Not Empty-Handed

Forest Policy and Economy in Wien and Niederdonau, 1938–1945

Abstract

The potential of production of Austrian forests was an economically motivated reason for the ‘Anschluss’ in 1938. Harvest and transport of wood depended on the force of prisoners of war and forced labourers. The Reichsforstverwaltung had to more and more neglect operative activities due to its overtaxing by bureaucratic investigations. This organisation was also involved in both the expropriation of Jewish land owners and the political mobilisation of the forestry official.