The Anschluss with Austria (1938)
•Treaty of Versailles forbid for them to unite
•Two if Hitlers forge in policy aims were to unite German-speaking people and to destroy the Treaty of Versailles.
•1934, Hitler had Austrian Nazis murder Dollfuss (Austrian Chancellor), but backed down when Mussolini moved troops to the Austrian boarder.
•1938, Austrian Nazis planned to get rid of the new chancellor, Schuschnigg, but police discovered and stopped this plot. Austrian Nazis were imprisoned, but Schuschnigg still felt vulnerable. He met with Hitler and agreed to give key positions in the Austrian government to the Nazis in return for Hitlers support.
•1938, Hitlers puppet, Seyss-Inquart, was appointed as minister for the interior with full power over the police in Austria. He now had full control of the Austrian police force, who turned a blind eye to Nazi terrorist attacks on the Austrian Government
•Schuschnigg planned a plebiscite (prove Austrians didn't want to get ruled by Hitler), Hitler demanded this be delayed and then forced Schuschnigg to resign
•After Schuschnigg resigned, Hitler made Seyss-Inquart new chancellor. Seyss was a 'nazi puppet'- Hitler controlled him. Claimed that Austria was in state of chaos and asked Hitler to restore order, later Nazi forces entered Austria
•Crowds of Austrians gathered in the streets to cheer the Nazi solider's arrival
•10th April a plebiscite was held, Nazis won 99% of the vote
Why
•Unite German speaking people
•Destroy Treaty who prevented them from uniting
Summary
•Nazi-fy Austria, get Nazis inside to support his government
•Full control of Austria police - can do whatever
• Plebiscite held, Hitler delayed
•Got Schuschnigg to resign, Hitler made new chancellor his puppet to control
•Nazi soldiers entered Austria, Nazi-Austrians cheered
•Plebiscite held, now there are more Nazis = Nazis won 99% vote
Country Reactions
Austria
Reaction:
Worried by the Nazis
Why they reacted this way:
Polling stations heavily guarded by Nazi storm-troopers
Germany
Reaction:
Delighted
Why they reacted this way:
Anschluss used as propaganda victory. Uniting with Austria neighbours. Hitler achieving his Foreign Policy
Britain
Reaction:
Decided ToV was too harsh on Germany
Why they reacted this way:
Felt like Hitler should be allowed to unite with Austria
France
Reaction:
France did not want to get invaded
Why they reacted this way:
Before Hitlers invasion the whole government had resigned
Czechoslovakia
Reaction:
Feared
Why they reacted this way:
Hitlers policy of lebensraum would mean they would be invaded next