The "Gauliga Ostmark" was introduced by the Nazi Sports Office in 1938, after Austria's annexation, to replace the previously existing national league (German:"Nationalliga") in the occupied country. The former country of Austria was renamed "Ostmark" (English:"Eastern March") and became part of Germany until 1945. The renaming of Austria to "Ostmark" was carried out to eradicate all recognition of the country's former independence from Germany. To take matters further, the FK Austria Wien was also renamed in April 1938, to SC Ostmark Wien. This step however was revoked two months later and the club remained one of the few, if not only, institutions to be permitted to carry the former country's name.