The Anschluss: Austria's Annexation by Nazi Germany 1938

In March 1938, German troops crossed the border into Austria, welcomed by cheering crowds as the country was absorbed into the Third Reich. This episode explores the lead-up to the Anschluss, from the 1934 coup attempt and the murder of Engelbert Dollfuss to the pressure Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg faced at Berchtesgaden. We examine the role of Austrian Nazis, the failed plebiscite, and the reaction of the international community. The conversation also touches on the immediate aftermath: the wave of anti-Semitic violence in Vienna, the deportation of Jews and political opponents, and the transformation of Austria into the Ostmark. We discuss how the Anschluss was experienced by ordinary Austrians—both those who celebrated and those who resisted—and its lasting impact on Austrian identity and the country's post-war narrative. Key figures include Arthur Seyss-Inquart, Kurt Schuschnigg, Adolf Hitler, and Miklas. Key locations: Vienna, Linz, Berchtesgaden, and the Heldenplatz. #Anschluss #Austria1938 #NaziGermany #KurtSchuschnigg #ArthurSeyssInquart #AdolfHitler #Berchtesgaden #Heldenplatz #Ostmark #Vienna #Dollfuss #JuliusRaab #Plebiscite #AntiSemitism #WorldWarII #AustrianHistory #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo