The Anschluss was the union between Austria and Germany, wich had been forbid by the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler believed that the two states belonged toghether as one German nation, he had the idea of a "Great Germany". Many in Austria supported the idea of union with Germany. Hitler had tried to take over Austria in 1934 (Mussolini stopped him) and in 1938 (Hitler and Mussolini were now allies). There was a Nazi party in Austria, which Hitler encouraged to stir up trouble for the Government and demonstrations demanding union with Germany. Hitler told Schuschnigg (Austrian Chancellor) that only the Anschluss could sort out all these problems. Schuschnigg appealed to Britain and France but it didn't provide any support, so he felt that the only option left was to call a plebiscite. Hitler would not risk it, or he might lose, so he sent his troops into Austria in March 1983. 99.75% voted for Anschluss.