On March 12-13, 1938, Hitler ordered the Anschluss (annexation) of Austria into Nazi Germany. This move was made in defiance of the Treaty of Versailles, which had forbidden the unification of Germany and Austria. Hitler's soldiers easily overpowered the Austrian military, and the Nazis quickly took control of Austria's government. This event marked a significant turning point in Hitler's plans for expansion and foreshadowed the coming conflict of World War II.
