Austria’s journey towards annexation by Germany is rooted in its complex history. From 1867 to 1918, Austria was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a dual monarchy that ended with World War I. After the war, the Republic of German Austria emerged briefly before being replaced by the First Austrian Republic in 1919. However, Austria’s independence was short-lived, as German forces entered Austria on March 12, 1938.
To understand why many Austrians supported the annexation, we need to look back to the 19th century. After the Holy Roman Empire dissolved in 1806, there were discussions about forming a unified German nation. Austria hoped to lead this union under the Habsburg dynasty. However, the dissolution of the German Confederation in 1866 excluded Austria from any German union. This exclusion fueled a desire among some Austrians for a closer relationship with Germany.
After Austria-Hungary’s defeat in World War I, the idea of a union with Germany resurfaced. The Republic of German Austria was created with hopes of uniting with Germany. However, the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint Germain in 1919 prevented this union. Despite these treaties, many Austrians still favored unification with Germany.
In the 1930s, the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party) gained power in Germany. This complicated the push for unity. Some Austrians began to support not only the idea of a German-Austrian state but also the ideology of the Nazi Party. In 1934, a pro-Nazi group attempted a coup in Austria, assassinating Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss. However, the coup failed as the Austrian military opposed it.
In 1936, Germany and Austria reached an agreement where Austria would maintain its sovereignty but align with Germany in foreign affairs. Pro-annexation Austrians were allowed to join the government, but this agreement was unstable. Adolf Hitler, the German Chancellor, was determined to achieve his vision of a “greater Germany.”
By 1937, Germany decided that annexing Austria was necessary to strengthen its economy and military. Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, feeling the pressure, met with Hitler in February 1938. Hitler demanded that pro-union activists be given positions of power in Austria. Schuschnigg reluctantly agreed, but the situation quickly escalated.
On March 9, 1938, Schuschnigg called for a national vote on annexation, but he resigned before it could take place. On March 12, German troops entered Austria without resistance, and the annexation was officially declared on March 13.
The annexation of Austria by Germany was driven by a combination of historical ties, ethnic and linguistic similarities, and a significant portion of the Austrian population’s desire for unity. Nationalism and political pressure played crucial roles in this decision. Despite the loss of independence, many Austrians saw the annexation as a fulfillment of long-held aspirations for a united German state.
Research the historical events leading up to the annexation of Austria by Germany. Focus on the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Republic of German Austria, and the First Austrian Republic. Prepare a presentation to share your findings with the class, highlighting key events and their significance.
Participate in a class debate on whether the desire for unity with Germany was justified from the Austrian perspective. Divide into two groups, with one supporting the annexation and the other opposing it. Use historical evidence to support your arguments.
Engage in a role-playing activity where you assume the roles of key figures such as Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, Adolf Hitler, and other political leaders of the time. Reenact the events leading up to the annexation, focusing on the political maneuvering and agreements.
Analyze the impact of the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint Germain on Austria’s aspirations for unification with Germany. Write a short essay discussing how these treaties influenced Austrian politics and public opinion in the interwar period.
Write a creative story from the perspective of an Austrian citizen in March 1938. Describe your thoughts and feelings about the annexation, considering the historical context and the political climate. Share your story with the class to explore diverse perspectives.
The fate of Austria for some time seemed to be a destiny lacking sovereignty and true independence. From 1867 through 1918, the nation was locked in the dual monarchy of Austria-Hungary until their defeat in World War I brought about a split. By this point, the Republic of German Austria was born and lasted only a short time before being replaced in September of 1919 by the First Austrian Republic. The new state survived just under two decades, with Austrian autonomy being challenged once more as the Germans marched onto Austrian soil on March 12, 1938.
