Annexation of Austria by Germany

Germany annexed Austria on 12th March 1938 but it seems that the Austrians still consider themselves "victims" of the Germans (Nazis) rather than willing allies. The link gives some details but if you click on by "Austria haunted by Nazi past" there is another story about a Jewish lady that still lives in Austria and the descendants of the Austrian Nazis that took her property, still live in it.

Given that many countries are now giving back various art treasures, that were stolen by the Nazis, to their rightful owners, do you think that this "return" should also apply to other property?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7291420.stm

Makes me wonder why this wasn't done earlier. I do see it as a bit problematic now because it's descendants living in the house now, not the person who originally stole the house (and I would not automatically assume that the descendants have the same political convictions as their grandparents). What would happen to them, would they end up homeless? This should have been resolved 60 years ago, waiting so long makes it really complicated, in my opinion. I think the comparison to artwork is not quite right, as a house plays a different role in a person's life than some picture on the wall or statue (i.e. a house / apartment is needed to live a decent life, artwork is not).

Living in Austria a few years ago, I was informed by apparently well-educated Austrians in their 20s that Austria was the first country to be invaded by Germany and the first victim of the war. Ohne schmäh. When "Schindler's List" came out, the schools were sending classloads of kids to the cinema to see it, so that they could learn about what happened in that far-off-place called... what's the name again... Fiji, wasn't it? A friend even admitted that his grandfather had been in the Gestapo, but had only checked tickets at the local train station near the Italian border (Ohne schmäh... I love that expression), and gave up his Nazi beliefs after the war, resuming his life as a farmer in a lovely little village in the mountains (no doubt wearing those cute lederhosen and a feather in his hat). Yes, the Austrians can be pretty funny sometimes.

Funny place, Ostrichreich...

Amon Göth was an Austrian.

That's interesting. I didn't know that. I read somewhere years ago that people in regions on the edge of the German Reich, like Austria and the Baltic States, were often particularly enthusiastic Nazis because they felt under greater pressure than the Germans to prove their allegiance to the Reich.

Re the Jewish lady's apartment-60 yrs ago, surely the law on adverse possession would cover that?

4.5 million votes in the plebiscite, 99.73% voted yes. Hardly against the will of the people.

Germany and Austria was one country they were separated by the US, Great Britain and France during the Treaty of Versailles at the end of the first world war. This was done as an attempt to weaken German power. Okay I'm bullshitting here but previously weren't they part of the same Empire or something.

Do you always make up history?

Ah Germaustria, what a great nation that was..

If it did, my German father-in-law would have his family home given back to him. His father refused to join the Nazi party and was booted out of his house, along with his kids and he tells me that, to this day, the descendants of the Nazi party official that moved in still live in it. I am fairly sure that this patttern was repeated throughout Germany, Austria and any country that they invaded.

Eh?! history was not your strong point at school, was it BB?

Try a wikipedia search for 'Austro-Hungary Empire'. It might bring you up to scratch with things.

I take it you've never opened a history book, then? I might suggest you read up on the Austro-Hungarian Empire which was preceded by the Austrian Empire.

Actually the law states that after a certain number of years, possession of the house by the new owners, even if it was illegal at the time, becomes legal. The law might be precisely why your father-in-law has not been given back his family home.

Canaryman, I think we are at crosshairs here. My point was that since the descendants of whoever took the apartment have been living there for 60 years, surely they would be entitled to the property under the law of adverse possession, i.e. if you live on land for X amount of years, the land becomes yours; squatters rights' etc.

Is the law of adverse possession known to Austrian law does anyone know?

Tonight, there is a special program on 3Sat about the topic (it would not link directly to the schedule, sorry).

It starts at 19.20 with a Kulturzeit special about the Annexation. Later, they show movies and a documentary about Nazi-era euthanasia in Austria.

I will watch the second part of the film "Der Bockerer" (the recalcitrant), starting at 22.55. It is about a Viennese butcher and his friends and family and how they live through the Nazi period and its aftermath. (Obviously, he hates Hitler because he is vegetarian). Being half-Austrian myself, I found many of the characters quite authentic.

Another classic about the Annexation and the subsequent Nazi reign is Helmut Qualtinger's "Herr Karl", the monologue of a shameless opportunist during Nazi times. Highly recommended if your German/Austrian skills are up to the challenge. Echoing the sentiments of many of his compatriots about the Annexation, he said "Das war ein Jubel, das war eine Begeisterung, wie man sie sich gar nicht vorstellen kann!" (You cannot imagine the joy, the happiness!)

German Austria ... Deutschösterreich

MARCH 12, 1938

Annexation Austrian-Style

That's an interesting article.

It's hard to reconcile the amiable and easygoing character of many Austrians with Austria's apparent enthusiasm for the Nazi regime. In a TV documentary the other day, an Austrian history professor said that the mass turnout to see Hitler speak in Vienna shouldn't be construed to mean that Austrians supported all aspects of the Nazi regime, as we know them today. I could only assume he was referring to the annihilation of the Jews. However, a Viennese Jew, who had survived the Holocaust, said that he recalled seeing his fellow citizens clearly deriving enjoyment from harrassing Jews who were being made to scrub the streets, and remembered seeing people swarming into the centre of Vienna, shouting "Heil Hitler" and "Jewish blood will spurt from our knives". It had been five years since the Nazis had been taking steps against the Jews in Germany, so any admirer of Hitler in Austria must have been aware of that and it's hard to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Simple fact: Adolf Hitler wasn't German by birth, but Austrian.
He had to apply for the citizenship and got his Passport in 1932 in Braunschweig.

Personally:
I'm German, but my mother is Austrian.
(No i'm not half-half or Austro-German. That's "American heritage lingo". I'm zero Austrian.)

My rather big Austrian family distinguishes very exactly between German and Austrian,
i'm an Ausländer there. A "Piefke". Austria isn't Germany after all.

Though they exactly know the role of Austria and there's no pride in it.
The Anschluss was welcomed, just like the Germans welcomed the "Machtübernahme".
No doubt about it.