Saturday, 12 April 2008

Austria March 1938 - How did Hitler achieve Anschluss?



The cartoon is called 'Good Hunting' to show that Hitler has taken Austria. Significantly Mussolini is saying to Hitler that he 'never heard a shot', showing that despite Anschluss being against the Treaty of Versailles no one challenged Hitler. Austria is shown as a defenceless and killed deer. Mussolini had previously stopped Hitler from taking Austria in 1934, now as allies he did not stand in his way. Hitler used Nazis in Austria to create protests for the union, he then suggested to the Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg to agree to Anschluss as the only way to solve the issue. Schuschnigg asked Britain and France for support but they refused. A referendum (vote) was then held on Anschluss but rigged by the Nazis so gaining over 99% in favour, Hitler then marched into Austria without any military confrontation.

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