“Anschluss” (union) of Germany and Austria was officially proclaimed from the upper balcony of the Chancellery in Vienna. The Austrian people will vote on the union by plebiscite on April 10.
Seyss-Inquart himself proclaimed the Anschluss. Thousands of troops and civilians packed the streets of Vienna while he was making the announcement, which, in effect, tore up the salient clauses of the post-war treaty of st. German.
The text of the Anschluss law is as follows:
1– Austria is a country of the German Reich.
2– A “free” and secret plebiscite for all Austrian men and women over 20 years of age will take place on Sunday, April 10, 1938.
3– The result of the plebiscite will be determined by a majority.
4– Dispositions necessary for execution of this law will be taken by means of decrees.
5– This constitutional Federal law goes into effect on the day of its proclamation. The Federal Government is charged with executing it.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
