Anschluss

The Anschluss, or Anschluß before the German orthography reform of 1996, refers to the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938. It began after the unification of Germany excluded Austria and the German Austrians from the Prussian-dominated German Empire in 1871. A plebiscite held on 10 April officially ratified Austria’s annexation by the Reich.