How did People React to Anschluss? Flashcards
When had Hitler reunited with Austria?
March 1938
Why were people in Austria wanting to unite with the Nazis?
-Austria had lost a lot of pride and land in the Treaty of Saint Germain
-The country had faced bankruptcy in 1921 as a result of the treaty
-The Great Depression left people feeling hungry and hopeless
-People in Austria had watched Hitler’s rise in Germany with interest
What % of Austrians had voted in favour of Anschluss?
99%
Austria was home to how many Jews?
180,000.
What was the dark-side of Anschluss?
As soon as the Nazis invaded , anti-Semitic attacks took place on the streets of Austria. Jews were arrested at random and imprisoned or forced to scrub the streets or public toilets with their sacred prayer cloths. Thousands of Jews left Austria as quick as they could, fearing there was no future for them under Nazi control.
Give proof of Hitler being so delighted with Anschluss?
He shed tears when the document making the union legal was presented to him.
What propaganda had been in Nazi-controlled newspapers in Germany:
It told of the chaos in Austria and of Seyss-Inquart’s requests that Hitler should save the day and restore order. To many Germans Hitler was the hero who saved Austria from doom and despair.
How had Germany benefitted from Anschluss?
-Germany was made stronger
-Hitler made another step towards uniting German speakers and righting the wrongs of the T of V
-Austria was rich as natural resources such as steel and iron ore, which could be used to fuel Nazi rearmament
-Anschluss was a propaganda success which led to heightened popularity for Hitler
What did many people in Britain feel about Anschluss?
They felt that Austria and Germany were essentially the same country and that therefore they should be allowed to unite.
Who in Britain opposed Anschluss and why?
Winston Churchill, who believed that if Austria wanted Anschluss, then Germany should have negotiated it rather than sending its troops in.
What 2 things were still held by the British public to encourage not getting involved?
Anti-war and anti-Versailles sentiments.
What was France’s reaction to Anschluss?
They had their own political problems to get involved. Just 2 days before Hitler invaded Austria the whole French government had resigned because of unrest caused by economic issues.
How did the Czechoslovakia government feel when they heard about the news of Anschluss?
They were very scared. They knew Hitler wanted Lebensraum and that Czechoslovakia would be the next country to come under Nazi pressure.
Who did the worried Czechoslovakian government turn to and why?
Britain and France. The French were bound by a previous treaty to protect Czech independence and Britain felt they should support their ally, France, so both agreed they would support Czechoslovakia if Germany invaded.
What did Hitler do when Chamberlain asked Hitler what his intentions were towards Czechoslovakia?
He gave his word of honour that Czechoslovakia had nothing to fear from him.
