The German occupation of Austria (Anschluss) prior to World War II. Heldengedenktag or Heroes' Memorial Day in Berlin, Germany on March 13,1938. View of the Neue Wache (Unter den Linden 4 10117 Berlin) along Unter den Linden. A cross, flowers, and a flame burns next to it. A guard stands outside. View of the equestrian statue of Frederick the Great. Camera pans back across the front of the Neue Wache or New Guard building showing soldiers in formation on either side. Accompanied by two officers, Hermann Goering in uniform, including steel helmet, walks behind soldiers as they carry a large floral wreath across the square and into the New Guard building. View from inside as they enter and place the wreath. Closeup of the wreath shows a ribbon with words: "Adolf Hitler." Officers salute. War song, "Ich hatt' einen Kameraden," is softly played in the background. Scene shifts to Vienna, Austria, as Goering gives a speech. View of St. Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom, Stephansplatz 3, 1010 Wien, Austria) and scenes from several days prior, as crowds cheer in Heldenplatz square (Heldenplatz, 1010 Vienna) about the Anschluss. Animated map showing the annexation territory. Slate displaying the slogan: "Ein Volk; Ein Reich; Ein Fuhrer" (One people; one nation; one leader.)
Trial of Nazi leaders for war crimes at Nuremberg, Germany in 1946. Guido Schmidt, former Foreign Minister of Austria testifies regarding Adolf Hitler's decision to annex Austria. Footage of Adolf Hitler meeting Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg and later Germans annex Austria in Anschluss.
Germany's military resurgence from the end of World War I through its reoccupation of the Rhineland in 1936 and union with Austria in 1938. German war materiel piled up in scrap yards and aircraft engines being destroyed in accordance with the Treaty of Versailles after World War 1. Smoke stacks of war plants being toppled, aircraft hangars being destroyed, and warships being scuttled. German postwar armored cars for training. A soldier flexes the rubber gun barrel on one of them. French forces, including Colonials, occupying Coblenz (Koblenz) in accordance with the Treaty of Versailles, after World War I. French soldiers on guard at the railroad station as a train pulls in. French colonial troops tending to their horses. A British soldier standing guard in front of a building displaying a placard with the Union Jack and word:"General Headquarters, British Army of the Rhine, No.1 Building." French troops stationed in front of their headquarters and patrolling fences across railroad tracks at their occupational boundary. A large film slate announcing that the Rheinland is again free, followed by scenes of German troops re-occupying the Rhineland in 1936. Local citizens cheer the troops, who parade through a city and along the banks of the Rhein River. German sentries posted at The "Deutsche Eck" in Koblenz beside the monument of Kaiser Wilhelm I. Sign demarking boundary of Austria. Border guards opening the gates and German troops entering as crowds cheer. Adolf Hitler speaking before a huge crowd,immediately following the Anschluss (union of Germany with Austria) on 12 March 1938.
Newspaper headline declares Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Countess Sophie's assassination by a Bosnian youth in Sarajevo. The Archduke's bullet ridden uniform. The caskets carrying the bodies of the Archduke and his wife are taken to Vienna. The caskets wrapped in the Austrian flag at the port. Officers and soldiers salute in their honor. Priests lead the funeral procession followed by the caskets brought in horse carriages. Various New York newspaper headlines depicting beginning of World War I: Austria declares war on Serbia, Russia mobilizes against Austria, Germany declares war on Russia, France and England declare war on the Central Powers. Berlin: A large crowd gathered on the streets of Berlin. Mobilized German troops and band march on the streets. Crowd greets the German soldiers.
Kaiser Karl I of Austria, with his Emperor's hunters in Tyrol, Austria. Kaiser Karl shakes hands with an officer. Man watches through binoculars. Alps mountains covered with snow in the background.
German Armed Forces parade in Vienna, Austria after Nazis occupy it during the Anschluss (Unification of Austria into Greater Germany by the Nazi Regime). German leader Adolf Hitler reviews troops. Officers stand in front of 'Cafe Heinrichhof Cafe' and review troops. German armed Forces in vehicles drive past on streets at night.