Hitler's Germany, also known as the Third Reich, annexed Austria on March 12, 1938 and the Sudetenland on October 10, 1938. The annexation of Austria is also referred to as the Anschluss by most historians. Austria's chancellor, Kurt Schuschnigg, did attempt to maintain his country's autonomy from Germany, but his problem was that Hitler was funding Austrian Nazis and encouraged them to engage in seditious activities aimed at overthrowing the Austrian regime. The Austrian Nazi Party did precisely this and overthrew the government on March 11, 1938. This led to
the entry of the German Wehrmacht the next day and the integration of Austria into a greater Germany.
The Sudetenland was a region of Czechoslovakia, inhabited primarily by ethnic Germans. In 1938, Hitler also called for the annexation of the Sudetenland, ostensibly as a way to ensure the proper treatment of the local Germans. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, following a policy of appeasement, agreed to grant Hitler's request, hoping that the annexation
would help ensure peace in the region.
the entry of the German Wehrmacht the next day and the integration of Austria into a greater Germany.
The Sudetenland was a region of Czechoslovakia, inhabited primarily by ethnic Germans. In 1938, Hitler also called for the annexation of the Sudetenland, ostensibly as a way to ensure the proper treatment of the local Germans. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, following a policy of appeasement, agreed to grant Hitler's request, hoping that the annexation
would help ensure peace in the region.
