Encouraging German Annexation in Austria photo courtesy of Yad Vashem

Hitler’s next move: The Anschluss. The Germans poured into Austria. Austria held a referendum, and 97-98% of the Austrians decided they were going to join Germany. The changes that happened gradually in Germany, occurred overnight in Austria. They hit the Austrian community by storm.

Austrians Cheering Nazis, March 1938 photo courtesy of Yad Vashem

Before the referendum, there was loud campaigning with a full spectrum of opinions. Anti-Nazi slogans were painted in the street. The Nazis won and, overnight, Austria became "German."

The next day, any Jew passing by was grabbed, forced down on his hands and knees, and ordered to scrub those slogans off the street.

Jews forced to scrub Anti-Nazi slogans from Austrian streets photo courtesy of Yad Vashem

But the Jews still did not realize it was time to go. Then came the turning point: