Austrian Civil War: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:15, 11 August 2005

Revision as of 21:29, 21 August 2005

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== Origins of the conflict ==

After the disintegration of the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]] (following [[World War I]]), the state of Austria - comprised, by and large, of the [[German language|German-speaking]] parts of the former empire - was constituted as a [[parliamentary democracy]].

The two major political factions at that time were [[Socialism|socialists]] (represented politically by the [[Social Democratic Party of Austria]]) and [[conservative]]s (politically represented by the [[Christian SocialistSocial Party (Austria)]]). The strongholds of the socialists were the working-class districts of the cities, while the conservatives could build on the support of the rural population and most of the upper classes. The conservatives were also closely allied with the [[Roman Catholic Church]], and could count among their ranks some leadings clerics.

As in most of the nascent [[Europe]]an democracies of the time, politics in Austria, too, was od a highly ideological nature. Both the socialist and the conservative camp were not mere political parties, but possessed far-ranging power structures, including their own [[paramilitary]] forces. The paramilitaries of the Social Democrats were called the ''[[Schutzbund]]'' ('protection league'), the ones of the conservatives ''[[Heimwehr]]'' ('home guard'). Minor altercations and clashes between these forces (at political rallies, etc.) were not uncommon.

A first major incident ensued early in 1927, when members of the ''Frontkämpfervereinigung'' (a paramilitary association likewise affiliated with the conservative camp) shot and killed an eight-year-old boy and a war veteran who were marching with the Schutzbund in a counter-demonstration. In July, three defendants in the case were acquitted by a jury, which lead to outrage in the leftist camp and the so-called [[July Revolt of 1927]]. On [[15 July]] [[1927]] a [[general strike]] was called, and demonstrations took place in the capital. After the storming of a police station, security forces started shooting at demonstrators. An angry mob then laid fire to the Palace of Justice (''[[Justizpalast]]''), which was seen as a symbol of a flawed and partial judicial system. Altogether, 89 people (85 of them demonstrators) lost their lives in the conflict and many hundreds were injured. Surprisingly, the violence soon died down and the factions took their battle from the streets back into the political institutions.