Austrian statehood had been interrupted and therefore the newly revived Austria of 1945 could not and should not be responsible in any way for the Nazis' crimes. The "victim theory" formed by 1949 () insisted that all the Austrians, including those who strongly supported Hitler, had been unwilling victims of a Nazi regime and therefore were not responsible for its crimes.
The interruption of Austrian statehood led to the emergence of a new Austria in 1945, which could not be held liable for the Nazis' transgressions. The "victim theory" developed by 1949 () posited that all Austrians, including those who strongly backed Hitler, were powerless victims of a Nazi regime and thus not culpable.