On March 15, 1938, Adolf Hitler announced Austria's annexation into the German Reich from the balcony of the Hofburg in Vienna. Shortly after, on April 3, the so-called Anschluss football match took place between the German and Austrian national teams, where Matthias Sindelar, an acclaimed player and captain of the Austrian squad, made a significant statement. Sindelar insisted that his team wear the red-white-red colors of Austria, seen by many as an act of defiance against the Nazis. During the game, after he scored the first goal, he celebrated in front of the Nazi dignitaries, which added to his reputation as a national hero amidst the oppression of his countrymen.

However, the narrative surrounding Sindelar is complex. While he is remembered for his display of patriotism and resistance during a tumultuous time, evidence suggests that his actions were not entirely heroic. In 1938, Sindelar purchased an 'aryanized' café, a business that had been forcibly taken from its Jewish owner. This contradiction between his celebrated defiance during the match and his later actions raises questions about the entirety of his legacy. The story of Matthias Sindelar sheds light on the moral complexities faced by individuals during the Nazi era, where the line between resistance and collaboration could often blur.

The implications of Sindelar's story resonate today, as it encourages discussions around individual choices in the face of oppressive regimes and the moral dilemmas that accompany such choices. It serves as a reminder that history is often not black and white, but filled with shades of gray, where even celebrated figures may harbor contradictions in their actions and beliefs.