Final answer:
In 1938, Adolf Hitler forced the unification known as the Anschluss between Austria and Germany, ignoring the Versailles Treaty and using Nazi intimidation and propaganda.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1938, Adolf Hitler manipulated political events to achieve the unification of Austria and Germany, an action known as the Anschluss. Despite the Versailles Treaty prohibiting such a union, Hitler pressured the Austrian government and eventually sent in German troops to complete the annexation. This coercive integration was accomplished through a combination of political infiltration, military occupation, and a subsequent referendum that heavily favored unification, albeit under circumstances of Nazi intimidation and propaganda.
Western democracies such as Britain and France, practicing a policy of appeasement, failed to intervene effectively to prevent the annexation. The Anschluss marked a significant step in Hitler's aggressive expansion policy, which ultimately led Europe closer to the brink of World War II.