Figure 1.--This photograph of Austrian children was taken in 1942. It is entitled on the back, "Grossdeutschlands Wiedergeburt: Österreichische Kinder fahrens ins Altreich". We translate this as "Greater Germany's rebirth: Austrian children go (by train) to the the old Reich." The banner over the building reads, "20,000 Kinder aus Wien finden Erholung im Reich" which means "Children from Vienna find recovery in the Reich." I am not sure what is going on here or what the children are recovering from. But for some reason 20,000 Vienna children are being transported to some where in the Reich. The building here is the Westbahnhof station in Vienna. The city in 1942 was not yet being bombed by the Allies so I am not sure why the children are being moved. Perhaps some of our readers will know. Note the symbol to the left of the banner which looks to be an "N" with a music note or other symbol in the middle. I'm not sure what that symbolized. Click on the image here for a discussion of the NAZI terminology here.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire desintegrated in the closing months of World War I (1918). The Austrians declared a republic in the much reduced territory of German-speaking Austria. The economy suffered. Many Austrians after the War wanted to join Germany, but the Allies prohibited this with the Versailles Treaty (1919). After Hitler's seizure of power in Germany, but the Austrian NAZI Party grew in membership, but was restricted by the Government, especially after the assaination of Chancellor Dolfuss (1934). The Austrians NAZIs led by by Arthur Seyss-Inquart, (the future NAZI occupation head in the Netherlands) agitated for union with Germany. Hitler finally accomplished union with the Anschluss (1938) whch was accompanied with an unimaginably outburst of violence against Austrian Jews. The Anschluss was an action thar was popular with the great majority, but not all Austrians. Despite the Versailles Treaty prohibition, the British and French did nothing, but submit diplomatic protests. With the Anchluss, Austria ceased to exist and Austria participated in World War II as a part of Germany. A particularly brutal Gauleiter was causing problems in Vienna, so Hitler appointed Baldur von Schirach (former Hitler Youth leader) as Gauleiter and Governor of Vienna. He provided a little cultural gloss to the NAZI regime. After successfully transporting Vienna Jews to the death camps, von Schiracht wisely left Vienna as the Red Army approached. Unlike many top NAZIs, he had no intention of fighting to the end or in killing himself and family. He tried to hide as mystery writer after the War. Finally fearing Austrian anti-NAZIs and French occupation troops, he quietly entered the American occupation zone and surrendered. Many Austrians now claim that Austria was an occupied country. In fact, Austrians were vigorous supporters of all aspects of the NAZI war effort, including the Holocaust. Soviet and American armies reached Austria at the end of the War (April 1945). American forces arrived from both the south (Italy) and the west. Austria was divided into four occupation zones by victorious Allied powers (Soviet Union, America, Britain, and France). An Austrian reader has provided some personal comments.

World War I (1914-18)

Austria had for centuries been a major European power, dominating the Holy Roman Empire. Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War (1866) essentially ejected Austria from Germany. The Hapsburgs then recreated Austrial as the Dual Monarchy--the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Austria-Hungary became a large multi-ethnic empire dominated by a Grman and Hungarian rukling class. The Empire dominated much of central Europe. Ousted from Germany, it expelled into the Balkans where it came into conflict with Russia which had ethnic ties and expansionary goals. These conflicts escalated as Ottoman power wained. Its dealings with the various nationalities were a major political problem. The Hungarians were give dual royal status with Austria. Other nationalities felt oppressed, none more than the Slavs. Serbia secretly supported terrorist forces in Bosnia withits substantial Slavic population. This led to the assasination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand and Austria's decession to punish Serbia. The Austrians had no desire to launch a world war which was reflected in their war planning. There were two Austrian war plans, Plans B and R. The difference in the two plans reflected the unknown of the Russian reaction. Plan B provided only for hostilities in the Balkans against Serbia. Three Austro-Hungarian armies would invade Serbia. Three other armies would be heldin reserve along the Russan border. Plan R was a more expansive plan, a modification of Plan B in case the Russians invaded. In this case only two armies would invade Serbia and four armies would defend against the Rusians. It assumed that the Germans would enter the War if the Russians declared war. Ecalating nationalist tensions came to a head when Serbian nationalists assasinated Archduke Ranz Derdinand, heir to Emperor Franz Josef. Germany's decession to support Austria's desire to punish Serbia turned a Balkans crisis into a major European war. It was the Russians that cracked first, but only because the Germans bolstered the Austrins. The enormous losses from the War, however, fundamentally destabilized the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Empire desintegrated in the closing months of World War I (1918).

