Desperation, Persuasion and Promises: The Annexation of Austria

Joe Yatsinko

Creation of Modern Germany

Dr. Sandler

3/25/16

Desperation, Persuasion and Promises: The Annexation of Austria

How could the annexation of Austria represent the pivotal moment in Adolf Hitler’s reign as the Fuhrer, solidifying his image as a threat to all vulnerable parties? The Anschluss, or the annexation of Austria, was critical in the development of the Nazi party into a full-fledged political regime. It allowed Adolf Hitler to spread his political beliefs and instill a sense of terror into the global community. Prior to the takeover, Germany began rebuilding itself under Adolf Hitler’s control. He purposely neglected the international law regarding German Armed Forces that was newly outlined in the Treaty of Versailles. As written in Section VI, Article 80 of the treaty, “Germany acknowledges and will respect strictly the independence of Austria”^[1] because Austria was part of Germany prior to World War I. By annexing the newly independent country, Adolf Hitler showed a blatant disregard for the legal consequences of losing the war as he acquired his first conquest and gave his adversaries a glimpse of just how far he would go to rebuild Germany as a powerful political force, giving him the undesired reputation of the enemy to the world. 

The Fuhrer of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler, was born in Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary. Historically, Austrians viewed themselves as Germans, but in 1871 when the German Empire was founded, Austria was not a part of it. Austria then brought forth their own nation. Adolf Hitler considered himself ethnically a German that was born in Austria. Germans and Austrian customs, languages and cultures are very similar. Adolf Hitler greatly desired that the first Anschluss, or annexation, should be of a land of similar traits and geographically close to Germany. Since Austria was once part of Germany and it was also his birthplace, it became the obvious choice. To Adolf Hitler, politically and personally, this made sense. His goal was to create unified German speaking state, wanting to model the Third Reich after the superpower that was the Holy Roman Empire. He had great knowledge of past German Nationalism, which he wanted to rebuild, with the addition of Austria, under his leadership. 

World War I and the Treaty of Versailles had intensified the anti-Slavic racism and Social Darwinist glorification of war already established on the right wing of German politics. The terror of communism following the Russian Revolution in 1917 worsened racist hostility toward Russians and Jewish people. The Nazi regime, led by Adolf Hitler practically brainwashed the people of Aryan descent that they were superior to other races.  On a personal level, Adolf Hitler felt that Jewish people were an inferior group of people.  Ironically, Adolf Hitler's mother was Jewish and according to Jewish law, that made her son Jewish as well. Politically, he believed that Jews caused Germany to lose the First World War. One can speculate that some of his hatred stemmed from these two events. 

The annexation of Austria by Hitler was a pivotal point in world history. It was not only political, it was personal. Not only did Hitler desire to create a large German state, but his true vision was to create a superior race of people. Adolf Hitler's personal and political reasons for taking over Austria and making it one with Germany were fueled by his embarrassment for his country and his deep desire for revenge after the punishments for Germany as a result of World War I.  World War I left Germany with twelve political parties. A few of these parties were the Social Democratic Party, the Communist Party and the National Socialist Party, which later transformed itself into the Nazi Party. The Nazi Party made promises to the Austrian and German people to restore their honor, build up the economy and win back pre-war German territories.  Most Austrians were content with their freedom from Germany, but, with the problems that ensued people looked for change. Adolf Hitler's dream became easier for him to achieve because the people were desperate. 

The Treaty of Versailles left Germany, Austria and Hungary in weak positions. The treaty would not allow any unification. Austria and Hungary were divided into several states, making Czechoslovakia, Poland and Yugoslavia independent nations. Hitler was able to persuade the Austrian people to follow his leadership, to make themselves great again. These lavish plans for unity and prosperity was exactly what the Austrian and German citizens wanted to hear from a leader, and Adolf Hitler used his keen public speaking skills and convincing confidence to ensure the public viewed him in a positive light. Hitler preached about a transformation into a one race society. He laid out this plan in the first volume of his autobiography, Mein Kampf.  He decreed that “[w]hat [the Germans] must fight for is to safeguard the existence and reproduction of [their] race and [their] people, the sustenance of [their] children and the purity of [their] blood, the freedom and independence of the fatherland, so that [the German] people may mature for the fulfillment of the mission allotted it by the Creator of the universe.”^[2] His beliefs and tireless support about the Aryan race being the purest and superior race were appealing to many Austrians, especially since Austrian born Hitler himself identified with German Nationalism.