Anschluss
Annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938.
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The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, known as the Anschluss, took place on 12 March 1938. The concept of a "Greater Germany" uniting Austria and Germany first emerged after the 1871 unification of Germany, which left Austria and its German-speaking population outside the Prussian-led empire. This idea gained traction following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. The newly formed Republic of German-Austria sought to merge with Germany, but the 1919 treaties of Saint Germain and Versailles prohibited both the union and the use of the name "German-Austria." These treaties also stripped Austria of territories like the Sudetenland, leaving the country without most of its long-held lands and facing economic hardship.
During the 1920s, the Anschluss proposal enjoyed strong backing in both Austria and Germany, especially among left-leaning and centrist Austrians. A key supporter was Social Democrat leader Otto Bauer, who served as Austrian foreign minister in 1918–1919. The main argument for unification was that Austria, having lost its imperial territories, could not sustain itself economically. Over time, popular support for the union waned, though the idea remained present in Austrian political discussions.
On 30 January 1933, Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany. From that point, the desire for unification became linked to the Nazi regime, which saw it as part of the "Heim ins Reich" policy—bringing ethnic Germans outside Germany into a larger Reich. Nazi agents fostered pro-unification sentiment in Austria and worked to undermine the Austrian government, then led by the Fatherland Front, which opposed unification. In July 1934, Austrian Nazis attempted a coup, during which Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was assassinated. The coup failed, forcing many leading Austrian Nazis to flee to Germany, where they continued pushing for unification.
On 5 November 1937, Hitler told his military aides he planned to annex Austria and Czechoslovakia. He then pressured Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg into a meeting. Although Schuschnigg considered Austria a "German State," he strongly resisted annexation into the Greater Germanic Reich.
- Date
- 12 March 1938
- Type
- Annexation
- Parties
- Nazi Germany, Federal State of Austria
- Key figure
- Adolf Hitler
- Result
- Austria incorporated into Nazi Germany
- Plebiscite result
- 99.7% approval on 10 April 1938
Lore & Background
The Anschluss idea gained support after the Austro-Hungarian Empire fell in 1918. The new Republic of German-Austria attempted to form a union with Germany, but the 1919 Treaty of Saint Germain and Treaty of Versailles forbade the union and stripped Austria of territories such as the Sudetenland, leaving it amid economic crisis. By the 1920s, the proposal had strong support in both Austria and Germany, particularly from many Austrian citizens of the political left and center, including Social Democrat leader Otto Bauer. Popular support faded with time, though it remained in political discourse.
Reader's Guide
The Anschluss represented a key step in Nazi Germany's expansionist policy, integral to the 'Heim ins Reich' concept of incorporating ethnic Germans into a 'Greater Germany'. After Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany on 30 January 1933, pro-unification efforts intensified, including an attempted coup in July 1934 that led to the assassination of Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss. On 12 February 1938, under threat of military invasion, Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg accepted an ultimatum to appoint Arthur Seyss-Inquart as Minister of the Interior and Security. Schuschnigg announced a referendum for 13 March, but on 11 March Hitler demanded its cancellation and Schuschnigg's resignation. Schuschnigg resigned, and Seyss-Inquart, as his successor, invited German forces to cross the border on 12 March, unopposed. A plebiscite on 10 April showed 99.7% approval. The annexation ended Austrian sovereignty and was a precursor to further Nazi aggression.
Did You Know?
- The Anschluss was also known as the Anschluß Österreichs, meaning 'Annexation of Austria'.
- Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was assassinated by Austrian Nazis during an attempted coup in July 1934.
- A plebiscite on 10 April 1938 resulted in 99.7% approval of the annexation.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Anschluss and when did it take place?
The Anschluss was the forced annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany, finalized on 12 March 1938. It ended Austrian independence and folded the country directly into Hitler's Reich.
Why did the idea of a unified German state including Austria exist long before 1938?
The 1871 unification of Germany under Prussia excluded Austria and its German-speaking population, which bred a persistent longing for a 'Greater Germany.' That desire sharpened after the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed in 1918, when the new Republic of German-Austria tried to merge with Germany but was blocked by the treaties of Saint Germain and Versailles.
What actually happened on 12 March 1938?
German military forces crossed the border into Austria, and the Austrian government under Chancellor Schuschnigg was compelled to permit the takeover. Austria was then formally reorganized as a province within Nazi Germany.
What did the April 1938 plebiscite show, and is it considered legitimate?
On 10 April 1938 a referendum was held in which 99.7% of voters reportedly approved the union with Germany. Because the vote was conducted under military occupation and without free campaigning, historians broadly regard the result as coerced rather than a genuine expression of popular will.
Why does the Anschluss matter in the broader story of World War II?
It proved that Hitler could seize territory through intimidation and show of force without provoking a military response from France, Britain, or other powers. That perceived impunity directly emboldened his next moves, including the pressure on the Sudetenland, and helped set the trajectory toward full-scale war.
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