Berlin, 11.3.38
The Supreme Command of the Armed Forces OKW L I a Nr. 420/38 g.Kdos.
30 Copies 11th copy
Referring to: Operation OTTO
TOP SECRET
1. If other measures prove unsuccessful, I intend to invade Austria with armed forces to establish constitutional conditions and to prevent further outrages against the pro-German population.
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2. The whole operation will be directed by myself.
According to my instructions:
1 The Ob.d.H. will direct the land operations with the 8th Army in the formation and strength suggested to me, and with the attachments of the Air Force, the SS and police. (See appendix.)
The Ob.d.L. will direct the air operations with the forces suggested to me.
3. Operational duties, a. Army. The invasion of Austria must be carried out in the manner explained to me. The Army's first target is the occupation of upper Austria, Salzburg, Lower Austria, the Tyrol, the speedy occupation of Vienna and the securing of the Austro-Czech frontier.
b. Air Force. The Air Force must demonstrate and drop propaganda material, occupy Austrian aerodromes for the use of further possible reinforcements, assist the Army upon demand as necessary, apart from that, hold bomber units in readiness for special tasks.
4. The forces of the Army and Air Force detailed for this operation must be ready for invasion and/or ready for action on the 12 March 1938 at the latest from 1200 hours. '
I reserve the right to give permission for crossing and flying over the frontier, and to decide the actual moment for invasion.
5. The behavior of the troops must give the impression that we do not want to wage war against our Austrian brothers. It is in our interest that the whole operation shall be carried out without any violence but in the form of a peaceful entry welcomed by the population. Therefore any provocation is to be avoided. If, however resistance is offered it must be broken ruthlessly by force of arms.
Austrian units who come over to us, immediately come under German Command.
6. On the remaining German frontiers no security measures are to be taken for the time being.
[Signed] A. HITLER
[Translator's note: This document bears the initials of Jodi, Keitel, and one other which is illegible.]
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Orders for the military occupation of Austria by the army and air force, with a precaution to avoid provocative acts so as to appear to be "a peaceful entry welcomed by the population"
Authors
Adolf Hitler (Fuehrer, Reich Chancellor, Supeme Commander of Wehrmacht)
Adolf Hitler
Austrian nationalized German politician, leader of the National Socialist party and dictator of Germany (1889-1945)
- Born: 1889-01-01 1889-04-20 (Braunau am Inn) (country: Austria-Hungary; located in the administrative territorial entity: Archduchy of Austria above the Enns; statement is subject of: Adolf-Hitler-Geburtshaus)
- Died: 1945-04-30 (Berlin Führerbunker) (country: Nazi Germany; located in the administrative territorial entity: Berlin; statement is subject of: death of Adolf Hitler)
- Country of citizenship: Cisleithania (period: 1889-04-20 through 1918-11-11); First Republic of Austria (period: 1919-01-01 through 1925-04-30); Nazi Germany (end cause: death of Adolf Hitler; period: 1933-01-30 through 1945-04-30); Republic of German-Austria (period: 1918-01-01 through 1919-01-01)
- Occupation: painter (statement is subject of: paintings by Adolf Hitler); political writer; politician (reason for preferred rank: generally used form); soldier
- Member of political party: German Workers' Party (period: 1919-09-12 through 1921-07-11); Nazi Party (series ordinal: 556)
- Member of: Nazi Party
- Participant in: Aktion T4; Beer Hall Putsch; The Holocaust; ethnic cleansing
- Significant person: Albert Speer; Benito Mussolini; Eva Braun; Joseph Stalin
Date: 11 March 1938
Literal Title: Referring to: Operation OTTO
Defendants: Hermann Wilhelm Goering, Alfred Jodl, Wilhelm Keitel
Total Pages: 2
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: C-102
Citation: IMT (page 560)
HLSL Item No.: 450681
Document Summary
C-102: Fuehrer Order for invasion of Austria