Anschluss

Definition

Anschluss refers to the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, marking a significant step towards Hitler's goal of creating a Greater German Reich. This event was a critical development in the lead-up to World War II, as it demonstrated the growing power and aggression of the Nazi regime.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Anschluss was a significant step in Hitler's plan to create a Greater German Reich, as it allowed him to incorporate Austria into the Nazi sphere of influence.
2. The Anschluss was facilitated by the growing political and economic instability in Austria, as well as the reluctance of Western powers to intervene and challenge Nazi aggression.
3. The annexation of Austria provided the Nazis with additional resources, manpower, and strategic advantages, strengthening their position in the lead-up to World War II.
4. The Anschluss was widely condemned by the international community, but the policy of appeasement adopted by Britain and France allowed the Nazis to continue their expansionist agenda.
5. The Anschluss was a precursor to the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia and the eventual outbreak of World War II, as it demonstrated the unwillingness of the Western powers to confront the growing threat of Nazi Germany.

Review Questions

• Explain the significance of the Anschluss in the context of the origins of World War II.
  • The Anschluss, or the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938, was a critical event in the lead-up to World War II. It marked a significant step in Hitler's goal of creating a Greater German Reich, as it allowed him to incorporate Austria into the Nazi sphere of influence and provided the Nazis with additional resources, manpower, and strategic advantages. The Anschluss also demonstrated the growing power and aggression of the Nazi regime, as well as the reluctance of the Western powers, such as Britain and France, to confront this threat through a policy of appeasement. This event was a precursor to the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia and the eventual outbreak of World War II, as it showed the unwillingness of the international community to take decisive action against Nazi Germany's expansionist agenda.
• Analyze the role of the policy of appeasement in the context of the Anschluss.
  • The policy of appeasement, adopted by Britain and France in response to the Anschluss, played a significant role in enabling the Nazi regime's aggression. Despite the widespread condemnation of the Anschluss by the international community, the Western powers chose to make concessions to Hitler in an attempt to maintain peace. This reluctance to confront the growing threat of Nazi Germany allowed the Nazis to continue their expansionist agenda, culminating in the occupation of Czechoslovakia and the eventual outbreak of World War II. The policy of appeasement demonstrated the inability of the Western powers to effectively challenge the Nazi regime, which had a profound impact on the origins of the war and the subsequent global conflict.
• Evaluate the long-term consequences of the Anschluss on the geopolitical landscape of Europe in the lead-up to World War II.
  • The Anschluss had far-reaching consequences for the geopolitical landscape of Europe in the lead-up to World War II. By annexing Austria, the Nazis were able to consolidate their power and expand their sphere of influence, which served as a stepping stone for further aggression. The Anschluss also destabilized the region, as it was followed by the Nazi occupation of the Sudetenland, a border region of Czechoslovakia with a significant German-speaking population. This series of events demonstrated the unwillingness of the Western powers to confront the growing threat of Nazi Germany, and it emboldened Hitler to continue his expansionist agenda, ultimately leading to the outbreak of World War II. The Anschluss, therefore, had a profound impact on the geopolitical dynamics of Europe, setting the stage for the global conflict that would follow.

Related terms

Lebensraum: The Nazi ideology of expanding German territory and acquiring more living space, which was used to justify the annexation of Austria and other regions.

Appeasement:

The policy of making concessions to aggressive powers in an attempt to maintain peace, which was employed by Western powers like Britain and France in response to the Anschluss.

Sudetenland:

The border region of Czechoslovakia with a significant German-speaking population, which was annexed by Nazi Germany shortly after the Anschluss, further destabilizing the region.