Figure 1.--.

Austria after the War was treated liked Germany and occupied by both the Soviets and Western Allies. The Soviet Red Army seized Vienna. Austrians after the War claimed that because of the Anchluss they were one of the occupied countries. Many Europeans, however, saw them as little different if not worse than the Germans. Many Austrians were enthisiastic NAZIs. The Anchluss was an armed invasion by German, but there was sidespread jubilation in Austria with the arrival of the Wehrmacht and annexation by Germany. Many Austrians played prominent roles in the SS. One of the most notorious was Seiis Inquart who was notorious in both Poland and the Netherlands. Eichmann who oversaw the administration of the Holocaust was also Austrian.

The Anchluss

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 Anchluss was an armed invasion by German, but there was sidespread jubilation in Austria with the arrival of the Wehrmacht and annexation by Germany.

Austrian NAZIs

Austrians after the War claimed that because of the Anchluss they were one of the occupied countries. Many Europeans, however, saw them as little different if not worse than the Germans. Many Austrians were enthisiastic NAZIs. Many Austrians played prominent roles in the SS. One of the most notorious was Seiss Inquart who was notorious in both Poland and the Netherlands. Eichmann who oversaw the administration of the Holocaust was also Austrian.

The Holocaust in Austria

Austria 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.

World War II

The Soviet Red Army seized Vienna.

The Occupation

Austria after the War was treated liked Germany and occupied by both the Soviets and Western Allies. Initially there were four sectors. France occupied the Voralberg and a part of the Tyrol. As relations with the Soviets quickly deteriorated after the War and America began to send its army home, the Western Allies soon cooperated closely. Vienna was divised into five sectors: American, English, French, and Soviet. The firth sector was placed in the center and was neutral. Located in the neutral sector was the " Haut Commandement inter-Alliés " and all the principal government institutions.

Personal Accounts

French Boy: Alain

A French reader who lived in Austria as a boy reports, "The French Lycée in Vienna was opened shortly after the occupation began. One could find in this school a lot of French children as well as Austrian. I frequently went into the neutral secor and even the Soviet sector. The Soviet military police were very strict and dangerous. We children known that they were able to shoot, even a child. I have to say the Soviet police were always polite with me. The France-U.S.-England sectors were free, with certain limitations. It was forbiden to critisize the presence of the Allies, and still more so Soviets. (Actually there were few but committed Communists prepared to critixcise the Allies--as the alternative was the Soviets. There were informers everywhere. Conditions after the War were very difficult. Even in school we could be punished for political comments, but in hiding with friends we did discuss the politixal situation. To travel from one sector to other we needed a card; and a passport with visa for the foreigners."

Created: October 9, 2003
Last updated: October 9, 2003