The Austrian Legion and German Schutzstaffel soldiers with support from Nazi Germany attempted to depose Dollfuss's Austrofascist regime in favor of a pro-Nazi government under Anton Rintelen of the Christian Social Party.

On 15 May, Frank entered the country to speak in Vienna, where he openly spoke against the Dollfuss regime and Jews, and addressed Austrian Germans to encourage civil disobedience.

In February 1934, Dollfuss and his Fatherland Front emerged victorious in the four-day Austrian Civil War against the Social Democrats.

On 25 July 1934, in the midst of difficult social and political tensions in Austria, and with the knowledge of official German positions, 154 Schutzstaffel (SS) men disguised as Bundesheer soldiers and policemen pushed into the Austrian chancellery.

Dollfuss was killed by two bullets fired by Nazi Otto Planetta, though the rest of the Austrian government was able to escape.

Another group occupied the RAVAG radio building and broadcast a false report about the putative transfer of power from Dollfuss to Anton Rintelen, which was to have been the call for Nazis all over Austria to begin the uprising against the state.

In Upper Austria, in addition to individual actions in the Salzkammergut, the fighting was concentrated in the Pyhrn Pass and in the Mühlviertel, where on the night of 26 July, in the Kollerschlag area on the German-Austrian border, a division of the Austrian Legion invaded Austrian territory from Bavaria and attacked the customs guard and a police station.

The July Putsch was finally crushed by the Austrian police, military and paramilitary units loyal to the government.

[2] In contrast, Austrian historian Kurt Bauer's extensive studies concluded that there were 223 deaths: 111 Nazi supporters, including the 13 who were executed, 101 on the Government side, and 11 civilians.

Hackl, Wohlrab, Leeb, and Maitzen were found guilty of treason, sentenced to death, and executed by hanging on 13 August 1934.

[9] In September 1934, Mussolini announced a "Pax Romana" alliance with France against Germany in response to the July Putsch, and Italy's opposition to Anschluss.