The 76th Standarte was first established in April 1934 during a time period when Austrian Nazis were attempting to influence an Anschluss with Nazi Germany. The 76th SS-Standarte coordinated SS and Nazi Party activities in the city of Salzburg before being forced underground in 1936 when the Austrian government declared the SS an illegal organization. During this time frame, with the Austrian-SS a covert force under scrutiny from the Austrian government, the 76th Standarte cycled through numerous commanders and, for two months in 1934, was commanded by SS-non-commissioned officers in capacity as Acting Deputy to the Standarte commander.