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.)
Men bring the casket of Emperor Franz Joseph I (Franz Josef) of Austria down the steps during his funeral. Casket placed in the carriage. Horses pull casket carriage of Franz Joseph out of the Hofburg Palace (1010 Vienna, Austria). Funeral cortege moves ahead through the streets of Vienna to St. Stephen’s Cathedral for the funeral. Crowds lined up to watch the funeral procession.
A Hungarian refugee family enters the United States consulate in Vienna, Austria at The Amerika Haus ( Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 2, 1010 Wien, Vienna, Austria ) to apply for immigration papers. Refugee family enters office at consulate for interview appointment with the United States immigration officer. Each family member holds a “United States Escapee Program” bag. A woman Hungarian interpreter assists the family during the interview. The immigration officer signs documents. Interpreter speaks to Hungarian family. Sign reads “ICEM Zwischenstaatliches Komitee für Europäische Auswanderung Intergovernmental Committee for European Immigration”. Young Hungarian refugees waiting inside the ICEM office. Woman ICEM employees working at their desks. An ICEM employee speaking on the phone while another writing. A document detailing a list of countries willing to accept Hungarian refugees and their quotas. Employee writing a note on country quotas for refugees. An Austrian police officer ushers refugees into an office one at a time.
Views of Vienna, including St. Stephen's Cathedral; the Austrian Parliament building; the Vienna State Opera;Schobrunn Palace, and downtown street scenes of shops, buildings. trams, cars, and pedestrians. The U.S. Presidential 707 airplane arriving at Vienna Airport, Saturday, June 3, 1961. Wellwishers wave banners and flags from the observation deck of the airport. Austrian President Adolf Scharf and Chancellor, Alfons Gorbach, walk out on a red carpet, past a military honor guard, to greet the President and Mrs. Kennedy. Scene shifts to President Kennedy broadcasting a report, about his European trip, to the American people, on June 6,1961, He states that he went to Vienna to meet the Leader of the Soviet Union, Mr. Khrushchev. View of President Kennedy shaking hands with Khrushchev, in Vienna. Kennedy, Krushchev, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, with Soviet Foreign Minister, Andrei Gromyko, and other officials on steps of meeting place. The two leaders shaking hands again, as photographers take pictures. Local citizens watching the historic event. Scene shifts back to President Kennedy delivering his post-trip report to the Nation. Scene shifts to the Soviet Embassy in Vienna, where Nikita Khrushchev stands outside and greets President Kennedy as his car arrives. Views of Kennedy and Khrushchev conversing inside the Soviet Embassy. Brief outdoor scenes and then view of Khrushchev escorting Kennedy as he leaves the Embassy, and he and Dean Rusk enter their car. Final scene reverts back to Kennedy's broadcast on June 6th.
A busy avenue in Vienna at night. Vienna tram 59 moving towards Lainz. Christmas lights decorate the streets of Vienna. Store signs displaying brands such as Bally, Julius Meinl and Regent Schuhe (Light only reads “Regent Schu”). People passing by a Viennese women’s fashion store “Lady Moden”. A bus passes by. Men and women window shopping in one of the shopping arcades near Stephansplatz. Mannequins and bags on display in storefronts. A Christmas tree light design decorates a building. A group of Hungarian refugees flee Hungary at nighttime. A young man crosses a stream over a fallen tree at night while holding his bag with his teeth. Another man helps the young man stand up after crossing. Hungarians running towards the Austrian border during day. Refugees reach the Austrian border by dawn. Two men supporting a tired old man to the Austrian border. Man removing his shoes after his arrival to Austria. A Hungarian family from Budapest arrives in Austria. Austrian immigration policeman greets the family at gate. Policeman directs the family to the refugee camp. Hungarian family joins other refugees inside camp. Man, woman, and their daughter kiss the cheeks of a young child held by father as refugees families reunite. Hungarian refugees are interviewed inside their room in the camp.
G-38 flying in air near air port in Vienna. The large crowd watches and cheers. President Wilhelm Miklas is helped by an attendant to get down from the plane. Foreign Minister Ignaz Seipel follows him. Policemen join hands to restrict the crowd from coming towards the plane.