation of Austria, also known as the 'Anschluss', in 1938. By this time, Austria had been experiencing political turmoil, with various parties vying for power and a strong sense of anti-semitism permeating the population. The country's political landscape was fragmented, with no single party holding a clear majority. This political instability made it easier for Hitler to gain support and exert control.
Hitler's ability to manipulate public opinion, address national concerns, and present the annexation as a beneficial union contributed to the successful and relatively peaceful integration of Austria into the German Reich. He presented the Anschluss as a natural and inevitable union, appealing to the Austrian people's sense of unity and shared history with Germany. Through his speeches, Hitler emphasised the benefits of being part of a greater German nation, promising economic prosperity and a brighter future. This persuasive approach resonated with many Austrians, who may have felt a sense of national pride and a desire for stability during a time of political uncertainty.
Hitler's strategic use of propaganda also played a significant role in manipulating public opinion. He employed various media outlets, including newspapers, posters, and radio broadcasts, to spread his message far and wide. These propaganda efforts portrayed the Anschluss as a peaceful and harmonious event, showcasing Hitler's leadership as a force for good. The Nazi regime also manipulated historical narratives, emphasising the shared Germanic heritage of Austrians and Germans, which further strengthened the public's acceptance.
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The German-Austrian Agreement of 1936
Under the terms of the agreement, Austria declared itself a "German state" and agreed to align its foreign policy with Germany's. In exchange, Germany promised to respect Austrian sovereignty and independence, and Austrian Nazis imprisoned in Germany were released. Additionally, members of the National Opposition were allowed to enter the Austrian cabinet, and the Austrian Nazis pledged to end their terrorist attacks against the government.
However, the agreement did not satisfy Hitler, and the pro-German Austrian Nazis continued to gain strength. Hitler had long desired a union between Germany and his native homeland, Austria, as expressed in his early writings and speeches, including "Mein Kampf." He saw this union as a way to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe and achieve his expansionist goals.
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The German invasion of Austria
Hitler's intentions for an Austro-German union were clear from the outset. The first point of the Nazi Party Platform in 1920 demanded "the union of all Germans in a Greater Germany on the basis of the right of national self-determination." Hitler's autobiography, Mein Kampf, also outlined his vision for the future relationship between Austria and Germany, reflecting his belief that Germans had been denied the right of self-determination by the postwar international borders.
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Austrian Nazi Party was weak and divided. However, with Hitler's rise to power in Germany in 1933, the Austrian Nazis gained more supporters, and Hitler worked to strengthen the party in Austria. In 1934, Hitler ordered the Austrian Nazis to create chaos in Austria, leading to an attempted coup that resulted in the assassination of Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss. Despite this setback, Hitler continued his efforts to destabilize Austria and undermine its independence.
In 1938, German Chancellor Hitler invited Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg to his summer retreat, where he demanded key government posts for Nazis in Austria. Schuschnigg compromised, but Hitler continued to orchestrate unrest in Austria. When Schuschnigg announced a referendum on the union with Germany, Hitler threatened an invasion and pressured Schuschnigg to resign. On March 12, 1938, the German army crossed the border into Austria unopposed, and a controlled plebiscite on April 10 showed 99.7% approval for the union.
The Anschluss had significant implications for Europe. It added seven million people and an army of 100,000 to Germany's Reich, along with valuable resources such as steel, iron ore, and foreign exchange reserves. It shifted the balance of power in southeastern Europe, increasing Germany's influence in the Balkans and surrounding Czechoslovakia on three fronts. The invasion also marked a significant act of appeasement by other European powers, allowing Hitler to continue his expansionist policies unchecked.
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Frequently asked questions
The Anschluss was the political union of Austria with Germany, achieved through annexation by Adolf Hitler in 1938.
Hitler played a significant role in the Anschluss. He had expressed his desire for an Austro-German union in his early writings and speeches, and as Chancellor of Germany, he fully intended to bring this about. He used diplomacy and coercion to pressure Austrian chancellors Dollfuss and Schuschnigg, and ultimately threatened an invasion.
Hitler wanted to redraw the map of post-World War I Europe, as he considered the postwar international borders unfair and illegitimate. He wanted to unite all German-speaking nations in Europe into a "Greater Germany". Additionally, Austria was rich in raw materials and labour, and its annexation would increase Germany's power and influence in southeastern Europe.
The Anschluss transformed Austria. Overnight, Austria ceased to exist as a country, and Austrian Nazis carried out the Nazification of all aspects of Austrian life, with the enthusiastic participation of many Austrians. Austria's Jewish population was persecuted, and Austria fought in World War II, participating in the mass murder of Europe's Jews. The Anschluss also shifted the balance of power in southeastern Europe in favour of Germany and surrounded Czechoslovakia on three fronts.
The Anschluss was met with alarm by some, such as Winston Churchill, who believed that Hitler should have used negotiation and diplomacy rather than force. However, the other European powers did not punish Germany for violating international treaties, and their acceptance of the Anschluss was a significant act of appeasement that allowed Hitler to continue his expansionary policies unchecked.
