Austria marks 70th anniversary of Nazi takeover

Austria has solemnly marked the 70th anniversary of Nazi Germany's takeover with a joint session of Parliament and the planned lighting of candles in memory of Holocaust victims.

Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer presided over Wednesday's special parliamentary session of soul-searching speeches about Hitler's annexation of Austria - a decidedly dark chapter in the nation's history.

Alfred Gusenbauer, Austrian Chancellor, said, "Even today we cannot forget that many Austrians welcomed the annexation. Many took active part in the unrivalled crime against humanity that was National Socialism. For too many years Austria saw itself just as a victim of National Socialism, not taking into consideration the active participation of certain Austrians."

That night, Austrians lighted eighty thousand candles in Vienna's Heroes' square one in memory of each of the Austrian Jews and others who perished in death camps.

On the same square seven decades ago, nearly one million Austrians gave Adolf Hitler an adoring welcome, which became an early step towards World War Two and the Holocaust.

Historian Erika Weinzierl told participants of the moment she first became aware of Adolf Hitler's impact.

Erika Weinzierl, Austrian Historian, said, "Seventy years ago today, my father, who was not a Nazi, said to me: Erika, now that Hitler has arrived, it means war."

Austria's "Anschluss", or "link-up" as part of a Greater Germany, happened early on March 12, 1938, when German Wehrmacht troops crossed into the country to ensure a smooth takeover.

It came just hours after Austria's chancellor, Kurt Schuschnigg, was pressured to give up his efforts to maintain Austria's independence.