Editing Nazi Germany (section)

==== Austria and Czechoslovakia ====
{{Main|Anschluss|German occupation of Czechoslovakia}}
{{Further|Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia}}
{{multiple image
| align     = right
| direction = vertical
| width     = 230
| image1    = Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-0922-500, Wien, Heldenplatz, Rede Adolf Hitler.jpg
| image2    = Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1970-005-28, Anschluss sudetendeutscher Gebiete.jpg
| footer    = (Top) Hitler proclaims the ''Anschluss'' on the [[Heldenplatz]], Vienna, 15 March 1938.<br />(Bottom) Ethnic Germans use the [[Nazi salute]] to greet German soldiers as they enter [[Žatec|Saaz]], 1938.
| alt       = (Top) A photo of a large and crowded public square. In the foreground, many officials face away from the camera and towards the crowd, while Adolf Hitler stands at a podium in front of them. In the background, two large statue can be seen in the center of the square, with several buildings making up the skyline behind the square. Hills can be seen on the horizon. (Bottom) A convoy of trucks, cars, and motorcycles drives through a cobblestone street. Several buildings line the roadway and are draped with swastika banners. A waving crowd on both sides of the street greets the convoy as it drives by.
}}

In February 1938, Hitler emphasised to Austrian Chancellor [[Kurt Schuschnigg]] the need for Germany to secure its frontiers. Schuschnigg scheduled a plebiscite regarding Austrian independence for 13 March, but Hitler sent an ultimatum to Schuschnigg on 11 March demanding that he hand over all power to the Austrian Nazi Party or face an invasion. German troops entered Austria the next day, to be greeted with enthusiasm by the populace.{{sfn|Evans|2005|pp=646–652}}

The [[First Czechoslovak Republic|Republic of Czechoslovakia]] was home to a substantial minority of Germans, who lived mostly in the [[Sudetenland]]. Under pressure from separatist groups within the [[Sudeten German Party]], the Czechoslovak government offered economic concessions to the region.{{sfn|Evans|2005|p=667}} Hitler decided not just to incorporate the Sudetenland into the Reich, but to destroy the country of Czechoslovakia entirely.{{sfn|Kershaw|2008|p=417}} The Nazis undertook a propaganda campaign to try to generate support for an invasion.{{sfn|Kershaw|2008|p=419}} Top German military leaders opposed the plan, as Germany was not yet ready for war.{{sfn|Evans|2005|pp=668–669}}

The crisis led to war preparations by Britain, Czechoslovakia, and France (Czechoslovakia's ally). Attempting to avoid war, British Prime Minister [[Neville Chamberlain]] arranged a series of meetings, the result of which was the [[Munich Agreement]], signed on 29 September 1938. The Czechoslovak government was forced to accept the Sudetenland's annexation into Germany. Chamberlain was greeted with cheers when he landed in London, saying the agreement brought "peace for our time".{{sfn|Evans|2005|pp=671–674}}

Austrian and Czech foreign exchange reserves were seized by the Nazis, as were stockpiles of raw materials such as metals and completed goods such as weaponry and aircraft, which were shipped to Germany. The ''[[Reichswerke Hermann Göring]]'' industrial conglomerate took control of steel and coal production facilities in both countries.{{sfn|Mazower|2008|pp=264–265}}