I WAS born on February 11, 1938, in Vienna. Barely one month later, on March 12, 1938, Nazi Germany invaded Austria and within hours Hitler had proclaimed the Anschluss (the annexation of Austria by Germany) in front of hundreds of thousands of flag-waving enthusiastic Austrians.
The Anschluss took place 80 years ago. This year is also the centenary of the Treaty of Versailles as well as 170 years since the beginning of the reign of Franz-Josef I (1848-1916), the last emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In hindsight, it is interesting to reflect on the significance of these dates and their effect on European history.
1848 marked the beginning of arguably one of the most prosperous periods in the history of Austria. By the beginning of the 20th century Vienna, the capital of the empire, was considered the most modern capital city in Europe. It was a city of two million people enriched by the cultures of the vassal states to the east with a vibrant middle class of merchants, bankers and financiers.
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