Why did Anton Webern face financial hardship during World War II?

Anton Webern’s financial hardship during World War II was primarily a result of the political climate following the Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938. The Nazi regime branded the music of the "New Vienna school" as "cultural Bolshevism" and "degenerate art," leading to a complete ban on the performance of his works.1

This political upheaval halted the publication of his compositions, and he lost almost all of his private pupils. To survive economically, Webern was forced to accept menial tasks, such as creating piano arrangements for works by lesser composers. As the war progressed, he fell into total obscurity, further exacerbating his desperate financial situation.1