It is the first of April, 2000, and Austria is still occupied by the Four Powers of World War II - France, the United Kingdom, the USA and the USSR. When the Prime Minister (Josef Meinrad) unilaterally declares Austria's independence, an international delegation from the Global Union, led by its President (Hilde Krahl), arrives and stages a trial in Vienna to determine whether Austria should be razed and left barren as punishment for endangering world peace and habitual war - mongering. The Austrians stage a series of historical re - enactments to convince the Union representatives of their country's peaceful nature. The President is unmoved, even by the Prime Minister's impassioned speeches; in response, he decides to enlist the help of the people in holding a public rally and has a song composed for the occasion. As part of the rally, the representatives are shown Austria's contributions to the world's culture in the form of various operettas. Finally, the Prime Minister takes the President on a walk through Vienna and manages to win her over, so she ends the trial and confirms Austria's independence.
Why do the Austrians stage a series of historical re-enactments?
to convince the Union representatives of their country's peaceful nature