On March 12-13, 1938, one of the key events that preceded the Second World War took place - the Anschluss of Austria to Germany. What does it mean? The Anschluss of Austria has the following definition - "union", "accession". Today, this term is characterized by a negative connotation and is often used as a synonym for the concept of "annexation". Anschluss refers to the operation to include Austria in Germany.
History and background. After the war
Austria joined Germany in several stages, and there were certain prerequisites for this.
After the defeat in the First World War, the Central Powers found themselves in a very difficult situation. Germany was deprived of all colonies, obliged to pay reparations and reduced the armed forces to a minimum. And Austria-Hungary generally disappeared from the political map: the numerous peoples that united this country gained independence. Thus, Hungary and Czechoslovakia arose. A number of territoriespassed to Yugoslavia, Poland, Romania. Austria itself was drastically reduced in territory and now united lands with a predominantly German population. It is noteworthy that until October 1919 this state was called "German Austria" (Republik Deutschsterreich), and the plans were, in principle, full-fledged unification with Germany.
However, this was not destined to come true: the Entente countries in no way wanted to strengthen or increase the losing Germany, so they forbade Austria to unite with Germany, which was fixed by the Saint-Germain and Versailles treaties. These treaties obligated Austria to maintain its independence, and for any action relating to sovereignty, to refer to the decision of the League of Nations (an organization similar to today's UN). The name of the republic changed to "Austria". Thus began the history of Austria, which continued until the Anschluss of 1938.
First Republic of Austria
Until 1933, Austria was a full-fledged parliamentary republic. Since the 1920s, a difficult confrontation between the center-left and right-wing political forces has emerged. The first serious clash between left and right armed formations was the July uprising of 1927, the reason for which was the acquittal by the court of right-wing radicals who killed many people during the shelling of a left-wing demonstration. Only with the help of the police it was possible to restore order, which, however, cost a lot of lives - 89 people were killed (85 of them were representatives of the left forces), more than 600 were injured.
As a result of globalThe economic crisis of 1929 sharply worsened the socio-economic condition of the country, which again caused an aggravation of the internal political crisis. In 1932, the left, the Social Democrats, won the local elections. The right-wing political forces, fearing to lose the national parliamentary elections, set out to retain power by force. This was one of the prerequisites for the Anschluss of Austria by Germany.
Reign of Engelbert Dollfuss
In March 1933, during a parliamentary crisis, Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss decided to dissolve the then parliament, after which measures began to be taken that led to the dictatorship of the Fatherland Front, an ultra-right Austrofascist political party. Elections were canceled, the Communist Party and the NSDP were banned, the death pen alty for murder, arson, vandalism was resumed.
At the same time, the National Socialist German Workers' Party, led by Adolf Hitler, began to gain strength in Germany, one of whose tasks was the reunification of Austria and Germany.
However, Engelbert Dollfuss was extremely negative about the idea of Austria joining Germany. In June 1934, he banned the activities of the NSDP in the country. In addition, Dollfuss for some time became close to the leader of the Italian fascists, B. Mussolini, who at that time was also not interested in the Anschluss of Austria with Germany and considered the first country, rather, as a sphere of his interests. In May 1934, Dollfuss adopted the so-called May Constitution, based onMussolini regime.
First attempts
On July 25, 1934, 154 fighters of the 89th Austrian battalion broke into the office and captured Engelbert Dollfuss, demanding his resignation in favor of Anton Rintelen, who sympathized with the Nazi movement in Germany. Dollfuss was seriously wounded, but categorically refused to sign the resignation. He ended up dying a few hours later. By evening, surrounded by government troops, the rebels were forced to surrender. On the same day, Mussolini demonstrated his determination to resist the coup d'état by mobilizing and pushing 5 divisions to the border.
The failure of the first attempt, although it showed Hitler that crude methods could not solve the problem at the moment, however, did not convince him to abandon the intended goal.
On the way to the Anschluss
After the failure of the coup d'état, the German government exerted serious diplomatic pressure on the new Austrian government led by Kurt von Schuschnigg. At the same time, the German intelligence services sharply increased their activities, recruiting various representatives of political forces. Trying to smooth out the pressure of Germany and the growing conflicts with internal nationalist political forces for a while, Schuschnigg went to negotiate with Hitler in July 1936. The result of the negotiations was the signing on July 11, 1936 of the “Friendly Agreement”, according to which Austria was actually obliged to follow the policy of the Third Reich. Germany, on the other hand, pledged not to influence the internal affairs of Austria.
In addition, Schuschnigg agreed to an amnesty for sever althousands of Nazis, as well as the admission of some to positions of administrative leadership. Such an agreement did not cause much resonance in Western countries. On the contrary, many believed and argued that such agreements contribute to the speedy settlement of the conflict, and consequently, to the strengthening of the independence of Austria.
Schuschnigg himself hoped for an agreement with the Entente countries. After all, it was they who after the war recorded the independence of Austria. They even refused to create a customs union between Germany and Austria in 1931. However, times have changed.
Treaty with Hitler
With the National Socialists coming to power in Germany, the Versailles agreements were repeatedly violated. The most tangible blow was the remilitarization of the Rhineland by the Germans, the increase in the armed forces of Germany, and the Italian aggression in Ethiopia. By 1938, there were more and more politicians in the West who held the idea that conflicts with small countries in Central Europe were not worth a new big war.
In early 1938, Goering, in a conversation with the Austrian Secretary of State Schmidt, expressed the opinion that, most likely, the Anschluss of Austria by Germany (the date you already know) cannot be avoided, and if the Austrians do not like this wording, then they can interpret it's like a "partnership".