To understand why the Austrians allowed, if not welcomed, the German invasion, it’s important to look back in time a little further, spanning back into the 19th century around the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806. Talks of creating a greater Germany to form one united nation made up of each of the smaller German states had already begun. The Austrians particularly wanted this union to take place under the Austrian Habsburgs, and discussions of such a federation continued roughly until the dissolution of the German Confederation in 1866, which strictly excluded Austria from any German union. The Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy was formed the following year with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867. While this new formation allowed Austria to have a union in some form, there were still many Austrians who were loyal only to Germany and wanted to see the new empire crumble in favor of a union with the Germans.
When Austria-Hungary did finally break apart after its defeat in World War I, German Austria was formed in hopes of creating a new partnership between Austria and Germany. Unfortunately for those in favor of a true union, both the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty of Saint Germain in 1919 obstructed the possibility of unity between Austria and Germany. Regardless of all signs pointing toward a free Austrian state, especially with the new formation of the First Austrian Republic, there was still an overwhelming majority within the Austrian borders that was determined to support any type of unification with Germany.
When the National Socialist German Workers’ Party came to power in the Weimar Republic of Germany at the start of the 1930s, the push for unity became even more complex. An increasing number of Austrians began to not only support the idea of a German-Austrian state but some also began to back the ideology of the newly powerful German party as well. This escalated to the point where a group in favor of Germany’s Workers’ Party staged a coup organized on German soil and supposedly assisted by the German Chancellor and his officials in 1934. The group successfully assassinated the Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss, expecting the Austrian military to take their side, but the military leaders instead opposed them, and the government was not overthrown as they had hoped.
On May 21st of the following year, the German Chancellor gave a speech to the Reichstag addressing his potential involvement in the coup, stating that Germany neither intends nor wishes to interfere in the internal affairs of Austria, to annex Austria, or to conclude a union with Austria. However, it appears that he did in fact wish to conclude a union. Back in 1920, the Chancellor’s Workers’ Party had created their program, which explicitly addressed their demand for the unification of all Germans in the greater Germany on the basis of the people’s right to self-determination. Adolf Hitler himself went even a step further, and in 1921 he wrote an essay in which he said that one of the top priorities of the Germans was to incorporate the 10 million German Austrians in the empire and called for the dethroning of the Habsburgs.
This scathing essay directly criticizing the Austrian Habsburgs was not completely a surprise, especially considering the fact that the German Chancellor was actually from Austria himself and had high hopes for uniting his birth country with the one he now ruled. Due to ethnicity and language, the solution to this predicament was no longer simple, as the First Austrian Republic found itself heavily controlled by an anti-annexation Christian Socialist Party and moving rapidly in the direction of a more centralized and Austro-fascist government that seemed to take more inspiration from Italy than Germany after the February Uprising in 1934. Italy also seemed to encourage the maintenance of Austrian sovereignty away from Germany, possibly out of concern for maintaining some of their own territories that were once controlled by Austria.
Still, the support of Germany’s party by an Austrian faction was growing. The use of propaganda and slogans, such as “One People, One Empire, One Leader,” helped the expanding movement. An American journalist, John Gunther, even believed that the Austrian population was around 80 percent in favor of a union with Germany in 1932. Over the next few years, however, support did fluctuate in response to the attempted coup and violence from the pro-annexation group that hoped to take down the contemporary government. Gunther supposed that by 1933, the tide had turned and it was more likely around 60 percent of the population now against a union, but that would not remain the case entirely.
After the assassination of Engelbert Dollfuss, Kurt Schuschnigg became the new Chancellor of Austria. The Austrian government now attempted to round up those who were in favor of a unification with Germany and placed them into internment camps. Schuschnigg hoped to grow Austrian nationalism by referring to Austria as the “better German state.” The new leader’s almost desperate attempts to quell the call for a union prompted the German Chancellor’s speech to the Reichstag, despite his long-stated goal of uniting the nations at all costs.
