Economic and social problems in Austria at the beginning of the 1930s led to a massive intensification of political divisions. Subsequently, profound changes occurred. Instead of a democratic republic, a distinct variant of fascism was established: Austrofascism. Following numerous scholarly publications, the author, in collaboration with Florian Wenninger, presents an account for a broader readership: the overall development leading up to the annexation in 1938, the actors and groups involved, interest-driven content restructuring of important political areas, as well as the embedding of these changes within the population and the significant relationships with Italian and German fascism. Furthermore, the Austrian development is contextualized within the European framework of political upheavals, for which Italian fascism often served as a model.