Anna B.

This is the story of Anna B. She is representative of many young female employees of the National Socialists in the Landhaus. She likes her work there. She proudly has her photo taken outside her place of work.

Anna grew up in poverty in the Lower Inn Valley. For her family, the Nazis delivered what they promised: after a long period of unemployment, her father was able to find work again. On a visit to Innsbruck, Anna was fascinated by the “Gauhaus”. She decided to apply for a job. Anna fitted the employee profile of the Nazi movement: young, pretty, bright and completely hooked on National Socialism. She was hired as a typist.

Anna spoke glowingly of her friendly supervisors, not a word about the pressure or long hours of work. She said the office was everything to her. Working at the Gauhaus gave her material security. She felt appreciated and part of a momentous project for the future. But there was a war on. Anna took part in leisure activities organised for her department. On a “comrades outing” to Lake Achensee, the war and its devastating effects seemed a long way away.

In her old age, Anna retains her sympathies for National Socialism and avoids confronting her Nazi past. She cannot imagine the Nazi officials committed any crimes. When asked about her role in the Gauhaus, she makes no mention of the criminal aspects of the Nazi regime. She says: “I did hear that the Jews were being ... that they ... But otherwise it was really all quite harmless.”