Hitler’s Foreign Policy
1936-39
The Anschluss
Anschluss: union of Germany and Austria
• Since coming to power, the Nazi’s had financed
and encouraged the Austrian Nazi Party to cause
trouble and gain support in Austria
• Campaign of intimidation and terror carried out,
Englebert Dollfuss, Chancellor of Austria had to
suppress party
• This upset Hitler.
• Nazi’s assassinated Dolfuss in 1934 as part of an
attempted coup d’état to force the union of
Austria and Germany which had been forbidden
under TOV
Italian Response
• International alarm was widespread.
• Mussolini, who had no desire for a common
frontier (border) with Hitler, sent 100,000
troops to Italy’s border with Austria as he
feared SouthTyrol may be next
• Hitler taken aback by the reaction, forced
to disown the attempt to join
Austria/Germany
Italian Response
• Mussolini was aware that South Tyrol,
which they had gained after WW1 from
Austria had a substantial German
minority living there (think again about
Hitler's Foreign policy)
• Feared that Germans would use Austria
as a base to undermine Italy’s influence in
the Balkans
Background to Hitler’s policy
towards Austria
• Hitler’s success in re-militarising the
Rhineland in March 1936 had strengthened
Germany’s position in Europe
• Germany was now less vulnerable to attack
and was in a position to influence diplomatic
affairs, rather than just being the ‘victim’
of what other nations decided (Versailles)
• This new confidence became evident in
several tactical steps that Germany took
The Austro- German Agreement 1936
• Germany again recognised Austrian
independence
• Both powers agreed not to interfere in
each others internal affairs, however and
more importantly…
• Austria would conduct her foreign policy in
line with her being a ‘German state
• Think what this really means!!!!
Austro- German Agreement in 1936
• Result: it increased Germany’s influence over Austria
• Secret clauses: prominent Nazi’s were to have a
share in political responsibility
• Why was this possible????????
• Hitler had very wisely drawn up an agreement with
Mussolini.
• Remember, Mussolini was concerned originally at the
take over of Austria.
•
Nov 1936: Germany and Italy signed an
agreement known as the Rome-Berlin axis, agreed
to share a common foreign policy
• Austria would be preserved for the time being
Events prior to Anschluss
• However only a year later in
November 1937, Mussolini ( after a
tour of Germany where he had been
impressed by the organisation and
strength of the Nazi state) stated
that he was no longer interested in
preserving Austria’s independence
• This was a welcomed comment from
Mussolini as Hitler could now create
the Anschluss
The Taking of Austria
• The creation of the Anschluss was
being halted by the involvement of
Austrian President Schuschnigg.
• After banning the Austrian Nazi
party, Hitler was very angry.
• The only way forward would be the
creation of a new Government ruled
by Austrian Nazis.
Hitler meets Schuschnigg
• Hitler attended a meeting with
Schuschnigg regarding the banning of the
Nazi Party.
• This took place in Berchtesgaden, on 11
February 1938.
• Hitler, as he did on many occasions,
accused Schuschnigg of persecuting
Germans living in Austria.
• This was a tactic he would adopt again!!!
Hitler’s Demands
• The ban on the Austrian Nazi Party was to be
lifted and the government was to recognise its
loyalty to Austria
• Austrian Nazis were to hold the following key
positions in government
• Seyss-Inquart was to be Minister of the
interior with control of the police
• Glaisse-Horstenau was to be Minister for war
• The German and Austrian armies were to have
officer exchanges
• Think of how significant this move was in the
takeover?
Further Demands
• Fischbok was to be Minister for Finance
and the economic systems of the two
countries were to be brought together as
one!!!
• Also, imprisoned Nazis were to be released
and officers and officials who had been
sacked because of their Nazi connections
were to be reinstated
• These terms, if accepted were to turn
Austria into Hitler’s puppet state.
• Schuschnigg agreed reluctantly to
implement the agreement in 3 days
• The new Nazi Ministers acted with
complete disregard for the Austrian
Chancellor and the Nazis led disturbances
all over Austria
• This was in an attempt to destabilise the
country and “ask” for German help to quell
the trouble
• Against the advice of Mussolini,
Schuschnigg decided to hold a plebiscite
(referendum) on 13th March to ask the
Austrians if they wanted an independent
Austria.
• Hitler was furious and ordered his
army to prepare to invade Austria
• He sent Musssolini an explanation and
a promise that he accepted the
Brenner Pass as the permanent
frontier between Germany and Italy
• This would ensure Italy did not get
involved in a war.
Italy’s Reaction
• 11 March, Italy’s Foreign Minister
wrote in his diary that:
• ‘Thanks to their policy, (appeasement)
France and England have lost Austria.
For us too it is not an advantage (that
Hitler is gaining land). But in the
meantime we have acquired Abyssinia.
Austria’s Reaction
• The Austrian Nazis presented Hitler’s demand for
the cancellation of the plebiscite, fearing the
possibility of a German invasion, Schuschnigg
agreed and resigned.
• He was replaced by Seyss-Inquart
• In order to ease the concerns of
Czechoslovakia, who thought they would be
Hitler's next conquest, and also to stop
them mobilising their army Hitler stated...
• Czechoslovakia was promised that they had
”nothing to fear” from the Reich. This
promise would soon be broken
• In return, Czechoslovakia promised not to
mobilise her army towards Austria.
• Again Hitler had successfully taken more
land (Lebensraum) for Germany without
Britain or France interfering.
Inquart in Power
• Seyss-Inquart had instructions that
he was to telegram for help, due to
the disturbances, from the German
army as soon as he was in office
• Seyss-Inquart requested that
German troops should not invade
Austria
• Despite this, German troops crossed
the border at dawn on Saturday 12
March. It was not a very impressive
military invasion as 70% of German
armoured vehicles broke down
• However this did not affect the
outcome
• Hitler after the successful invasion,
decided that he now wanted to
establish direct rule, with Austria as
a province of the German Reich
• 13th March Hitler entered Vienna in
triumph
• A plebiscite was eventually held in
which 99.75% of Austrians voted for
the new arrangements.
• This it seemed was a fixed result
Hitler’s Future Plans are
Unveiled!
• Hossbach Conference was held on 5th Nov
1937 and it detailed Hitler’s future plans
• He would take Austria, then move onto
Czechoslovakia (green) and Poland
(white).
• However, he had to ensure he did this
without creating war!!
• Hitler also, more importantly stated at this
Conference.
• Germany must be ready for war by 1938
and at the latest by 1943-45 or the other
powers would catch up in the arms race’
• ‘Germany would always be faced by two
hate-inspired antagonists, Britain and
France’
• This was a direct reference to the terms
imposed by T.O.V