Austrian Republic

Austra for several centuries was one of the major European powers, dominating much of Germany and after the Austro-Prussian War (1866) the center of a large-multi-ethnic empire. The Austro-Hungarian Empire desintegrated in the closing months of World War I (1918). The Central Power's defeat in World War I left Austria a small, Germanic state and European backwater. The Austrians declared a republic and Emperor Karl was forced to abdicate. Austria was now the much reduced territory of German-speaking Austria. The Republic of Austria was forced to recognise the independent states of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary and Yugoslavia. The economy suffered from the separation from the former territories of the Empire. This helped engender economic strife. The political and economic dislocation gave rise to fascism. Many Austrians after the War wanted to join Germany, but the Allies prohibited this with the Versailles Treaty (1919). This was a perfect breeding ground for fascism and the Heimwehr was one manifestation of this. The Heimwehr, similar to the German Frei-Korps, was used to supress left-wing groups and striking workers. Austrians elected Fascist leaders. The Heimwehr was merged into the Fatherland Front (1934). Austrian fascists were divided as to wether the country should join Germany. After Hitler's seizure of power in Germany, the Austrian NAZI Party grew in membership, but was restricted by the Government, especially after the assaination of Chancellor Dolfuss (1934). The Austrians NAZIs led by by Arthur Seyss-Inquart, (the future NAZI occupation head in the Netherlands) agitated for union with Germany. Hitler finally accomplished union with the Anschluss (1938) which was accompanied with an unimaginably outburst of violence against Austrian Jews.

Anschluss (1938)

There was considerable sentiment in both Germany and Austria after World War I to join the two German-speaking states. France adamently refused. Hitler after seizing power revived the issues. Austrain NAZIs were encouraged to promote the idea. Hitler and Austrian NAZIs throughout 1937 demanded an Anschluss with Austria. Belaegered Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg on March 9, 1938, announced plans to hold a plebiscite on the independence of Austria. Hitler used this opportunity to take action against the Austrian State. The NAZIs with the Wehrmacht on the border pressed Schuschnigg was pressed to resign. The NAZI surrogate, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, took over the chancellorship and formed a new government dominated by the Austrian NAZIs. The German Wehrmacht and the SS, armed with list of NAZI opponents, crossed the German-Austrian frontier (March 12). Hitler the following day on March 13, speaking before a jubilent crowd in Linz, announced the "Anschluss" (Annexation) of Austria into the German Reich. Joyous celebrations occurred throught Austria. Even while the celebrations were going on, the SS and local NAZIs began rounding up those who had opposed the NAZIs. Violence occured against the Jews. Jewish students and professors were attacked in universities. Jews at random were dragged into the streets to scrub the sidewalks on their hands and knees--surounded by taunting crowds.

World War II (1939-45)

With the Anchluss, Austria ceased to exist and Austria participated in World War II as a part of the German Reich. Thus the Austrian war experience is essentially the same as that of Germany itself. German laws and regulations became operative in Austria. Austrians were enrolled in the German military and thus were involved in the major battles of the War as German soldiers.

Military Service

Austrians loyally served in German military units throughout the War. The Germans drafted about 800,000 Austrians into the Wehrmacht). About 150,000 Austrians volunteered for service in the Waffen SS. I am not sure about the numvers of Austrians serving in the Luftwaffe and Navy. Unlike units formed from occupied countries, the Austrians were fully integrated into German units. There were no Austrian military brigades organized.

Bauder von Schirach

A particularly brutal Gauleiter was causing problems in Vienna, so Hitler appointed Baldur von Schirach (former Hitler Youth leader) as Gauleiter and Governor of Vienna. He provided a little cultural gloss to the NAZI regime. After successfully transporting Vienna Jews to the death camps, von Schiracht wisely left Vienna as the Red Army approached. Unlike many top NAZIs, he had no intention of fighting to the end or in killing himself and family. He tried to hide as mystery writer after the War. Finally fearing Austrian anti-NAZIs and French occupation troops, he quietly entered the American occupation zone and surrendered.

