Escaping Austria: Annexation Survivors' Stories And Numbers

Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, with the support of the Austrian population. Many Austrians joined the Nazi Party, and the Wehrmacht drafted more than 1.3 million Austrians between 1938 and 1945. However, some Austrians were against the annexation, and between March and November 1938, 130,000 people emigrated legally or escaped illegally from Austria.

Between March and November 1938, 130,000 people emigrated legally or escaped illegally from Austria

Many people tried to flee Austria at this time, particularly Jews, leftists and Schuschnigg supporters. They were terrified and raced towards the country's borders, hoping to reach them before they were closed. However, most were trapped in a rapidly Nazifying Austria.

The annexation of Austria was accompanied by the arrest of thousands of people. Within a few days of 12 March, 70,000 people had been arrested, and the disused northwest railway station in Vienna was converted into a makeshift concentration camp. The Mauthausen concentration camp was also opened, where 200,000 people were killed.

The Nazis also carried out racial examinations against the Gypsy population. Between 1938 and 1939, they arrested around 2,000 Gypsy men, sending them to Dachau, and 1,000 Gypsy women, sending them to Ravensbrück.

700,000 people, or 10% of the population, joined the Nazi Party

Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, with the support of the Austrian population. Karl Renner, an Austrian socialist politician who was the provisional prime minister of the first post-Nazi government appointed by Joseph Stalin, welcomed the Anschluss. 700,000 people, or 10% of the population, joined the Nazi Party. The Wehrmacht drafted more than 1.3 million Austrians between 1938 and 1945, 242,000 of whom never returned home. Austrians also served loyally as soldiers from Germany proper and were just as responsible for Nazi atrocities on the Eastern Front.

The Austrian population was subject to extensive intimidation and suppression of the political opposition. The plebiscite result, which showed support for the Anschluss, needs to be taken with "great caution" according to American historian Evan Burr Bukey. The voting rights of around 360,000 people (8% of the eligible voting population) were abrogated, mainly political enemies such as former members of left-wing parties and Austrian citizens of Jewish or Romani origin.

Between March and November 1938, 130,000 people emigrated legally or escaped illegally from Austria. Terrified Jews, leftists and Schuschnigg supporters tried to flee the country, hoping to reach the borders before they were closed. Some managed to escape, but most were trapped in a rapidly Nazifying Austria.

The Anti-Romanyism sentiment of Nazi Germany was implemented initially most harshly in newly annexed Austria when between 1938 and 1939 the Nazis arrested around 2,000 Gypsy men who were sent to Dachau and 1,000 Gypsy women who were sent to Ravensbrück. In late October 1939, all Austrian Gypsies were required to register themselves.

242,000 Austrian soldiers never returned home

Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, with the support of the Austrian population. Karl Renner, an Austrian socialist politician, welcomed the Anschluss. Thereafter, Austria was an integral part of the Third Reich, with 700,000 people, or 10% of the population, joining the Nazi Party. The Wehrmacht drafted more than 1.3 million Austrians between 1938 and 1945, 242,000 of whom never returned home.

The Austrian Armed Forces, or Bundesheer, currently consist of 16,000 active-duty personnel and 125,600 reservists. However, during World War II, the Austrian military was integrated into the German Wehrmacht, and many Austrians served loyally as soldiers from Germany proper. They were just as responsible for Nazi atrocities on the Eastern Front.

Between March and November 1938, 130,000 people emigrated legally or escaped illegally from Austria. Terrified Jews, leftists, and Schuschnigg supporters tried to flee the country, racing towards the borders in the hopes of reaching them before they were closed. Some managed to escape, but most were trapped in a rapidly Nazifying Austria.

The Mauthausen concentration camp in Upper Austria was opened in 1938, and 200,000 people were killed there. The Anti-Romanyism sentiment of Nazi Germany was implemented initially most harshly in newly annexed Austria. Between 1938 and 1939, the Nazis arrested around 2,000 Gypsy men who were sent to Dachau and 1,000 Gypsy women who were sent to Ravensbrück. In late October 1939, all Austrian Gypsies were required to register themselves.

The Soviet occupation of Austria began in 1945, and throughout that year and 1946, all levels of Soviet command tried, in vain, to contain desertion and plunder by rank and file. The Allied occupation force peaked at around 150,000 Soviet, 55,000 British, 40,000 American, and 15,000 French troops.

70,000 people were arrested within a few days of 12 March

Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, with the support of the Austrian population. However, many Austrians were against the annexation. Terrified Jews, leftists and Schuschnigg supporters tried to flee the country, but most were trapped. Between March and November 1938, 130,000 people emigrated legally or escaped illegally from Austria.

Within a few days of 12 March, 70,000 people were arrested. The disused northwest railway station in Vienna was converted into a makeshift concentration camp. The Austrian population was subjected to extensive intimidation and suppression of the political opposition. The Nazis also carried out racial examinations against the Gypsy population. In late October 1939, all Austrian Gypsies were required to register themselves. Between 1938 and 1939, the Nazis arrested around 2,000 Gypsy men, who were sent to Dachau, and 1,000 Gypsy women, who were sent to Ravensbrück.

2,000 Gypsy men were arrested and sent to Dachau

Nazi Germany annexed Austria in 1938, with the support of the Austrian population. However, many Austrians were also against the annexation, and between March and November 1938, 130,000 people emigrated legally or escaped illegally from Austria.

In the first few days after 12 March, 70,000 people were arrested and the northwest railway station in Vienna was converted into a makeshift concentration camp. Terrified Jews, leftists and Schuschnigg supporters tried to flee Austria, but most were trapped.

The anti-Romanyism sentiment of Nazi Germany was initially most harshly implemented in newly annexed Austria. Between 1938 and 1939, the Nazis arrested around 2,000 Gypsy men and sent them to Dachau. 1,000 Gypsy women were sent to Ravensbrück. In late October 1939, all Austrian Gypsies were required to register themselves.

Dachau was initially used to hold German Communists, Social Democrats, trade unionists, and other political opponents of the Nazi regime. Over time, other groups were also interned at Dachau, including Roma (Gypsies). In the aftermath of Kristallnacht in November 1938, almost 11,000 Jewish men were sent to Dachau.

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