Anschluss

The Anschluss{{ref|spelling}} (German word meaning "connection", or "political union") also known as the Anschluss Österreichs was the 1938 inclusion of Austria into "Greater Germany" by the Nazi regime.

Related Topics:
German - 1938 - Austria - Greater Germany - Nazi regime

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The events of March 12, 1938, were the first major steps in Adolf Hitler's long-desired expansion of Germany. This action followed the return of the Saar region to Germany (Saar was under the control of the League of Nations for 15 years, under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles), and preceded the inclusion of the Sudetenland later in 1938 and the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1939, and finally led to World War II with the invasion of Poland.

Related Topics:
March 12 - 1938 - Adolf Hitler - Germany - Saar - League of Nations - Treaty of Versailles - Sudetenland - Czechoslovakia - 1939 - World War II - Invasion of Poland

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The Anschluss was preceded by a period of growing political pressure on Austria, exerted by Germany, demanding recognition of the outlawed Austrian National-Socialist party and later, their share of Government. When the Austrian chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg, in a last bid to retain Austrian independence, announced a referendum to determine independence or union with Germany, Germany pressured Schuschnigg into handing over power to the Nazi party. This well-planned internal overthrow by the Austrian Nazi Party of Austria's state institutions in Vienna on March 11 meant that when Wehrmacht troops entered into Austria to enforce the Anschluss, no fighting ever took place. The international response to the Anschluss was mild: The World War I Allies only lodged diplomatic protests, and no concrete action was taken to reverse the Anschluss, even though the allies were, on paper, committed to upholding the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, which specifically prohibited the union of Austria and Germany. Austria ceased to exist as an independent nation until a preliminary Austrian government was finally reinstated on April 27, 1945, and was legally recognized by the Allies in the following months.

Related Topics:
Kurt Schuschnigg - Internal overthrow - Austrian Nazi Party - Vienna - March 11 - Wehrmacht - World War I - Allies - April 27 - 1945 - Allies

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