Hitler

1
Hitlers Foreign Policy1936-39

• The Anschluss

2
Anschluss union of Germany and Austria

• Since coming to power, the Nazis 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.
• Nazis assassinated Dolfuss in 1934 as part of an
  attempted coup détat to force the union of
  Austria and Germany which had been forbidden
  under TOV

3
Italian Response

• International alarm was widespread.
• Mussolini, who had no desire for a common
  frontier (border) with Hitler, sent 100,000
  troops to Italys 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

4
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 Italys influence in the Balkans

5
Background to Hitlers policy towards Austria

• Hitlers success in re-militarising the Rhineland
  in March 1936 had strengthened Germanys 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

6
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!!!!

7
Austro- German Agreement in 1936

• Result it increased Germanys influence over
  Austria
• Secret clauses prominent Nazis 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

8
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 Austrias independence
• This was a welcomed comment from Mussolini as
  Hitler could now create the Anschluss

9
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.

10
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!!!

11
Hitlers 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?

12
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

13

• These terms, if accepted were to turn Austria
  into Hitlers puppet state.
• Schuschnigg agreed reluctantly to implement the
  agreement in 3 days

14

• 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.

15

• 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.

16
Italys Reaction

• 11 March, Italys 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.

17
Austrias Reaction

• The Austrian Nazis presented Hitlers 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...

18

• 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.

19
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

20

• 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

21

• 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

22
Hitlers Future Plans are Unveiled!

• Hossbach Conference was held on 5th Nov 1937 and
  it detailed Hitlers 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!!

23

• 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