VI. The World Wars and the Interwar Period, 1914–1945 > C. Europe, 1919–1945 > 12. Austria > 1934, Feb. 11–15
  PREVIOUS NEXT  
CONTENTS · SUBJECT INDEX · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
  The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.
 
 
1934, Feb. 11–15
 
DESTRUCTION OF THE AUSTRIAN SOCIALISTS. This followed a decree dissolving all political parties except Dollfuss's Fatherland Front. Raids by government forces and the Heimwehr on Socialist headquarters led to an uprising and the bombardment of the Karl Marx Hof, the Socialist housing unit, where the leaders had concentrated. These leaders were either captured or forced to flee. By this drastic action Dollfuss and the Christian Socialists permanently antagonized the working classes of Vienna and deprived themselves of what might have been the most effective support against the Nazi threat.  1
 
March 17
 
Signature of the Rome protocols, effecting close relations among Austria, Hungary, and Italy. Dollfuss was obliged to rely more and more upon Italian support against a hostile Germany.  2
 
April 1
 
Promulgation of a new constitution for Vienna, which deprived the capital of most of its powers of self-government.  3
 
April 30
 
A complicated constitution for Austria was accepted by the national assembly. Parliamentary democracy was replaced by a corporative system. Dollfuss assigned influential government posts to the pro-Fascist Heimwehr.  4
 
May 1
 
A concordat with the Vatican gave the Church in Austria wide control of education.  5
 
July 25
 
NAZI COUP. A band of Nazis seized the radio station in Vienna and forced the staff to broadcast Dollfuss's resignation. They then entered the chancellery and (probably unintentionally) shot and killed Dollfuss. The whole affair was badly mismanaged, and the conspirators were routed by Heimwehr troops. Action by Germany on behalf of the Nazis was made impossible by the strong stand of Italy and Yugoslavia, which concentrated large forces on the frontier. Thereupon the German government disavowed all connection with the affair and recalled its ambassador to Vienna.  6
 
July 30
 
Kurt Schuschnigg, close collaborator of Dollfuss, formed a new cabinet committed to the same policies. Twice in the course of the autumn he visited Mussolini. Economic agreements with Italy and Hungary led to some improvement in the situation, and political agitation died down somewhat.  7
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

CONTENTS · SUBJECT INDEX · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
  PREVIOUS NEXT