1938 Austrian Anschluss referendum

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A sham referendum on the Anschluss with Germany was held in German-occupied Austria on 10 April 1938, alongside one in Germany. German troops had already occupied Austria one month earlier, on 12 March 1938. The official result was reported as 99.73% in favour, with a 99.71% turnout. The referendum was held post factum, after the Nazi government of Austria signed a law which proclaimed Austria "a land of the German Reich" and Adolf Hitler issued the "Law on the Reunification of Austria with the German Reich" on 13 March 1938, which de jure abolished Austria as a state. The Austrian government had planned a referendum to assert its sovereignty for 13 March 1938, but Germany invaded Austria the day before in order to prevent the vote taking place. Political enemies (communists, socialists, etc.) and Austrian citizens of Roma or Jewish origin—roughly 360,000 people or 8% of the Austrian population—were not allowed to vote in the plebiscite.

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