Anschluss with Austria (1938) Flashcards
What successes had Hitler had in 1935-37 that had left him feeling more confident? (3)
- Saar Plebiscite (1935)
- Remilitarised the Rhineland (1936)
- Successful involvement in Spanish Civil War (1936-39)
What did Hitler believe about Austria?
That Austria and Germany should be united in one German-speaking nation
What does ‘Anschluss’ mean?
Political union
What had outlawed Anschluss?
The Treaty of Versailles
What had Hitler promised to overthrow when he came to power?
The Treaty of Versailles
When had Hitler previously attempted Anschluss?
In 1934
Why had Hitler’s attempted annexation (takeover) of Austria (Anschluss) in 1934 failed?
Mussolini had placed Italian troops on the Austrian border to deter Hitler
Why was the situation in 1938 different from 1934?
Hitler and Mussolini were now allies
What did many (all far from all) Austrians want?
Political union with Germany
What already existed within Austria that made a potential union easier?
A strong Nazi Party who were willing to work for Hitler
Who was the Austrian Chancellor?
Schuschnigg (Schu - sch - nigg)
What did Hitler order the Austrian Nazis to do in 1938?
Stir up trouble and hold demonstrations demanding political union with Germany
Once the Austrian Nazis’ began causing unrest, what did Hitler do?
Told the Austrian Chancellor (Schuschnigg) that only Anschluss (political union) could end these problems
When Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg (Schu - sch - nigg) was given Hitler’s demands for a political union, what step did he initially take?
He asked Britain and France for help
When Schuschnigg asked Britain and France for help, what did he recieve?
No support from either (shock horror)
When Britain and France failed to help Schushnigg, what did he feel compelled to do?
Call a plebiscite (a public vote)
What is a plebiscite?
A public vote / referendum
Which agreement had made Hitler and Mussolini allies/
The Rome-Berlin Axis (1936)
When was the Rome-Berlin Axis signed?
1936
What had Chancellor Schuschnigg done in the years leading up to 1938?
Appeased Hitler in the hope Hitler would not invade
What evidence is there of Schuschnigg appeasing Hitler in the mid-thirties?
Schuschnigg signed the German-Austrian Agreement (1936)
It stated Austria could maintain its independence, but its foreign policy had to be consistent with Germany’s
What did the German-Austrian Agreement (1936) state?
It stated Austria could maintain its independence, but its foreign policy had to be consistent with Germany’s
Why was Hitler furious about the plebiscite in March 1936?
He could lose - and then Hitler’s excuse to march into Austria would be removed?
How did Hitler secure the referendum result?
- German troops invaded Austria (on the invitation of Seyss-Inquart - see other cards)
- German troops then oversaw the plebiscite which took place about a month later than originally planned
What was the outcome of the plebiscite?
99.75% of Austrians voted for Anschluss
When German troops entered Austria, how were they greeted?
By cheering crowds of Austrians
What did Hitler gain in terms of armed forces from the Anschluss?
An army of 100,000 men
What useful natural resources did Hitler from the Anschluss?
- Gold
- Iron ore
After Anschluss, on how many sides was Czechoslovakia surrounded?
3 sides (or three fronts)
What did most people in Britain think about Anschluss?
- Anschluss was not a direct threat to them
- There was no logical reason why two German-speaking nations should not be united
What was going on in France at the time of Anschluss?
French politics was in turmoil.
Two days before the German invasion the entire French government had resigned.
They were in no position to oppose the Germans.
What did British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain do after Anschluss? (3)
- Increased spending on rearmament
- Made plans for conscription
- Prepared air-raid defences
Why was it helpful for Hitler if Austrian Nazis stirred up trouble whilst Schuschnigg was in charge?
Hitler could claim there was a break down in law and order and send in the German army to restore it.
When did Anschluss take place?
March 1938
Chancellor Schuchnigg and Hitler met in February 1938. What did Hitler bully Schuschnigg into accepting?
Schuschnigg was bullied into appointing a Nazi - Arthur Seyss-Inquart - into his Cabinet as Minister of the Interior
What was the name of the Nazi Schuschnigg was forced to appoint to his Cabinet?
Arthur SEYSS-INQUART
SEY-SS IN-QUART
When Hitler found out that Schuschnigg had called a plebiscite, what did he demand?
- That Schuschnigg resigned (he did)
- That Seyss-Inquart (Austrian Nazi Minister of the Interior) be appointed chancellor
Once the Austrian Nazi Seyss-Inquart was appointed chancellor of Austria, what did he do?
Invited the German army to enter Austria to ‘restore order’