Meanwhile, a group of conspirators was arrested in Vienna, from whom certain papers were confiscated, later referred to as the “Tafs papers”. In these papers, addressed to Hitler's deputy R. Hess, the Austriannationalists Leopold and Tufs were told that it was too unlikely that any of the leading powers of Europe would stand up for Austria, since everyone was immersed in their own social, economic and military crises.
Desperate, Schuschnigg went to Berchtesgaden, Hitler's country residence, for negotiations. In a conversation, Hitler presented his demands to Austria, adding that none of the world powers would intercede for them in the event of German military intervention.
Under German control
Under the threat of an immediate invasion by German troops, on February 12, 1938, Schuschnigg signed the three-point demands made against him, which actually put the country under German control:
- Seyss-Inquart (occupied a leading position among the Austrian nationalist groups) took over as Minister of the Interior of Austria. This allowed the Germans to directly influence the power structures and law enforcement agencies.
- Another wide amnesty for the Nazis was announced.
- The Austrian Nazi Party was obliged to join the Fatherland Front.
Without seeing any serious support from Britain and France, Schuschnigg, in order to strengthen his position on the independence of Austria, urgently scheduled a referendum on March 13, 1938 on how the people would react to unification with Germany. At the same time, he neglected to convene a meeting with his own government, which was provided for in such cases by the constitution.
Plan"Otto"
Hitler, fearing the will of the people of Austria in favor of independence, which could greatly interfere with his plans in the future, March 9, 1938 approved the Otto plan to capture Austria. On March 11, Hitler signed an order for the entry of German troops into this country. On the same day, mass Nazi demonstrations began in the cities of Austria, and European newspapers began to report on the closure of the Austro-German border and the German troops being drawn to it.
Upon learning of this, Schuschnigg announced his decision to cancel the plebiscite, which, however, did not satisfy Hitler. The next ultimatum for Austria assumed the following: the resignation of Schuschnigg and the appointment of Seyss-Inquart to his post.
Schuschnigg urgently turned to Mussolini for help, but there was no answer. Much has changed since 1934: it was more important for Mussolini to maintain friendly relations with Germany.
On the reunification of Austria with the German Empire
Seeing no other way, at 6 pm he accepted the ultimatum, hoping to prevent the invasion of German troops, while ordering the army not to resist if this did happen. However, Hitler was unstoppable. On the same evening, the Germans “concocted” and sent to the German ambassador in Vienna a fake telegram from the new Chancellor of Austria, in which Seyss-Inquart asked the German government to send troops to ensure order in the country. The "author" himself was informed about this telegram after it had been sent. The necessary ground for the implementation of the plan "Otto" was laid. On the night of March 11-12, the German armed forcescrossed the Austrian border. The Austrian army, having received orders not to resist, capitulated. Already at 4 am Himmler, Schelenberg, Hess arrived in Vienna. Former Chancellor Schuschnigg was taken into custody and a few weeks later sent to a concentration camp, where he stayed until May 1945.
On the evening of March 13, Hitler himself arrived in Vienna. On the same day, the law "On the reunification of Austria with the German Empire" was published. From now on, Austria became part of Germany and was referred to as Ostmark.
Hitler himself was extremely encouraged by this victory. Eyewitnesses described that he repeatedly indulged in sensual speeches, claiming that "by the will of God, he went as a young man to Germany and now returns his homeland to the bosom of the Reich." Schuschnigg's worst fears came true: the history of Austria was over. She temporarily disappeared from the historical arena.
Anschluss of Austria and its consequences. Western reaction
But, like any historical event, the Anschluss of Austria and Germany had a number of consequences.
In the world, the events that took place were accepted as a fait accompli. Great Britain, which at that time was heading for a policy of appeasement, did not show much desire to intercede for Austria, openly speaking about the absence of any obligations to this country. Italy, represented by its leader Mussolini, did not interfere with the Anschluss of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, realizing that it was more important for the country to maintain friendly relations with the Third Reich.
Probably the only country whose interests were affectedwith the disappearance of Austria, it turned out to be France. Worried about their security and the future of the Versailles system, French politicians made a number of statements that it was necessary to consolidate efforts with London and try to save the existing security system, however, having received no support either in London or in Rome, they could not do what -or essential.
Ostmark
In order to consolidate the success, on April 10, 1938, a plebiscite was organized in Germany and the Ostmark in support of the unification that had already taken place. According to German data, more than 99% of the participants in the plebiscite voted in favor of the Anschluss. For the Austrians, the Anschluss initially brought great hopes, the expectation that in a large empire the people would live better. And at first, their expectations were partly justified - already in April 1938, a program of economic assistance to Austria was launched. This was followed by a monetary reform. In 1938-1939, economic growth was observed - 13%. Many social problems were solved. So, in January 1938, in Upper Austria there were about 37 thousand unemployed. A year later, thanks to the influx of capital from Germany, their number decreased to 11 thousand. However, all this disappeared with the outbreak of war - Austria was used as a resource.
Besides, grief came to those nationalities that, following the fascist ideology, should not have existed in Germany. However, in general, until the fall of the Wehrmacht, the Austrians were quite loyal to the existing regime. Only in April 1945, Austria will be liberated by the Allied forces, andit will receive full sovereignty in 1955.
Munich Agreement
The Anschluss of Austria for Hitler was a huge victory, symbolizing the defeat of the entire Versailles system. Convinced of the inconsistency of the leading powers, their weakness and unwillingness to get involved in a new protracted conflict, in the future Hitler acted much more decisively, rudely rejecting all possible Versailles restrictions. The clearest proof is that, without stopping there, the German government immediately began to demand a revision of the territorial boundaries of Czechoslovakia. Already in September of the same year, the well-known Munich Agreements will be signed, which can rightfully be considered a prologue to World War II.
