CBS News Radio flashback: Austria falls to Nazi Germany in 1938

Key Concepts

• World News Roundup: The longest-running network radio news broadcast in history, pioneered by CBS.
• Anschluss: The annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany (March 1938).
• Gleichberechtigung: A German term meaning "equal rights" or "equality," used by the Nazi regime as a diplomatic justification for rearmament and territorial expansion.
• Shortwave Transatlantic Broadcasting: The technical medium that allowed real-time reporting from European capitals to American audiences.
• Press Radio Bureau: A collaborative news-gathering entity involving the Associated Press (AP), United Press (UP), and International News Service (INS).

Historical Context and Significance

The transcript highlights the inaugural broadcast of the World News Roundup on March 13, 1938. This program marked a pivotal shift in journalism, as it utilized the emerging medium of radio to provide live, transatlantic coverage of world-altering events. By connecting New York, London, and Paris, CBS established a framework for modern international news reporting, documenting the fall of Austria to Nazi Germany in real-time.

The Fall of Austria: Strategic Implications

The broadcast detailed the rapid collapse of Austrian sovereignty. Key developments included:

• Military Integration: Austria was effectively dissolved as an independent nation and absorbed into the German Empire.
• Unified Command: The two nations were merged under a single military command, a singular political policy, and a unified economic compact.
• Geopolitical Impact: The invasion represented Germany’s first major offensive since 1914, forcing global powers in London and Paris to navigate a "maze of diplomatic perils."

Methodology of the Broadcast

The World News Roundup utilized a sophisticated, multi-point reporting framework:

1. Centralized Anchoring: Bob Trout, reporting from New York, served as the primary anchor, providing context and managing the flow of the program.
2. Collaborative News Gathering: The broadcast synthesized reports from the Press Radio Bureau, which aggregated data from the Associated Press, United Press, and International News Service.
3. Transatlantic Pickups: The program utilized shortwave technology to conduct live interviews with correspondents in key European capitals, specifically London and Paris, to capture the immediate reactions of world governments.

Perspectives on Nazi Policy

Edgar A. Mowrer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for the Chicago Daily News, provided a critical analysis of the situation from Paris. His key arguments included:

• The End of Deception: Mowrer argued that the invasion of Austria stripped away the "mask" of Nazi diplomacy.
• Rejection of Gleichberechtigung: He asserted that Germany’s previous claims of seeking "equal rights" (Gleichberechtigung) were merely a facade.
• The Goal of Hegemony: Mowrer concluded that the true objective of the Nazi regime was not equality, but the total mastery of Europe, achieved through "brutal, naked force" rather than economic productivity or cultural influence.

Notable Quotes

• Bob Trout: "Tonight, the world trembles, torn by conflicting forces."
• Edgar A. Mowrer: "Nazi Germany has thrown off the mask. Its aim is revealed... a bid for the mastery of Europe, a mastery to be based neither on productivity nor on civilization, but on brutal, naked force."

Synthesis and Conclusion

The March 13, 1938, broadcast serves as a landmark in the history of journalism. By moving beyond static print media to live, international audio reporting, CBS brought the reality of the European crisis directly into American homes. The broadcast successfully identified the shift in Nazi strategy from diplomatic maneuvering to overt military aggression, correctly identifying the annexation of Austria as a precursor to a broader struggle for European dominance. This event established the World News Roundup as a vital tool for public awareness during the tumultuous years leading up to World War II.