Led by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wien (Vienna), Theodor Cardinal Innitzer, Austrians turned out in record numbers on 10 April 1938 to approve the Anschluss or reunification of Austria with Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany, by a 99.75% margin, in affirmation of the Nazi slogan Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer (One Nation, One State, One Leader).

At the time of the Third Reich and during the rest of his life, Innitzer's image outside Austria was tainted by his unapologetic pro-Nazi stance.

The rare picture we offer here is a an original Third Reich embossed cabinet card portrait measuring 4-3/4 x 6-1/2 inches. Centered on the heavy embossed chipboard card is a sepia tinted portrait of Theodor Cardinal Innitzer in full religious regalia. While the picture must have been enormously popular during the Third Reich it is virtually impossible to find one in Austria today!

BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON THEODOR INNITZER:
Theodor Innitzer born near Weipert in northern Bohemia in the Austro-Hungarian Empire (now Vejprty in Czech Republic) on 25 December 1875. He died in Vienna on 9 October 1955.

1902 Innitzer became a priest
1906 received doctorate in theology
1911 appointed professor of New Testament exegesis at the University of Vienna
1928/1929 Rector of the University of Vienna
1929-1930 Federal Minister of Social Administration
1932 - 1955 Archbishop of Vienna.