Diplomatic Pressure
Austria Weakens
Dulifuss's successor, Chancellor Scuschnigg, realized he was on unstable ground when the Rome-Berlin Axis (more information) concluded in October 1936. Italy had been the one nation willing to back Austria against foreign involvement; no other nation would do more than strenuously protest for fear of war. Now, Italy would stand aside for Nazi Germany if they choose to interfere in Austrian politics or even invade. Early that year, he had been pressured into signing the the German-Austrian Agreement, which guaranteed Austrian independence in exchange for Austria agreeing to maintain a similar political stance as Nazi Germany.
"The German Reich is no longer willing to tolerate the suppression of ten million Germans across its borders." ~ Adolf Hitler
The Price of An Illusion
On February 12th, 1938, visited Hitler at his home in Berchtesgaden in order to discuss a peaceful compromise between Austria and Germany. Under Hitler's orders, Austrian Nazis were causing severe unrest and Austria was threatening to break under the strain. During their meeting, Hitler shouted at, threatened, and argued with Schuschnigg, ordering him to meet these demands or face invasion:
- The Austrian Nazi Party would be legalized
- All Nazi members currently jailed would be pardoned
- Seyss-Inquart (a Nazi-supporting Austrian lawyer) would be appointed the Minister of the Interior and would have absolute power over the police
- New, Nazi-sympathizers would be appointed the Minister of War and the Minister of Finance
These measure would give Hitler control over Austria and allow the Nazi Party to run unchecked. A Nazi could commit any crime or atrocity and have the police turn a blind eye. When Schuschnigg protested, he was told he would comply or Germany would invade. With Nazi military maneuvering on the border, Schuschnigg was quickly able to convince the president of the merits of complying: Austria would still be independent. However, Schuschnigg was tired of appeasing the Nazi dictator; he declared Austria would go
"Thus far and no further" ~Chancellor Schuschnigg
Schuschnigg's Final MOve
In a desperate move to keep Hitler at bay Schushnigg announced a national plebiscite to be held on March 13th; the Austrian people would vote on the issue. The vote would be neither fair nor equal: according to Austrian law the president's party could vote at any age whereas the age for any other party was 24. By this point Italy had told Hitler that Austria was not part of his of there plans and he could have it. Thus, a furious Hitler confidently demanded on March 10th the plebiscite canceled, with Schuschnigg stepping down to be replaced by Seyss-Inquart. When his demands were not met, he ordered the invasion. Even after they met his demands, the Nazis would still march into Austria on March 12th.