Anschluss with Austria (1938)

Question 1

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

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What did Hitler believe about Austria?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What does ‘Anschluss’ mean?

Answer 3

Political union

Question 4

What had outlawed Anschluss?

Answer 4

The Treaty of Versailles

Question 5

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

Answer 5

The Treaty of Versailles

Question 6

When had Hitler previously attempted Anschluss?

Answer 6

In 1934

Question 7

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

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Why was the situation in 1938 different from 1934?

Answer 8

Hitler and Mussolini were now allies

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Political union with Germany

Question 10

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

Answer 10

A strong Nazi Party who were willing to work for Hitler

Question 11

Who was the Austrian Chancellor?

Answer 11

Schuschnigg (Schu - sch - nigg)

Question 12

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

Answer 12

Stir up trouble and hold demonstrations demanding political union with Germany

Question 13

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

Answer 13

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

Question 14

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

Answer 14

He asked Britain and France for help

Question 15

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

Answer 15

No support from either (shock horror)

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Call a plebiscite (a public vote)

Question 17

What is a plebiscite?

Answer 17

A public vote / referendum

Question 18

Which agreement had made Hitler and Mussolini allies/

Answer 18

The Rome-Berlin Axis (1936)

Question 19

When was the Rome-Berlin Axis signed?

Answer 19

1936

Question 20

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

Answer 20

Appeased Hitler in the hope Hitler would not invade

Question 21

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

Answer 21

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

Question 22

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

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Why was Hitler furious about the plebiscite in March 1936?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

How did Hitler secure the referendum result?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

What was the outcome of the plebiscite?

Answer 25

99.75% of Austrians voted for Anschluss

Question 26

When German troops entered Austria, how were they greeted?

Answer 26

By cheering crowds of Austrians

Question 27

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

Answer 27

An army of 100,000 men

Question 28

What useful natural resources did Hitler from the Anschluss?

Answer 28

1. Gold
2. Iron ore

Question 29

After Anschluss, on how many sides was Czechoslovakia surrounded?

Answer 29

3 sides (or three fronts)

Question 30

What did most people in Britain think about Anschluss?

Answer 30

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

Question 31

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

Answer 31

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.

Question 32

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

Answer 32

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

Question 33

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

Answer 33

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

Question 34

When did Anschluss take place?

Answer 34

March 1938

Question 35

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

Answer 35

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

Question 36

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

Answer 36

Arthur SEYSS-INQUART

SEY-SS IN-QUART

Question 37

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

Answer 37

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

Question 38

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

Answer 38

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