Anschluss AnnexationKaren, Trevor, Justin, Liam

Germany & Austria: Before the AnnexationIn 1879, Germany & Austria had formed an

alliance. This was known as the Austro-German

Alliance or the Dual Alliance. It was a pact in

which the two powers promised to provide support

if Russia decided to attack.

Soon, Italy would join the pact in 1882 making it

the Triple Alliance. The treaty provided that

Germany and Austria were to support Italy in case

France decided to attack. Although they had an

alliance, Italy would enter World War I in 1915 in

opposition against the two powers.

The agreement remained an important element of

both German and Austro-Hungarian foreign policy

until 1918, a year before the Treaty of Versailles.

Justin

Germany

Austria-Hungary

Italy

Main Countries involved in the Annexation Germany

● Hitler’s beliefs started to gain momentum

soon before the annexation took place

● The annexation was a direct violation of the

treaty of Versailles

● Hitler hoped to declare his independence

through this annexation

● Germany wanted to take back what the

treaty of Versailles had stolen from them

Austria

● Austrian Nazis conspired to take over

Austria multiple times but failed.

● Austria was a newly declared country

therefore had unstable ruling

● The country was largely supportive of

Hitler's ideas.

Karen

Important Figures of the AnnexationAlthough the Treaties of Versailles and St. Germain

strictly forbade and unification of Austria and

Germany, Hitler proposed an ultimatum to

Schuschnigg, who was the Chancellor of Austria

after 1934. Schuschnigg was forced to agree to

Hitler’s proposals, which were:

● To take pressure off the Austrian Nazi Party

● To make Seyss-Inquart (the leader of the

Austrian Nazis) the Minister of the Interior

○ This gave the Nazis control over the austrian

police force

Adolf Hitler

Kurt von Schuschnigg

Trevor

Nazi AustriaIn 1938, Nazis in Austria conspired a plan to unite

their nation with Germany by seizing the Austrian

Government by force. This was the second time in

four years that Austria Nazis conspired.

After Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg

learned of their conspiracy, he met with Hitler

trying to claim his country’s independence.

Liam

The AnnexationThe Annexation bolstered the Nazi’s influence in

Austria, and to a further extent after Schuschnigg

called a plebiscite over a question of Austrian

independence, to which Hitler deemed as a

violation of the Berchtesgaden agreement. Hitler

then threatened to invade within the next hour, if

Schuschnigg did not grant Seyss-Inquart control

over the government.

Schuschnigg resigned, which gave Hitler control

over Austria, as Seyss-Inquart passed a law

abolishing Austrian sovereignty, to make it a part

of Germany.

Trevor and Liam

A day after Schuschnigg resigned, Hitler lead his

German troops into Austria on March 12th where

he was met by enthusiastic Austria Nazis. When

Hitler appointed a new Nazi government on March

13th, the Anschluss was official.

Annexation - Foreign Involvement● The British had no interest in

Austria.

○ France has no intention of

acting without the British.

● There was little foreign

intervention of the annexation

between Germany and Austria.

Karen

The Annexation Aftermath

Austria officially became a state of germany until

World War II, in which the Allied powers (Great

Britain, Soviet Union, United States and France)

declared the Anschluss voided and freed Austria as

independent.

The Chancellor of Austria who resigned after the

annexation was released in 1945 at the end of

World War II

Justin

The Allied Powers

Bibliography● The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Anschluss.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia

Britannica, Inc., 6 Mar. 2019, www.britannica.com/event/Anschluss.

● Falk, Jerry. History 4th Edition Twentieth Century World History Student Workbook. Hazelmere Publishing, 2019.

● The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2019, July 18). Austro-German Alliance.

● Germany annexes Austria. (2010, February 09).

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