Anschluß: Difference between revisions
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Following [[World War I]], the German word '''Anschluss''' ("connection") was used to denote the union of Germany and Austria (short for "Anschluß Österreichs an das Deutsche Reich", i.e. Austria joining or becoming part of Germany). It was a basic idea of the [[Pan-German nationalism|Pan-German nationalist movement]]. | Following [[World War I]], the German word '''Anschluss''' ("connection") was used to denote the union of Germany and Austria (short for "Anschluß Österreichs an das Deutsche Reich", i.e. Austria joining or becoming part of Germany). It was a basic idea of the [[Pan-German nationalism|Pan-German nationalist movement]]. A n attempt in 1918 was ineffective due to the World War I peace treaties, but unification was forced, in Nazi Germany, by 1938. Austria became independendependent again after [[World War II]] | ||
==First proclamation== | ==First proclamation== | ||
The | The Anschluss of Deutschösterreich to the German republic was first proclaimed by the (provisional) Austrian national assembly (12 November 1918). This was led by [[Victor Adler]], who was Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under the interim government of [[Karl Renner]]. He died on 11 November, the day be the war ended, and a day before the proclamation. Adler had been one of the coauthors of the 1882 [[Linz Program]], which called for the Germanization of Austria. <ref>{{citation | ||
| title = Victor Adler | |||
In spite of this, nationalist political groups both in Austria (''Anschlußbewegung'') and in Germany continued to demand it. | | publisher = The Original Nazis | ||
| url = http://original-nazis.wetpaint.com/page/Victor+Adler | |||
}}</ref> | |||
Anschluss was not realized because it was explicitly forbidden by the peace treaties of [[Treaty of Versailles|Versailles]] (28 June 1919) with Germany and of [[Treaty of St. Germain-en-Laye|St. Germain-en-Laye]] (10 September 1919) with Austria. | |||
==Political pressures== | |||
In spite of this, nationalist political groups both in Austria (''Anschlußbewegung'') and in Germany continued to demand it. [[Adolf Hitler]], who was born in Austria and despised the [[House of Hapsburg]], had a strong emotional commitment to union. | |||
There was an attempt, in the early 1930s, to create a customs union between German and Austria, to create larger markets. Nevertheless, external powers, seeing this as an attempt to circumvent the Treaty of Versailles, prevented it. <ref>{{citation | There was an attempt, in the early 1930s, to create a customs union between German and Austria, to create larger markets. Nevertheless, external powers, seeing this as an attempt to circumvent the Treaty of Versailles, prevented it. <ref>{{citation | ||
| title = The Coming of the Third Reich | author = Richard J. Evans | year =2003 | | title = The Coming of the Third Reich | author = Richard J. Evans | year =2003 | ||
| Line 14: | Line 19: | ||
}}, p. 235</ref> | }}, p. 235</ref> | ||
The process accelerated with the Austro-German Agreement of July 1936, with a secret annex that gave additional power to the Austrian Nazis. They steadily increased subversion and [[terrorism]] throughout 1937, and Austrian police captured documents indicating they planned to stage a revolt in the spring of 1938, which could provide a pretext for German intervention. | |||
Former German Chancellor [[Fritz von Papen]] had been a special representative to the Austrian Chancellor, [[Kurt von Schuschnigg]]. Von Papen revealed that one of the captured documents had called for his own killing by German agents, again as a pretext for intervention. Ironically, von Papen had escaped death in the [[Night of the Long Knives]] purge in 1934. [[Hans Lammers]] informed him, on 4 February, that he was fired, along with [[Constantin von Neurath]] and others who did not give total support to Hitler, such as War Minister [[Werner von Blomberg]] and Army Chief of Staff [[Werner von Fritsch]]. Von Papen began keeping, in Switzerland, secret copies of his correspondence with Hitler.<ref name=S>{{citation | |||
| author = William Shirer | |||
| title = The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich | |||
| publisher = Simon & Schuster | |||
| year = 1960}}, pp. 322-324</ref> | |||
==12 February 1938 meeting== | ==12 February 1938 meeting== | ||
The Austrian ''Bundeskanzler'' (Federal Chancellor) [[Kurt Schuschnigg]], | The Austrian ''Bundeskanzler'' (Federal Chancellor) [[Kurt Schuschnigg]], | ||
| Line 21: | Line 33: | ||
On 9 March, Schuschnigg announced a referendum for 13 March, | On 9 March, Schuschnigg announced a referendum for 13 March, | ||
that was cancelled (11 March) after a German ultimatum and the forced resignation of Schuschnigg and his government. | that was cancelled (11 March) after a German ultimatum and the forced resignation of Schuschnigg and his government. | ||
==German action== | ==German action and reaction== | ||
In 1938, Germany exerted heavy political and military pressure, and forced the proclaimed as ''Wiedervereinigung'' (reunion) of Austria with the [[Third Reich]] on 13 March 1938, the Anschluss of Austria, ccepted by Schuschnigg under threat of attack. German troops then entered | |||
and a new government was formed by Seyss-Inquart. | |||
and a new government was formed by | |||
Austria, now called [[Ostmark]], became part of the German Reich. | Austria, now called [[Ostmark]], became part of the German Reich. | ||
