The Second World War (1939-1945)
1939 → Austria, called Ostmark after the annexation “Anschluss”, entered the Second World War as part of the Axis Alliance.
Hitler ordered that Ostmark (the ancient Austria) to be divided into seven Gaue (Nazi provinces), fully integrated into the German Reich.
1945 → A provisional government is established in Austria.
POLITICS
During this period Austria was subject to the policies carried out by Germany.
In 1943, the United States, United Kingdom and the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) signed the declaration of Moscow where, among other things, it proclaimed the restoration of the independence of Austria as one of the goals of the Allies.
Before the end of World War II in 1945, most part of Austria, including Vienna, was taken over by the Soviet Army. After the defeat of the Nazis, with the weakened country, the allied forces and the USSR occupied Austria.
After the war, Soviet troops liberated the eastern part of Austria, including Vienna. In 1945, a government was established headed by the socialist Karl Renner who formed a coalition government with former democratic politicians thanks to Soviet cooperation and which was therefore recognized by the occupation forces. At the end of the year, he was elected president of the independent Austria.
ECONOMY
The German regime had always seen the annexation as a way of political and material gain, thus being one of the main objectives of Anschuluss the acquisition of gold and foreign exchange reserves of Austria.
During Hitler's time, the Austrian economy benefited from the Nazi regime, which produced even greater support for the Fuehrer.
The Nazis pushed the modernization of the Austrian economy and society. This economic impulse was given thanks to capital investments aimed at the needs of the war. Much of Germany's military infrastructure was established in Austrian territory, due to the geographical location of Austria that protected it from bombing. As a fact, Linz, the birthplace of Hitler, was the place that received the largest investments.
Regarding employment, a few months after the Austrian annexation, unemployment was reduced almost entirely, replaced by a job deficit and the country's economy therefore improved considerably.
These economic changes led to great social changes. The demand for labour generated by Nazi investments allowed many agricultural workers to move to cities and industrial centers (rural exodus).
Also, the expansion of the Third Reich in Czechoslovakia was a great help to the Austrian economy.
SOCIAL
During the Second World War, German policy regarding the Jewish population was concise.
Some 35,000 Jews were deported from Vienna to ghettos in Eastern Europe.
In addition, thousands of Jews were sent to concentration camps in Germany.
In 1942 there were only about 7,000 Jews in Austria, most of them hidden.
