1938 Austrian Anschluss referendum

A referendum on the Anschluss with Germany was held in German-occupied Austria on 10 April 1938, alongside one in Germany. German troops had already occupied Austria one month earlier, on 12 March 1938. The official result was reported as 99.73% in favour, with a 99.71% turnout.

Background
After the end of World War I, the newly founded Austria, which claimed sovereignty over the majority-German territory of the former Habsburg empire. According to its provisional constitution it declared to be part of the also newly founded German Republic. Later plebiscites in Tyrol and Salzburg in 1921, where majorities of 98,77% and 99,11% voted for a unification with Germany, showed that it was also backed by the population.

In September 1919 Austria had to sign the Treaty of Saint Germain, which did not only mean significant losses of territory but it was also forced to change its name from "German Austria" to "Austria". Furthermore, Article 88 of the treaty stated that "the independence of Austria is inalienable otherwise than with the consent of the Council of the League of Nations", to prevent any attempt to unite with Germany.

Campaign
During the lead-up to the referendum, Hitler's campaign included anti-Catholic and anti-Semitic posters. Campaign managers reported "no opposition to the referendum". The referendum was supported by the Social Democratic Party of Austria, whose leader Karl Renner endorsed Hitler on 3 April, and Cardinal Theodor Innitzer, the highest representative of the Roman Catholic church in Austria.

Results
The referendum question was:

Although there were irregularities, LIFE in 1938 acknowledged that the results of the referendum and its German counterpart were "largely honest". Some postwar accounts claim that the poll was rigged, but there is no evidence that this was necessary. The result was "... the outcome of opportunism, ideological conviction, massive pressure, occasional vote rigging and a propaganda machine that Austria's political culture had never before experienced." The massive pressure to which people were exposed came from the fact that many were marking the ballot paper in front of the campaign workers in order not to be suspected of voting against the Anschluss. The secrecy of the ballot was in practice non-existent.

References

Category:1938 elections in Austria
Category:Referendums in Austria
Category:1938 referendums
Category:April 1938 events