Anschluss with Austria (1938) Flashcards

1
Q

What successes had Hitler had in 1935-37 that had left him feeling more confident? (3)

A
  1. Saar Plebiscite (1935)
  2. Remilitarised the Rhineland (1936)
  3. Successful involvement in Spanish Civil War (1936-39)
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2
Q

What did Hitler believe about Austria?

A

That Austria and Germany should be united in one German-speaking nation

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3
Q

What does ‘Anschluss’ mean?

A

Political union

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4
Q

What had outlawed Anschluss?

A

The Treaty of Versailles

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5
Q

What had Hitler promised to overthrow when he came to power?

A

The Treaty of Versailles

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6
Q

When had Hitler previously attempted Anschluss?

A

In 1934

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7
Q

Why had Hitler’s attempted annexation (takeover) of Austria (Anschluss) in 1934 failed?

A

Mussolini had placed Italian troops on the Austrian border to deter Hitler

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8
Q

Why was the situation in 1938 different from 1934?

A

Hitler and Mussolini were now allies

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9
Q

What did many (all far from all) Austrians want?

A

Political union with Germany

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10
Q

What already existed within Austria that made a potential union easier?

A

A strong Nazi Party who were willing to work for Hitler

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11
Q

Who was the Austrian Chancellor?

A

Schuschnigg (Schu - sch - nigg)

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12
Q

What did Hitler order the Austrian Nazis to do in 1938?

A

Stir up trouble and hold demonstrations demanding political union with Germany

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13
Q

Once the Austrian Nazis’ began causing unrest, what did Hitler do?

A

Told the Austrian Chancellor (Schuschnigg) that only Anschluss (political union) could end these problems

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14
Q

When Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg (Schu - sch - nigg) was given Hitler’s demands for a political union, what step did he initially take?

A

He asked Britain and France for help

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15
Q

When Schuschnigg asked Britain and France for help, what did he recieve?

A

No support from either (shock horror)

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16
Q

When Britain and France failed to help Schushnigg, what did he feel compelled to do?

A

Call a plebiscite (a public vote)

17
Q

What is a plebiscite?

A

A public vote / referendum

18
Q

Which agreement had made Hitler and Mussolini allies/

A

The Rome-Berlin Axis (1936)

19
Q

When was the Rome-Berlin Axis signed?

A

1936

20
Q

What had Chancellor Schuschnigg done in the years leading up to 1938?

A

Appeased Hitler in the hope Hitler would not invade

21
Q

What evidence is there of Schuschnigg appeasing Hitler in the mid-thirties?

A

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

22
Q

What did the German-Austrian Agreement (1936) state?

A

It stated Austria could maintain its independence, but its foreign policy had to be consistent with Germany’s

23
Q

Why was Hitler furious about the plebiscite in March 1936?

A

He could lose - and then Hitler’s excuse to march into Austria would be removed?

24
Q

How did Hitler secure the referendum result?

A
  1. German troops invaded Austria (on the invitation of Seyss-Inquart - see other cards)
  2. German troops then oversaw the plebiscite which took place about a month later than originally planned
25
Q

What was the outcome of the plebiscite?

A

99.75% of Austrians voted for Anschluss

26
Q

When German troops entered Austria, how were they greeted?

A

By cheering crowds of Austrians

27
Q

What did Hitler gain in terms of armed forces from the Anschluss?

A

An army of 100,000 men

28
Q

What useful natural resources did Hitler from the Anschluss?

A
  1. Gold
  2. Iron ore
29
Q

After Anschluss, on how many sides was Czechoslovakia surrounded?

A

3 sides (or three fronts)

30
Q

What did most people in Britain think about Anschluss?

A
  1. Anschluss was not a direct threat to them
  2. There was no logical reason why two German-speaking nations should not be united
31
Q

What was going on in France at the time of Anschluss?

A

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.

32
Q

What did British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain do after Anschluss? (3)

A
  1. Increased spending on rearmament
  2. Made plans for conscription
  3. Prepared air-raid defences
33
Q

Why was it helpful for Hitler if Austrian Nazis stirred up trouble whilst Schuschnigg was in charge?

A

Hitler could claim there was a break down in law and order and send in the German army to restore it.

34
Q

When did Anschluss take place?

A

March 1938

35
Q

Chancellor Schuchnigg and Hitler met in February 1938. What did Hitler bully Schuschnigg into accepting?

A

Schuschnigg was bullied into appointing a Nazi - Arthur Seyss-Inquart - into his Cabinet as Minister of the Interior

36
Q

What was the name of the Nazi Schuschnigg was forced to appoint to his Cabinet?

A

Arthur SEYSS-INQUART

SEY-SS IN-QUART

37
Q

When Hitler found out that Schuschnigg had called a plebiscite, what did he demand?

A
  1. That Schuschnigg resigned (he did)
  2. That Seyss-Inquart (Austrian Nazi Minister of the Interior) be appointed chancellor
38
Q

Once the Austrian Nazi Seyss-Inquart was appointed chancellor of Austria, what did he do?

A

Invited the German army to enter Austria to ‘restore order’