After that the referendum held to legitimize the Anschluss was only a formality | After that the referendum held to legitimize the Anschluss was only a formality. | ||
== | ==Foreign reaction== | ||
Shirer, reporting from Vienna, reported the antisemitism of the Austrian Nazis as worse than anything he had seen in Germany, characterized by looting and sadism. [[Reinhard Heydrich]], assisted by [[Adolf Eichmann]], set up an Office of Jewish Emigration, by which would-be emigrants could buy permission to leave. They also | ==Early occupation== | ||
Shirer, reporting from Vienna, reported the antisemitism of the Austrian Nazis as worse than anything he had seen in Germany, characterized by looting and sadism. [[Reinhard Heydrich]], assisted by [[Adolf Eichmann]], set up an Office of Jewish Emigration, by which would-be emigrants could buy permission to leave. They also created [[Mauthausen Concentration Camp]] in Austria proper, to avoid the difficulty of transporting Jews to Germany.<ref>Shirer, p. 351</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist|2}} | ||
Revision as of 04:58, 12 January 2011
Following World War I, the German word Anschluss ("connection") was used to denote the union of Germany and Austria (short for "Anschluß Österreichs an das Deutsche Reich", i.e. Austria joining or becoming part of Germany). It was a basic idea of the Pan-German nationalist movement. A n attempt in 1918 was ineffective due to the World War I peace treaties, but unification was forced, in Nazi Germany, by 1938. Austria became independendependent again after World War II
First proclamation
The Anschluss of Deutschösterreich to the German republic was first proclaimed by the (provisional) Austrian national assembly (12 November 1918). This was led by Victor Adler, who was Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under the interim government of Karl Renner. He died on 11 November, the day be the war ended, and a day before the proclamation. Adler had been one of the coauthors of the 1882 Linz Program, which called for the Germanization of Austria. [1]
Anschluss was not realized because it was explicitly forbidden by the peace treaties of Versailles (28 June 1919) with Germany and of St. Germain-en-Laye (10 September 1919) with Austria.
Political pressures
In spite of this, nationalist political groups both in Austria (Anschlußbewegung) and in Germany continued to demand it. Adolf Hitler, who was born in Austria and despised the House of Hapsburg, had a strong emotional commitment to union.
There was an attempt, in the early 1930s, to create a customs union between German and Austria, to create larger markets. Nevertheless, external powers, seeing this as an attempt to circumvent the Treaty of Versailles, prevented it. [2]
The process accelerated with the Austro-German Agreement of July 1936, with a secret annex that gave additional power to the Austrian Nazis. They steadily increased subversion and terrorism throughout 1937, and Austrian police captured documents indicating they planned to stage a revolt in the spring of 1938, which could provide a pretext for German intervention.
Former German Chancellor Fritz von Papen had been a special representative to the Austrian Chancellor, Kurt von Schuschnigg. Von Papen revealed that one of the captured documents had called for his own killing by German agents, again as a pretext for intervention. Ironically, von Papen had escaped death in the Night of the Long Knives purge in 1934. Hans Lammers informed him, on 4 February, that he was fired, along with Constantin von Neurath and others who did not give total support to Hitler, such as War Minister Werner von Blomberg and Army Chief of Staff Werner von Fritsch. Von Papen began keeping, in Switzerland, secret copies of his correspondence with Hitler.[3]
12 February 1938 meeting
The Austrian Bundeskanzler (Federal Chancellor) Kurt Schuschnigg, was ordered to visit Hitler in Berchtesgaden (12 February), as a result of which he had to grant an amnesty for national socialists and to appoint Arthur Seyß-Inquart as Innen-Minister (Minister for interior affairs).
February to March 11
On 9 March, Schuschnigg announced a referendum for 13 March, that was cancelled (11 March) after a German ultimatum and the forced resignation of Schuschnigg and his government.
German action and reaction
In 1938, Germany exerted heavy political and military pressure, and forced the proclaimed as Wiedervereinigung (reunion) of Austria with the Third Reich on 13 March 1938, the Anschluss of Austria, ccepted by Schuschnigg under threat of attack. German troops then entered and a new government was formed by Seyss-Inquart. Austria, now called Ostmark, became part of the German Reich. After that the referendum held to legitimize the Anschluss was only a formality.
Foreign reaction
Early occupation
Shirer, reporting from Vienna, reported the antisemitism of the Austrian Nazis as worse than anything he had seen in Germany, characterized by looting and sadism. Reinhard Heydrich, assisted by Adolf Eichmann, set up an Office of Jewish Emigration, by which would-be emigrants could buy permission to leave. They also created Mauthausen Concentration Camp in Austria proper, to avoid the difficulty of transporting Jews to Germany.[4]
References
- ↑ Victor Adler, The Original Nazis
- ↑ Richard J. Evans (2003), The Coming of the Third Reich, Penguin, ISBN 1-59420-004-1, p. 235
- ↑ William Shirer (1960), The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, Simon & Schuster, pp. 322-324
- ↑ Shirer, p. 351