A meeting between the Germans and Austrians then occurred in 1936, resulting in an agreement between the countries that the internment camp prisoners would be released and Germany would respect Austrian sovereignty, although Austria was required to style itself a German state and follow their parent nation’s lead in all foreign affairs. The pro-annexation faction in Austria also promised to refrain from continued violence against the government in return for the right to join the cabinet. While this deal may have put Schuschnigg’s mind at ease, it was never very reliable. Adolf Hitler had no real intention of giving up his “one empire” dream, and the push for unification continued.
By the end of summer 1937, the Germans decided that Austria would most likely need to be taken by force in order to utilize its economy to fix Germany’s own crumbling economy so they could get back on top in the arms race against France and Britain. By this point, Chancellor Schuschnigg knew that the pressure for the union was becoming too strong to ignore, and he agreed to meet with his German counterpart. The two leaders convened at Berchtesgaden on February 12, 1938, to discuss the future of their nations. The German Chancellor offered an unexpected proposal to reaffirm Austrian autonomy but only if Schuschnigg would put some of the pro-union activists into positions of power, particularly appointing Arthur Seyss-Inquart to the position of Minister of Public Security, which gave him full authority over all police matters.
Chancellor Schuschnigg felt concerned, knowing that he was running out of options to maintain Austrian independence, so he agreed to the German terms. Only eight days later, Germany began to reveal its hand. On February 20th, the German Chancellor made a speech, broadcast live and aired to the Austrian radio network, stating clearly that the German Reich is no longer willing to tolerate the suppression of 10 million Germans across its borders, referring directly to the Germans currently residing in both Austria and Czechoslovakia. The following month, on March 9th, the Austrian Chancellor, feeling as pressured as ever, called for a national vote on the matter of annexation, but before the vote could even occur, he resigned.
Only two days later, on March 11th, Schuschnigg had hit his breaking point and could no longer handle the threat of the Germans. In his resignation address, he begged the Austrian people not to fight the coming annexation. The next day, the German Chancellor accompanied his troops and tanks onto Austrian soil, where they faced zero resistance and overwhelming enthusiasm from the Austrian people. On March 13th, the union was officially proclaimed, and Austria ceased to exist as a nation. After a long plea and sometimes violent fight for a union, Austria was now a federal state of Germany, and unification was complete.
The reason why Austria allowed German annexation appears to be abundantly clear. Although it may seem strange, it seems odd that any nation would be so desperate to maintain a lack of independence, as Austria generally did. This was the reason why Germany had very few obstacles to tackle before annexation, having the same ethnicity, language, and many people that wanted the union to happen, being encouraged by nationalism in a very difficult period and without true allies. Austria became a part of Germany.
Austria – A central European country with a rich history, known for its role in various historical events, including being part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. – Austria played a significant role in the events leading up to World War I, particularly after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Germany – A country in Central Europe, which has been a major player in European and world history, particularly during the 20th century. – Germany’s unification in 1871 marked a significant shift in the balance of power in Europe.
Annexation – The act of adding or incorporating a territory into another political entity, often by force or without the consent of the territory being annexed. – The annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 was widely condemned by the international community.
Nationalism – A political ideology that emphasizes the interests and culture of a particular nation, often leading to the desire for independence or political dominance. – Nationalism was a driving force behind the unification of Italy and Germany in the 19th century.
Empire – A large political unit or state, usually under a single leader, that controls many peoples or territories. – The British Empire was the largest empire in history, at its height covering a quarter of the world’s land area.
Unity – The state of being united or joined as a whole, especially in a political context. – The call for European unity after World War II led to the formation of the European Union.
Treaty – A formally concluded and ratified agreement between countries. – The Treaty of Versailles officially ended World War I and imposed heavy reparations on Germany.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Understanding history is crucial for learning from past mistakes and successes.
Politics – The activities associated with governance, or the debate between parties having power. – The politics of the Cold War era were dominated by the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Ideology – A system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy. – The ideology of communism played a central role in shaping the policies of the Soviet Union.
