On 14 March, Adolf Hitler made his triumphal entry into Vienna, after proclaiming on the 13^th, the Anschluss (union) of Germany and Austria, which was actually prohibited by the Treaty of Versailles. On the 11^th, Nazi forces had moved across the Austrian border and seized control of the country.

Hitler now ruled with absolute power over an empire of 74 million people, as he tried to build up Germany’s ‘Third Reich’ (third empire), which he claims will last a thousand years.

Over the previous few months, Austrian Chancellor Kurt con Schuschnigg had been manipulated by Hitler, and was forced to give more rights and power to Austrian Germans and pro-Nazi officials. On 9 March, he tried to call a public vote on Austria’s independence but instead was forced to resign by Hitler’s second-in-command, Hermann Goering. His successor, Nazi-supporter Arthur Seyss-Inquart, invited the Germans troops into the country on 11 March. The troops, followed by Austrian-born Hitler himself, was eagerly welcomed by Austrian crowds. Many Austrians saw the unification as the solution to reclaim their lost greatness.