On the morning of 12 March 1938, German troops marched into Austria, starting the Anschluss (German: "union", "connection"). In fact, it was an annexation of the smaller country into Germany. The invaders were greeted with cheerful enthusiasm and no fighting took place. Hitler planned to leave Austria as a puppet state, however, the enthusiastic reception caused him to formally annex the country. The Anschluss was affirmed by controlled plebiscite of 10 April, that officially recorded a 99,7 percent approval for the annexation.