Anschluss: When Countries Joined Together!

The concept of Anschluss, a unified German-speaking state, predates the Nazi era, stemming from the 19th-century nationalist movements and the exclusion of Austria from the unified German Empire in 1871. Following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, the newly formed Republic of German-Austria attempted to unite with Weimar Germany. However, this aspiration was explicitly forbidden by the Allied powers through the Treaties of Saint Germain and Versailles.

These treaties not only prohibited any union but also stripped Austria of significant territories and mandated the removal of 'German' from its official name, aiming to weaken its potential for resurgence. Despite these prohibitions, the idea persisted, fueled by economic instability in Austria and a sense of lost national identity among many Austrian Germans who felt their nation was not viable in isolation.

Adolf Hitler, an Austrian by birth, viewed the Anschluss as a cornerstone of his foreign policy and the realization of his 'Heim ins Reich' (Home into the Reich) doctrine. Upon his rise to power in 1933, he systematically began to cultivate and exploit pro-Anschluss sentiment within Austria, while simultaneously undermining the authority of the Austrian government, led by the Fatherland Front. The Nazis actively supported Austrian Nazi sympathizers and engaged in political agitation.

This culminated in the violent July Putsch of 1934, during which Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was assassinated by Austrian Nazis. Although the coup failed, it demonstrated the internal divisions and the external threat posed by Nazi Germany, forcing many leading Austrian Nazis into exile in Germany where they continued to lobby for unification.

By late 1937, Hitler had decided to force the issue. In a meeting with his military advisors, he declared his intention to annex Austria and Czechoslovakia. The critical diplomatic confrontation occurred on February 12, 1938, when Hitler met Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg at his mountain retreat in Berchtesgaden.

Hitler presented Schuschnigg with a harsh ultimatum, demanding the legalization of the Austrian Nazi Party and the appointment of Arthur Seyss-Inquart, a Nazi sympathizer, as Minister of the Interior and Security. Under duress and the implicit threat of military invasion, Schuschnigg capitulated, agreeing to these terms. This effectively handed control of Austria's internal security to the Nazis, severely compromising Austrian sovereignty and paving the way for further Nazi influence.

In a desperate attempt to assert control and potentially rally international support, Schuschnigg announced on March 9, 1938, that a plebiscite would be held on March 13 to decide between union with Germany or maintaining Austrian independence. Hitler, unwilling to risk a vote that might not go his way, reacted swiftly. The Nazis demanded Schuschnigg's immediate resignation and the appointment of Seyss-Inquart as Chancellor.

Facing the imminent threat of a German invasion, Schuschnigg resigned on March 11. Hitler then ordered the German Army to cross the border into Austria on March 12, meeting no military resistance. Seyss-Inquart, now installed as Chancellor, then formally requested German assistance to restore order, providing a pretext for the invasion.

A plebiscite was subsequently held on April 10, 1938, where a manipulated vote resulted in an officially reported 99.7% approval for the Anschluss, a figure widely considered to be fabricated due to widespread intimidation and propaganda.