VIENNA, March 20 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition is held in Vienna from March 7 to April 28 to remind the country of the disputed era of Austria history in the world war II when the country was annexed by the Germany.
The eight-week exhibition "Night breaks over Austria," opening to the public at the Austrian National Library features photos, personal letters, diaries and other documents during the WWII period.
Michaela Pfundner, vice president of the archives of images at the Austrian National Library, said that the exhibition was intended to show the picture of Austria occupied by the German Reich to the Austrian population who were born after 1945.
On March 12, 1938 Austria was invaded by the German troops, without any resistance. On March 15, Hitler gave his famous "Anschluss" speech in front of 250,000 people in which he promised to the Austrian people that their lives will get better under his leadership. On April 10, 99, 7 percent of the Austrian voters voted for the annexation of Austria by the German Reich.
In 1958, a German journalist published an article named "Night breaks over Austria" in the popular German newsmagazine "Star," discussing the Austria's role in the World War II. The discussion about whether Austria was a victim of the Hitler regime or the accomplice of the German Third Reich has never stoped.
"It is hard to say Whether Austria was willingly joining the German Third Reich or a victim of Nazism. I don't think you can simply say that Austria was a victim of Nazism, because at that time many Austrian politicians prepared for Hitler's taking the power of Austria", said Pfundner.
However, the Austrian people have agreed that the annexation of Austria by the German Third Reich was the darkest time in their history
This is also a reason why the exhibition is named "Night breaks over Austria", said Sven Hartwig, the press spokesman of the Austrian National Library.
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