[Pictures on page 8, 9]

Below and left: Cardinal Innitzer voting in support of the German Reich

Right: The “Solemn Declaration” in which six bishops declare that it is their ‘national duty to vote for the German Reich’

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UPI/​Bettmann

On March 12, 1938, Hitler marched without resistance into Austria and soon made it a part of Germany. The churches quickly aligned themselves with him. In fact, less than a week later, all six Austrian bishops including Cardinal Theodore Innitzer signed a glowing “solemn declaration” in which they said that in the coming elections “it is a must and national duty as Germans, for us Bishops to vote for the German Reich.” (See page 9.) There was a big reception in Vienna where Cardinal Innitzer was among the first to greet Hitler with the Nazi salute. The cardinal ordered all Austrian churches to fly the swastika flag, ring their bells, and pray for the Nazi dictator.