Anschluss
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Austria and Germany united because Austria was in fear of being overthrown by the Germans if they didn't unite with them.
Germany wanted to Unite Austria and Germany because Hitler was an Austrian and there were 8 million German speakers in Austria, It would mean if they reunited with Austria, more living space, which was one of Hitlers main political aims. It also meant that again they would be breaking the treaty of Versailles and Pushing Britain and France even more to their limits. As well as this It would mean that those 8 million German speakers would probably want to Join Germany , more people in Hitlers army, causing a greater threat of war.
Under the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Austria was not allowed to unite with Germany. The treaty was signed in September of 1919.
The three countries in the Triple Alliance were Germany, then Austria-Hungary and Italy, this alliance lasted from 1882 till the beginning of World War I.Great Britain (A+ Anywhere)
Austria's role in World War 2 was vital, but not voluntary. The Nazi party of Germany put a lot of pressure on Chancellor Von Schuschnigg to unite Austria with Germany, and when Hitler invaded Austria in 1938, Von Schuschnigg was forced to surrender to Hitler's commands. The 1939 announcement that Austria was pat of the Axis powers is what set off the war itself.