Austria and the Anschluss
Most people know that World War II was the most devastating war in modern
times, and also that it began as a result of the ambitions of a man called Adolf Hitler. The
War in Europe began in 1939 when Hitler’s invasion of Poland caused Britain and France
to declare war on Germany, and ended in 1945 following the suicide of Hitler and the
surrender of the German forces. Although not all European countries officially declared
war and allied themselves with one side or the other, every country in Europe was
affected in some way by the war. One country that was greatly affected by Hitler’s
aggressive acts of war before the war had even officially even started was the country of
Austria. In March of 1938, following some impressive political maneuvers, Hitler’s army
invaded Austria, and Hitler annexed the country and made it part of the Third Reich. He
called this action “The Anschluss”, meaning “connection” or “unification”. The reactions
to this event from Austrians and the rest of the world are varied and complex, and can
only truly be understood by considering them in light of the significant events that took
place before the Anschluss, events that influenced Hitler’s decisions and changed Austria
forever.
Events Leading to the Anschluss
Austria after the First World War
In 1867, the monarchies of Austria and Hungary politically united their countries
to create the state that was known as Austria-Hungary. In World War I, Austria-Hungary
fought on the side of the Central Powers, alongside Germany, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman
, Empire. Following the final defeat of the Central Powers by the Allies (the United
Kingdom, France, and Russia) in 1918, the Austrian-Hungarian alliance was dissolved
according to the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty prohibited the newly independent
Austria from unifying with any other country, even though many Austrians already were
beginning to advocate unification with Germany. Austria was also made to sign the
Treaty of St. Germain, which laid responsibility on Vienna for paying war reparations
(Taylor).
Economic Hardships
Austria was a relatively small country, with a delicate economy and little means
by which to pay these war reparations. Many Austrians viewed their newly-independent
country as “nonviable”, and felt that it could not survive if it were forced to rely solely on
itself. In 1931, the Great Depression began in Austria in with the failure of the country’s
banking system in 1931. By the following year, more than a third of the previous
workforce was unemployed, and the country was basically bankrupt (Bukey).
The possibility of a political union with Germany had been in the minds of most
Austrians for several years by this point, and these new economic problems generated
even more support for such a union. Contrary to what some people may think, and
certainly to what Hitler would want people to think, most Austrians did not support union
with Germany because they harbored overwhelming feelings of German nationalism, or a
strong desire to become one with the German people. Rather, most Austrians supported
such a union because of their “emotional response[s]” to Austria’s hardships (Bukey).
Austria was in dire need of economic aid, and most Austrians hoped that a union with
Most people know that World War II was the most devastating war in modern
times, and also that it began as a result of the ambitions of a man called Adolf Hitler. The
War in Europe began in 1939 when Hitler’s invasion of Poland caused Britain and France
to declare war on Germany, and ended in 1945 following the suicide of Hitler and the
surrender of the German forces. Although not all European countries officially declared
war and allied themselves with one side or the other, every country in Europe was
affected in some way by the war. One country that was greatly affected by Hitler’s
aggressive acts of war before the war had even officially even started was the country of
Austria. In March of 1938, following some impressive political maneuvers, Hitler’s army
invaded Austria, and Hitler annexed the country and made it part of the Third Reich. He
called this action “The Anschluss”, meaning “connection” or “unification”. The reactions
to this event from Austrians and the rest of the world are varied and complex, and can
only truly be understood by considering them in light of the significant events that took
place before the Anschluss, events that influenced Hitler’s decisions and changed Austria
forever.
Events Leading to the Anschluss
Austria after the First World War
In 1867, the monarchies of Austria and Hungary politically united their countries
to create the state that was known as Austria-Hungary. In World War I, Austria-Hungary
fought on the side of the Central Powers, alongside Germany, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman
, Empire. Following the final defeat of the Central Powers by the Allies (the United
Kingdom, France, and Russia) in 1918, the Austrian-Hungarian alliance was dissolved
according to the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty prohibited the newly independent
Austria from unifying with any other country, even though many Austrians already were
beginning to advocate unification with Germany. Austria was also made to sign the
Treaty of St. Germain, which laid responsibility on Vienna for paying war reparations
(Taylor).
Economic Hardships
Austria was a relatively small country, with a delicate economy and little means
by which to pay these war reparations. Many Austrians viewed their newly-independent
country as “nonviable”, and felt that it could not survive if it were forced to rely solely on
itself. In 1931, the Great Depression began in Austria in with the failure of the country’s
banking system in 1931. By the following year, more than a third of the previous
workforce was unemployed, and the country was basically bankrupt (Bukey).
The possibility of a political union with Germany had been in the minds of most
Austrians for several years by this point, and these new economic problems generated
even more support for such a union. Contrary to what some people may think, and
certainly to what Hitler would want people to think, most Austrians did not support union
with Germany because they harbored overwhelming feelings of German nationalism, or a
strong desire to become one with the German people. Rather, most Austrians supported
such a union because of their “emotional response[s]” to Austria’s hardships (Bukey).
Austria was in dire need of economic aid, and most Austrians hoped that a union with
