Original: The Anschluss ( spelled Anschluß at the time of the event , and until the German orthography reform of 1996 ) ( ; German for '' link-up '' Anschluss PONS Online Dictionary ) , also known as the , was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938 .
Simplified: The Anschluss ( or Anschluß ) ( ; German : '' connection '' ) also known as the was the joining together of Austria and Germany in 1938 .