Appeasement And The Road To War #13: Anschluss Flashcards
What happened at the Treaty of St-Germain?
Austria was spared from any punishment at Versailles
How was Austria affected after Versailles?
- Reduced to a small state with all empires taken away and new independent states created
- There was to be no Anschluss
What did Article 80 of the ToV state?
- It forbid the union of German and Austria
- There was to be no “Anschluss” or “Greater Germany”
How did Pan Germans feel in January 1933 when Hitler came to power?
They believed their dream of a United German State would soon become a reality
Pan-German
A movement having as its principal aim the political union of all Germans
Why did Austrian Nazis murder Chancellor Dolfuss in July 1934?
Convinced the Anschluss was about to happen, they believed that Germany would charge in and take over Austria
When was Chancellor Dolfuss murdered?
July 1934
What did Mussolini do in retaliation to the murder of Chancellor Dolfuss?
Seeing himself as Austria’s protector, he sent 4 divisions of Italian troops to the Brenner Pass (border between Italy and Austria) and threatened to invade Austria and impose his own control - even if that meant kicking the Germans out
Why did Hitler back away from Austria after Mussolini stationed troops on the Italy-Austria border?
- He liked to be in control and things were getting out of hand
- The timing was all wrong and he could see his ‘enemies’ were united against him
What did Hitler do after withdrawing from Austria in 1934?
- Declared his peaceful intentions towards Austria
- Purged the Austrian Nazi Party
- Let the situation tick over
What made Mussolini realise he couldn’t keep ordering Hitler around?
Italy becoming involved other things such as Abyssinia and the Spanish Civil War
What were chief reasons for Hitler bringing about the union of Germany and Austria?
- The ideas of “Germanness” and race
- He was Austrian by birth and May have felt that this was his duty
What factors would encourage Hitler to achieve the Anschluss?
Geographical: control of Danube river basin, railway access to the Balkans, the surrounding of Czechoslovakia
Military/Economic: powerful additional resources
Who was the new Austrian Chancellor after the failed Anschluss?
Kurt von Schuschnigg
What did Schuschnigg let be known by February 1938?
That he wanted to see Hitler to see if the Nazi leader could control the Austrian Nazis who frequently disrupted orderly government via bomb attacks and mass demonstrations
Where did Hitler summon Schuschnigg to?
The Berghof and Berchtesgaden - Hitler’s summer retreat in the alps
When did Hitler and Schuschnigg meet at Berchtesgaden?
12 February 1938
What did Hitler do at Berchtesgaden?
Hitler turned the situation around and displayed temper, verbal aggression and threats which was really out of order at a meeting of 2 national leaders.
What did Hitler demand from Austria (Feb 1938) ?
- Lifting of the ban on the Austrian Nazi Party
- The appointment of three top Austrian Nazis to lead important ministries in Schuschnigg’s government
- Stronger economic and military links between Germany and Austria
Why did Schuschnigg not want to obey Hitler’s commands?
- It meant the end of an independent Austria
- It would effectively make Austria a satellite state of Germany
Why did Schuschnigg initially obey Hitler’s commands?
He had very little choice; he had been bullied into submission
When did Schuschnigg change his mind after initially obeying Hitler’s commands?
9 March 1938
Why did Schusnigg begin to disobey Hitler’s orders?
He wanted to ask the Austrians themselves if they wanted this union
What did Schuschnigg order on the 9th March 1938?
A plebiscite to be held on the 12 March 1938
When did Schuschnigg order the plebiscite to be held?
12 March 1938
What demands did Hitler make from Austria (March 1938)?
- The cancellation of the plebiscite
- The resignation of the plebiscite
- The appointment of Seyss Inquart (Austrian Nazi) as Chancellor of Austria
Why did the Austrian Government give way to Hitler’s demands in March 1938?
They realised there was no-one to turn to
Who was appointed Chancellor of Austria in 1938?
The Austrian Nazi Seyess Inquart
What was Inquart’s first act as chancellor?
He sent a telegram to Berlin to ask Germany to help “restore law and order”
Why weren’t the Germans technically invading on 12th March 1938?
Because of Inquart’s telegram to Berlin asking to help “restore law and order”
What did Germany do on 12th March 1938?
Tanks and military columns rolled over the alpine passes into Austria
Why was Germany’s trip to Austria on 12 March 1938 a shambles and so good for the Germans that they didn’t have to fight their was in?
- 70% of Germany’s vehicles broke down on the road to Vienna
- They had to fuel up at petrol stations on the main roads
- The tank commander was using a Baedecker tourist guide to plan his route
Why did Hitler decided to go for a full Anschluss?
Because he was so pleased with his welcome
When did Hitler decide to go for a full Anschluss?
12 March 1938
What did Hitler mean by going for a full Anschluss on 12 March?
This was rather than controlling Austria through a ‘tame’ Nazi Government
What did the new Austrian government do on 13 March?
They passed a law stating that Austria was now part of the German Reich
When did the Austrian government pass a law stating that Austria was now part of the German Reich?
13 March 1938
What was the result on the vote of the Austrian people for or against this new arrangement?
99% in favour
When was the Austrian vote on the Anschluss held?
10 April 1938
What was the rather accurate view of historian Seaman on Hitler achieving the Anschluss?
“ Hitler had acted impulsively and in a bad temper, but he had one a major victory and it won on the cheap.”
Economic impact on Germany of Anschluss
- 440million Reichmarks from Austria’s foreign exchange reserves
- steel capacity
- ore mines
Military impact of Anschluss on Germany
- Population increased by 7 million men
- 100,000 army men
- Control of Vienna, better position in the Balkans
Personal impact for Hitler of Anschluss
- Confirmed in his mind the idea that his policies were fulfilment of destiny
Impact of Anschluss on international community
- European statesmen began to doubt if they could trust Hitler
- Policy of Appeasement began to be doubted
Impact of Anschluss on Czechoslovakia
- It was wondered if Czechoslovakia would also be given away in the name of appeasement
- ‘The head was in the lion’s mouth’ referring to oisistiob of Czechoslovakia compared to Austria geographically