Expulsion of the Jews and forced migration in the “Führer's” adopted home town

Events after March 1938, however, reflect a “cultural schism”, and cohabitation followed lines of “race” defined by the National Socialists. Persecution of the Jews began immediately after the German invasion.

The “Führer” of the National Socialist Third Reich, Adolf Hitler, lived in Upper Austria from his birth in 1889 until 1907, and came into contact with anti-Semitism and hatred of Slavs in Linz from an early age.

During the inter-war years both Adolf Eichmann and Ernst Kaltenbrunner were socialised here. Under Nazi rule Linz was named as one of the so-called “Cities of the Führer”, alongside Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Nürnberg. Linz was the only city to bear the title of “Home Town of the Führer” (“Patenstadt”).

Under Nazi rule migration became forced migration – thousands fled Upper Austria, tens of thousands were sent as forced labour into the armaments industry, especially in the central part of the province; Jews and partly also political opponents who were not able to flee in time were deported to concentration camps.