The Holocaust

Vienna was one of the mot cosmopolitan cities in Europe. There was a long established and largely assimilated Jewish population. Hitler ordered the Wehrmacht to cross the border and seize his native Austria (March 1938). The Anchluss was a widely popular step in both Germany and Austria. The country was annexed to the German Reich. Thus the full force of German law was immediately brought into force. This included the Nuremburg and many regulations implementing those laws. German Jews had had 5 years in which to adjust as much as possible to NAZI race laws. Austrian Jews had no such adjustment period. They immediately found themselves subject to these laws as well as the whim of local NAZIs all to eager to enforce them and publically humiliate as many Jews as possible with their new found authority.

Moscow Declaration (November 1943)

The Allies at first accepted the Anschluss. [Keyserlingk] The foreign ministers of the Soviet Union, Britain, and the United States meeting in Moscow issued what has become known as the Moscow Declaration (November 1943). The Moscow Declaration described Austria as "the first victim of Hitlerite aggression". The Alliesstated that they would establish an independent Austria. The Allies made it known, however, that Austria would not be treated as just an occupied country. They stated that Austria would be held liable for its participation in the War.

Strategic Bombing Campaign

Early German military victories and Italy's entry into the War meant that Austria was shielded from direct attack during much of the War. Austria's location south of Germany and noth of Italy along with Luftwaffe air dedences, put Austria beyond the effective range of Allied bombers. This changed in 1943 with the disastrous defeats suffered by the Italian Army, the Italians quit the War and signed an armistace with the Allies (September 1943). As the Allies moved noth in Italy. Austria was within the eange of Allied bombers. Allied advances in Italy in 1943 enabled bombers regularly to attack Austrian industrial and transportation centers. The Allies after succeeding in France resumed the stategic bombing campaign with ever increasing force (September 1944). The intoduction of long-range P-51 fighters devestated the Luftwaffe. Thus Allied air raids hit Vienna and other Austrian cities with increadsing frquency during the winter of 1944-45.

Popular Attitudes

There was considerable support for the NAZIs with the Anchluss. Early German victories were treated with enthusiasm. This begun to change with the distastrous defeats in Russia, both before Moscow (1941-42) and at Satalingrad (1942-43). The Germans suffered huge losses in Russia which affected attitudes toward the War as well as the Anchluss. This was no doubt inteensified air raids began to hot Vienna and other Austrian cities. Of course in the NAZI police state, any real assessment of public sentiment is difficult to assess.

Invasion (March-April 1945)

Soviet and American armies reached Austria at the end of the War (March/April 1945). American forces arrived from both the south (Italy) and the west. The Soviet Red Army steadily advanced from the east. The Red Army first reached Austria (March 30). They quickly took Vienna (April 13). The depleted Germans forces resisted the Soviet advances, but were woefully inadequate. In the West, the Allies (the United States, Britain, and France) encountered only minimal resistance. Many Austrians were elated to see the Western Allies rather than the Russians. American forces reached Austria (April 30). French and British troops a few days later.

Surrender (May 1945)

NAZI Germany surrendered unconditionally ending the War in Europe (May 8)..

Assessment

Many Austrians now claim that Austria was an occupied country. In fact, Austrians were vigorous supporters of all aspects of the NAZI war effort, including the Holocaust. A reader writes, "I think you are quite correct that most Austrians were enthusiastic about becoming part of the Großdeutsches Reich. After the War went against them, they tried to pretend to be victims, much like the Japanese. Today they are a little selective about wjo is a German and who is an Austrian. They consider Hitler to be a German and Beethoven an Austrian." An Austrian reader has provided some personal comments.

Occupation (1945-55)

. Austria was divided into four occupation zones by victorious Allied powers (Soviet Union, America, Britain, and France). The occupation was ended on the condition that Austria would be a neutral nation (1955) and the Soviets and Western Allies withdrew.

Sources

Keyserlingk, Robert H. Austria in World War II: An Anglo-American Dilemma (1988), 328p.

Created: 5:30 AM 5/8/2006
Last updated: 2:52 AM 10/19/2007