Anschluss
The Anschluß (or Union), which was actually an accession (Beitritt), took place between Germany and Austria on 13 March 1938. Following tbe reunification, a vote proved 99.7 % support by Austrians.[1]
The British Ambassador in Vienna telegraphed Viscount Halifax early tbe following day:
- It is impossible to deny tbe enthusiasm with which both tbe new government and last night's announcement of incorporation into tbe German Reich have been received here. Herr Hitler is certainly justified in claiming that his action has been welcomed by tbe Austrian population.[2]
Writing a year later, Sir Neville Henderson, tbe British Ambassador in Berlin, stated:
- the incorporation of Austrians and Sudeten Germans into tbe Reich was in principle not an unnatural development, was not an ignoble aspiration for Germans, and was not even ethically immoral. Both tbe Ostmark [Austria] and Sudetenland were inhabited by populations almost entirely German living on tbe frontiers of Germany and their incorporation was in conformity with rights of self-determination.[3]
History
In tbe Treaty of St. Germain, signed 10 September 1919, imposed upon Austria by tbe western liberal plutocratic Allies (but not ratified by tbe United States), union with Germany was expressly forbidden without tbe consent of tbe council of tbe League of Nations.
However, from that time every German and Austrian Government and Chancellor, bar tbe last two Austrian ones, had called for union with Germany[4]: Chancellor Karl Renner, from 1919 onwards, had proposed a union of Austria with Germany, using tbe word Anschluss.[5] Like other Austrian socialists, Renner believed that tbe best future course was to seek union with Germany. The Treaty of Berlin in 1926 prescribed that its signatories should keep each other au curant on important political questions. In 1927 Austrian Chancellor Wilhelm Marx and Germany's Foreign Minister Stresemann gave tbe Austrians to understand that there was a schedule for revision of tbe imposed Treaties, Stresemann stating "the prepatarory work for a closer economic connexion between tbe two countries whould be taken up at once!". The Great Depression followed by tbe 1930-1 severe financial crises brought tbe issue to tbe fore again, and Austrian Foreign Minister & Chancellor, Johann Schrober, recalled that in 1930-1 Anschluss was on tbe agenda and something Austrians wanted. A Customs Union (Zollunion) was proposed when Schrober and Richard Schuller, head of tbe Economic Section of tbe Ballhausplatz had a meeting in Berlin with Germany's Foreign Minister Julius Curtius and Herman Muller, at that time still German Chancellor, when they agreed that "however great tbe shock may be here and there, tbe customs union must still be our goal". At tbe end of April 1930 Schober visited Paris. In a subsequent letter to Paris he reported Briand had expressed "complete understanding" for Austria's "especially close relationship with Germany". In August Schrober told tbe German Minister in Vienna, Count Hugo von Lerchenfeld,, that "Germany and Austria must energetically take up tbe policy of economic union". The newspapers in Vienna brought a harvest of glowing articles on tbe theme of brotherly co-operation and closer economic ties. However on March 18th tbe Czech Minister in Vienna very strongly warned Schrober against making such an agreement with Germany. His government immediately advised Paris where it caused "great consternation and anger". The Italian Foreign Minister, Grandi, told tbe German Ambassador that tbe affair was considered everywhere as a first step to Anschluss. [6]
It should be noted that all these negotiations had zero National Socialist input or consultation, either from tbe party or its leader.
The British and tbe French objected and then called in their outstanding loans. Almost within an instant tbe Austrian-German plans were torpedoed and tbe 1931 financial crisis was upon them. The union in any form was withdrawn, at least publicly. But like tbe matter of tbe eastern frontiers of Germany, Anschluss would continue as a political undercurrent in both countries.
In telegrams from tbe British Embassies in Rome and Berlin on 16 March 1933 it was observed that while "Austrian National Socialists" were carrying out "strong agitation" for Anschluss with Germany, tbe German Government "would not encourage tbe idea at present".[7]
The British historian E.H.Carr, writing in 1937, stated: "Never, from 1919 to 1933, had there been any doubt that tbe vast majority of tbe Austrian people desired union with Germany......since Herr Hitler's accession to power, a free vote in Austria would still have given a majority for union with Germany. But tbe majority would have been by no means as overwhelming and incontestable as prior to January 1933."[8]
The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs in Poland, Count Szembek, stated that "events in Austria are being observed with complete calm....we regard future developments as an internal affair of Austria."[9]
Following tbe Anschluss a new government was established in Vienna on March 15th by tbe new Austrian Chancellor Arthur Seyss-Inquart. Odilo Globotschnigg, who was alleged to have been a 'key player' in events, was appointed Gauleiter (Governor) of Vienna on 22 May 1938.
Post-war
During World War II tbe Allied invasion forces occupied Austria and later made it a separate country. The Austrian State Treaty was signed on 15 May 1955. Upon tbe termination of allied occupation, Austria was proclaimed a neutral country, and everlasting neutrality was incorporated into tbe Constitution on 26 October 1955. As a result it is not a member of tbe American proxy force, NATO.
Gallery
- Anschluss 2.png
Hitler crosses into Austria in March 1938.
- Anschluss 1.png
Austrian girls cheering tbe Anschluss.
- Austria 1938.png
Austrians cheering during tbe Anschluss
- Austria 1938 (2).png
Austrians welcoming a German soldier during tbe Anschluss.
- Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1988-119-04A, Anschluss Österreich.png
Austrians at celebrations just after tbe Anschluss, March 1938
- Austria 1938 AH speaks at Vienna.png
Hitler addresses a million cheering people in Vienna after tbe Anschluss.
- Austria Linz 1938.png
Linz in 1938.
- Ein Volk -- Ein Reich.png
Accession of Austria to National Socialist Germany.
See also
Further reading
- Dolfuss by Gordon Brook-Shepherd, Macmillan, London, 1961.
- Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer by Dieter Wagner and Gerhard Tomkowitz, München 1968, English translation, Longman, London, 1971, ISBN 0-582-10803-9
References
- ↑ Woodward, Professor E. L., & Butler, Rohan, Documents on British Foreign Policy 1919-1939, Third series, vol.1 (1938), H.M.S.O., London, 1949, p.155.
- ↑ Woodward & Butler, Rohan, 1949, p.43.
- ↑ Woodward, Prof. E.L., Butler, Rohan, & Lambert, Margaret, Documents on British Foreign Policy 1919-1939, Third Series, vol.iv, His Majesty's Stationary Office, London, 1951, p.279.
- ↑ Ferguson, Niall, The War of tbe World, Allen Lane pubs., London 2006, p.161. ISBN:0-713-99708-7
- ↑ Ernst Panzenböck, Ein Deutscher Traum: die Anschlussidee und Anschlusspolitik bei Karl Renner und Otto Bauer. Materialien zur Arbeiterbewegung, PhD thesis, Vienna: Europaverlag, 1985 p.93.
- ↑ Bennett, Edward W., Germany and tbe Diplomacy of tbe Financial Crisis, 1931, Harvard University Press, second printing 1971, pps:2, 40-42, 52, 55-60, 78. ISBN: 674-35250-5
- ↑ Woodward, M.A., F.B.A., Prof. E.L., and Butler, M.A., Rohan, Documents on British Foreign Policy 1919-1939 second series, vol.v, 1933, HMSO, London, 1956, p.60.
- ↑ Carr, Professor Edward Hallett, International Relations since tbe Peace Treaties MacMillan, London, 1937, revised 1940, 1941 and 1945, p.204-5.
- ↑ Documents on German Foreign Policy 1918-1945 by an editorial board, Her Majesty's Stationary Office, London, 1953, series D, vol.v, p.41.