Reasons for Hitler's Goal of Achieving Anschluss with Austria


The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, termed 'Anschluss', was a key foreign policy objective for Adolf Hitler, realised in March 1938. This event can be attributed to a complex interplay of factors, ranging from Hitler's personal ideology to strategic calculations regarding European power dynamics.


Hitler's Ideological Convictions

A fundamental driving force was Hitler's deeply held belief in the concept of a 'Greater Germany'. This pan-German nationalist ideology advocated for the unification of all ethnic Germans into a single nation-state. Born in Austria, Hitler viewed the country as an artificial construct unjustly separating Germans from the Reich. As he declared in 'Mein Kampf', "German-Austria must return to the great German motherland." (Hitler, 1925) This sentiment formed the bedrock of his desire for Anschluss, seeing it as a righteous reunification rather than an act of aggression.


Undermining the Treaty of Versailles

The Treaty of Versailles, which had formally ended World War I, explicitly forbade any political union between Germany and Austria. For Hitler, dismantling the Treaty was a crucial step in overturning the perceived humiliation inflicted upon Germany after the war. Anschluss was thus a deliberate challenge to the Treaty's legitimacy and a demonstration of Germany's resurgent power. By defying the treaty with minimal international repercussions, Hitler gauged the weakness of the League of Nations and the Western powers, further emboldening his expansionist ambitions.


Strategic Expansion and the Third Reich

From a strategic perspective, Austria held significant value for the Nazi regime. Its absorption into the Third Reich provided valuable resources, particularly raw materials and manpower. Moreover, Austria's strategic location in the heart of Europe strengthened Germany's position, offering a springboard for further expansion into southeastern Europe. Control over Austria also enhanced Germany's security by removing a potential threat on its southern border.


A Precursor to Further Aggression

The Anschluss was not an isolated incident but rather a calculated step in Hitler's broader expansionist agenda. It served as a blueprint for future territorial demands, particularly concerning the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia, which also had a significant German population. The success of the Anschluss emboldened Hitler's belief that further aggression, masked as the 'reintegration' of German populations, would be tolerated by the international community.


Testing the Waters of Appeasement

The muted response of Britain and France to the Anschluss, driven by their policy of appeasement, served to convince Hitler of their unwillingness to risk war to contain German expansion. He correctly interpreted their inaction as a sign of weakness and resolved to further test the limits of their tolerance with future acts of aggression. The annexation of Austria, therefore, played a crucial role in setting the stage for the outbreak of World War II just a year later.


Conclusion

The Anschluss of Austria was a pivotal event in the unfolding narrative of Nazi Germany's rise to power and the descent into World War II. Fueled by a combination of ideological zeal, geopolitical ambitions, and the failure of appeasement, Hitler's annexation of Austria demonstrated his regime's aggressive intent and set in motion a chain of events that would tragically redefine twentieth-century history.


Bibliography

Hitler, Adolf. _Mein Kampf_. 1925.