What was the primary result of the Austro-German Agreement of July 1936?

The primary result of the Austro-German Agreement of July 1936 was that Austria agreed to follow a foreign policy compatible with Germany. This agreement marked a significant shift in Austria's stance as it sought to align itself more closely with Nazi Germany amid increasing pressure from Berlin.

The agreement effectively limited Austria's ability to pursue an independent foreign policy, as it was now expected to support German interests and objectives, especially as tensions in Europe were rising leading up to World War II. This alignment was part of a broader strategy by Hitler to annex Austria into the German Reich, which would formally occur in the Anschluss in 1938. The agreement represented Austria’s submission to German influence, rather than an assertion of autonomy or independence.

The other choices reflect scenarios that were either not true or irrelevant to the context of the agreement. Austria did not join NATO, nor did it adopt an independent foreign policy, as those actions would contradict the very nature of the agreement that called for alignment with German foreign policy. While Germany did want to assert protection over Austria, the primary stipulation of the agreement was indeed the alignment of foreign policy rather than a formal defense commitment.