Anschluss

Basically Anschluss means Anschluss, German: “Union”, political union of Austria with Germany, achieved through annexation by Adolf Hitler in 1938.

But why Austria ? Hitler homeland- Austria Austrian people mainly German and in Mein kampf Hitler had made it clear that he felt that the two states belonged together as one German nation.

Take over He tried to take over Austria in 1934 but failed because Mussolini had stopped him But four years later , in 1938,the situation was different . Hitler and Mussolini were now allies.

Schuschnigg Austrain Chancellor was told by Hitler that only Anschluss could sort out these problems . Hitler also pressurised Schuschnigg to agree on Anschluss but Schuschnigg appealed for somekind of support such as sanctions against Hitler.But France & Britain failed to provide this support . So, Hitler simply sent his troops into Austria in march and supposedly to guarantee a trouble-free plebiscite.Under the watchful eye of the Nazi troops,99.75% voted for Anschluss.

Neville Chamberlain Arthur Neville Chamberlain (18 March 1869 – 9 November 1940) was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from May 1937 to May 1940. Chamberlain , British Prime Minister , felt that Austria and Germans had a right to be united and that Treaty Of Versailles was WRONG to separate them.

RESULT Hitler action had reaped a rich reward Austria’s soldiers,weapons and its rich deposits of gold and iron ore were added to Germany’s increasingly strong army and industry.