ANSCHLUSS

PREPAREDNESS FOR WAR

• Unite all Germans to form an "all German Reich"
• People of the same blood should be in the same Reich
• Looked to the leader of Austria, Schuschnugg, to cede German land to Germany
• Schu looked for help from the British and French, but none came
• Reformed the military and planned in case of war

CONTINUED

• Invented tactics such as blitzkrieg
• Created another navy and a new Air Force
• Updated all forms of weaponry
• Wehrmact is the combined army, Heer is army,
• Kriegsmarine is the navy, leftwaffle was the Air Force

AUSTRIAN ATTITUDES

• Favored formation of a heritage union
• Understood the benefits of German unification
• Role of Austrian nazis
• Realized the economic benefits of unity

ATTITUDE OF FRANCE TO AUSTRIA

• Resignation of the French government prior to invasion
• Needed British support to take military action
• British chose appeasement rather than action
• Frustrated the French to no end

ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN TOWARDS AUSTRIA

• Prime Minister Chamberlain wanted to appease Germany
• Open negotiations with Mussolini led to resignations
• Anschluss didn't affect Britain, so it wasn't a priority
• Disagreed with the "annexation" of Austria
• Not feasible to stop Anschluss, but no effort was made anyways