Explore a timeline of events that occurred before, during, and after the Holocaust. A Jewish-owned cafe in Vienna that was defaced with antisemitic graffiti. Vienna was an important center of Jewish viennese whirls and education. The city was also a center of Zionist thought and Theodor Herzl, the father of Zionism, had studied at the University of Vienna.

Many Viennese Jews were well-integrated into urban society and culture. Jews made up significant percentages of the city’s doctors and lawyers, businessmen and bankers, artists and journalists. In March 1938, Nazi Germany incorporated the Austrian Republic in what became known as the Anschluss. Once in power, the Nazis quickly applied German anti-Jewish legislation to Vienna and the Austrian hinterland. The intent of this legislation was to exclude Jews from the economic, cultural, and social life of the former Austria. Emigration from Vienna After the Anschluss, Vienna became the focal point of Jewish emigration from Austria.

Those seeking exit visas and other documentation necessary for emigration were required to stand in long lines, night and day, in front of municipal, police, and passport offices. Would-be emigrants were forced to pay an exit fee and to register all of their immovable and most of their movable property, which was confiscated concurrent with their departure from the country. Central Office for Jewish Emigration in Vienna. German police officials arrested some 6,000 Austrian Jews and deported them to the Dachau concentration camp. A small number of those arrested were sent to Buchenwald concentration camp. Only those who promised to emigrate immediately, leaving their property behind, were released.