A propaganda campaign was launched, in which the Austrian Nazi Party. demanded Anschluss - ie that Austria become a part of the Third Reich.
When Dolfuss became a dictator in 1932, the country had been thrown into political turmoil.
Hitler thought the timing perfect to force Anschluss on the Austrian people.
The Austrian Nazi Party staged an uprising, in which they murdered Dr Dolfuss.
But before the Nazis could take over the government and carry out unification, Mussolini reacted by sending troops to the border.
He threatened to invade Austria if the Nazis took over the government by force.
The Austrian Nazi Party backed off.
Austria remained independent, this time under the new chancellor, Dr Schuschnigg.
Hitler denied any knowledge of or involvement in the attempted coup by the Austrian Nazi Party.
This is the second time we get the idea that Hitler might have stopped his aggressive foreign policy if he had met with enough resistance. He backed off the moment Mussolini threatened to support Austria.
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