Engelbert Dollfuß
| Engelbert Dollfuß | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Born | 4 October 1892 Texingtal, Austro-Hungarian Empire | ||
| Died | 25 July 1934 (aged 41) Vienna, Republic of Austria | ||
| Nationality | Austrian | ||
| Occupation | Officer, politician | ||
| Party | Christian Social Party Fatherland's Front | ||
| Religion | Catholic | ||
Federal Chancellor of Austria
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| Term | 20 May 1932 – 25 July 1934 | ||
| Predecessor | Karl Buresch | ||
| Successor | Kurt Schuschnigg | ||
Engelbert Dollfuß (often Dollfuss in English; 4 October 1892 – 25 July 1934) was an Austrian officer and politician who was Chancellor of Austria between 1932 and 1934.
Contents
Life
- “While Engelbert Dollfuß was found unfit in 1913 and in June 1914, the position commission decided on September 9, 1914 that Dollfuß, who had volunteered, was “fit for mountain service without any infirmity.” He went to South Tyrol with the State Rifle Regiment No. II (the later k.k. “Kaiser-Schützen” No. II). The one-year volunteer began his military career as a patrol leader, became a junior Jäger in December 1914, a platoon leader in January 1915 and a cadet on February 1, 1915. As a result, he was promoted to ensign on July 20, 1915, to 2nd lieutenant on January 1, 1916 and finally to 1st lieutenant on February 1, 1918. Dollfuß, who was commander of a machine gun division on the Italian front until the end of the war, was demonstrably decorated four times: in 1916 with the silver medal for bravery, 1st class, in 1917 with the Karl Troop Cross and the bronze military merit medal, and in 1918 with the military merit cross, 3rd class . [...] Dollfuß, who in conversation proved to be a representative of a compromise peace - 'Let's give the Italians the land up to the Salurner Klause. “It was the eternal bone of contention between Austria and Italy” – he was surprised by the end of the war during a three-day absence in Innsbruck, which ultimately saved him from being taken prisoner by Italy.”[1]
Dollfuß was a member of the Christian Social Party, stated to have sought to keep Austria out of the state of Germany founded in 1871, that it viewed as Protestant Prussian-dominated, and identified Austrians on the basis of Catholic religious identity. He became concerned that the NSDAP-associated DNSAP party could gain a significant influence in future elections (according to fascism scholar Stanley G. Payne, should elections have been held in 1933, the DNSAP could have mustered about 25% of the votes – contemporary Time magazine analysts suggest a higher support of 50%, with a 75% approval rate in the Tyrol region bordering Germany). There was also the threat from Communists.
In early 1933, he shut down the parliament and assumed dictatorial powers. He banned both the Communists and the DNSAP and later established a one-party system. Dollfuß modelled "Austrofascism" according to Catholic corporatist ideals with anti-secularist tones and to some degree influenced by Italian fascism.
Dollfuß as leader of Austria
In March 1933, an argument arose over irregularities in the voting procedure. The president of the National Council (the lower house) resigned to be able to cast a vote as a parliament member. As a consequence the two vice presidents, belonging to other parties, resigned as well to be able to vote. As a consequence, the parliament could not conclude the session. Dollfuß took the resignation of all three presidents as a pretext to declare that the National Council had become unworkable, and advised President Wilhelm Miklas to issue a decree adjourning it indefinitely. When the National Council wanted to reconvene days after the resignation of the three presidents, Dollfuß barred entrance to parliament by police force, effectively eliminating democracy in Austria. From that point onwards he governed as dictator by emergency decree with absolute power.
One motive of Dollfuß' actions was that with Adolf Hitler becoming German Chancellor in 1933, it looked increasingly likely that the Austrian National Socialists (DNSAP) would gain a significant minority in future elections. On the other hand, the Soviet Union's influence in Europe had increased throughout the 1920s and early 1930s. Dollfuß thus banned the DNSAP in June 1933 and the communists later on. Under the banner of Christian Social Party, he later on established a one-party autocratic rule, banning all other Austrian parties including the Social Democrats.
Corporative State
Although largely based on a Political Catholicism, the Ständestaat was given an extra boost, by imitating to some degree organisational elements of fascism in Italy. Dollfuß looked to Italy in support, especially also against the National Socialists and gained a guarantee for Austria's independence by Italy in August 1933. He also exchanged 'Secret Letters' with Benito Mussolini about ways to guarantee Austrian independence. Mussolini was interested in Austria forming a buffer zone against Germany. From the position of Dollfuß; he regarded Hitler's and Stalin's government's as too similar for comfort. He was convinced that Austria-Italy could counterweight both National Socialism and Communism in Europe.
In September 1933, Dollfuß merged his Christian Social Party, the nationalist paramilitary Heimwehr (Home Guard) (which encompassed many workers who were unhappy with the radical leadership of the socialist party) and other nationalist and conservative groups to form the Vaterländische Front. Dollfuß escaped an assassination attempt in October 1933 by Rudolf Dertill, a 22-year old who had been ejected from the military for his National-Socialist views.
New constitution
Dollfuß staged a parliamentary session with just his party members present in April 1934 to have his new constitution approved as well as made all the decrees already passed since March 1933 "legal". The new constitution became effective on 1 May 1934 and swept away the last remains of democracy and the system of the first Austrian Republic.
Death
Dollfuß was assassinated as part of a failed coup attempt by Austrian National Socialists in 1934. His successor Kurt Schuschnigg maintained the regime until the accession of Austria in 1938.
