ENGELBERT DOLLFUSS
'Authority
is not synonymous with despotism. Authority means the orderly
exercise of power — leadership by responsible and unselfish men who are
prepared to sacrifice their own interests.'
- Engelbert Dollfuss
Physical size is not an indication of the inner strength and courage one
person can possess. This was true of Engelbert Dollfuss of
Engelbert's last name of Dollfuss came from his mother who was unmarried and
was the daughter of a farmer at the time of his birth in 1892. A year later,
Josepha Dollfuss would marry a farmer named Leopold Schmutz from the
Engelbert grew up on the farm and developed a deep interest in the church. He
was only 12 when he expressed his desire to become a priest. He attended an
Episcopal seminary. Then, at the age of 21, he became a student at the
University of Vienna, where he decided to pursue law instead of religion.
The Military
World War I broke out in 1914, and Engelbert left his
studies. Due to his physical size, it took two tries before he was accepted by
the draft board. Engelbert was stationed on the Alpine front, where the Austrian
Army and Germans fought the Italians.
In 1918, the Austro-Hungarian monarchy collapsed. Engelbert, who had risen to
the rank of first lieutenant was on a three-day leave when his regiment was
captured and taken to a prisoner-of-war camp.
World War I ended that same year. Austria like many countries was in political
and economic distress. With the break up of the empire, Austria was left at
only one-eighth of its former size.
Economic Woes
After the war, some countries refused to sell staples
and food to Austria; in the capital of Vienna, citizens were facing famine
conditions. In 1929, the U.S. stock market crashed, and a worldwide depression
followed. Austrian citizens began to lose their jobs. Those unemployed were
estimated at more than 300,000 in 1931. This number doubled only two years
later. The desperate economic outlook led to fragmented and extreme political
situations.
The right wing bloc became interested in pursuing a regime similar to Italian
fascism. Instead of having various political parties, fascism promotes having
different classes of individuals. Groups are represented by classes of
capitalists and land owners, professionals, farmers and laborers. A fascist
government is led by an authoritarian leader who personifies the nation's highest
values and ideals.
After the war, Engelbert made it back to law school. With his doctorate
completed, he began work for the Chamber of Agriculture. He became known for
his reform efforts, and in 1931, Engelbert was named minister of agriculture.
In terms of politics, Engelbert became active in the Christian Social Party
(today it is known as the Austrian People's Party). The Christian Social Party
was a conservative group, who originally worked to help the underprivileged and
became more reactionary over time.
During the serious financial and political troubles of Austria, Engelbert was
named chancellor (prime minister) of the Austrian republic in May 1932. At 39
years of age, he was the youngest head of government in Europe at that time.
Due to Austria's reduced physical size and economic woes, Engelbert wanted to
ally with another country he could depend on for support. Larger, western
European countries did not seem that interested in Austria at that time.
Engelbert aligned himself with Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator of Italy
for advice and support. Mussolini urged Engelbert to suppress the party known
as the Social Democrats.
Social Democrats
In Engelbert's view, the Social Democrats were more
like Communists rather than the Socialists associated with the British Labor
Party. This political party had its own paramilitary force, known as the
Schutzbund (Defense League). Engelbert outlawed the paramilitary force and had
the police conduct searches for the group's weapons.
The police raids brought bitter confrontations. Engelbert banned the Social
Democratic Party itself in February 1934 which led to a brief and bloody civil
war. The Social Democrats responded with a strike, but before the announcements
could be printed to notify everyone to go on strike, the electrical workers
struck early. This pulled the electricity on the printing presses which were
suppose to announce the strike.
Engelbert's negotiations and ultimatums were not influencing the civil war. The
government forces had no tear gas because the peace treaty after World War I
forbade Austria to have any chemical weapons. The chancellor approved the army
using artillery and cannons. Hundreds were killed. The war quickly ended, and
the government hanged 11 social democrats. Those remaining became bitter toward
Engelbert who they considered the enemy just as the Nazis did.
The Nazi Party
In January 1933, Adolf Hitler took over as chancellor
of Germany. This caused serious problems for Austria. During that same year,
the Nazis began a terrorist campaign of bombings. When the Nazis threw hand
grenades at a group of auxiliary police, Engelbert used that as an excuse to
outlaw the party.
More than 1,100 Nazis were arrested including mayors of towns and civil
servants. Some of the leaders fled to Germany where they could advocate Nazi
propaganda. They even had Nazi leaflets dropped by plane into the Austrian
cities of Innsbruck and Salzburg. Munich radio broadcast into Austria pro-Nazi
speeches and spoke out against Engelbert.
Those who supported Engelbert were neither Nazis nor Socialists. They were
mostly comprised of farmers and middle-class citizens with strong Catholic
ties, those of Jewish faith and those of nobility who had been part of the
former monarchy.
The Heimwehr (Home Defense)
After World War I, the imperial army disbanded but set
up volunteer defense units in rural areas and in cities. These units were known
as the Heimwehr or Home Defense. The groups were mostly fascist in nature.
Engelbert's concept was to create a fascist state which had the full backing of
the Catholic Church. Through a technicality, Engelbert was able to legally
dissolve the Austrian Parliament. Then, he began to name himself to multiple
cabinet positions, including Minister of agriculture, Minister of defense,
Minister of foreign affairs and Minister of public security.
With democracy suspended, Engelbert formed an organization called the
Fatherland Front. He tried to appeal to Austrian pride and patriotism. A rally
was held which showed the support of the Heimwehr members, the Austrian Army
and the Boy Scouts. Three weeks after the rally, a Nazi fired two shots at
Engelbert. He survived and gave a radio speech from his hospital bed.
Supporters sent flowers and gifts. Although Austria was no longer a democracy, many
felt extreme measures were needed to keep the Nazis from taking control.
Engelbert became known as "Europe's Most Popular Dictator."
The Seat Of Austrian Government
At 12:50 p.m. 25 July 1934, eight trucks of soldiers
entered the courtyard which housed the seat of the Austrian Government. This
was the normal time that the crew of guards would change shifts.
Although carelessly dressed as Austrian guards, they were actually Nazis ready
to stage a government coup. Two of the Nazis who made it inside the building
found Engelbert and three of his staff members. Engelbert was shot twice at
close range—once on the left side of the throat. The second bullet went through
his spinal column causing paralysis.
Engelbert did not die immediately. One of the rebels blamed him for the
problems of the Austrian National Socialists. Engelbert responded with: 'I have
always tried to do the best I could. I always wanted peace.'
While some of the rebels captured Engelbert, others were broadcasting over the
radio that the chancellor had resigned, and one of the Nazis was the new
government leader. This did not happen because there was a Heimwehr regiment
and police forces protecting the remaining cabinet members who were free.
Engelbert requested to see a priest, but this was denied. Although he died
without receiving last rites, his government remained intact at that time.
After their arrest, the two assassins were sentenced to death, and their
executions held six days after the chancellor's death. Six more death sentences
and executions were carried out related to the assassination and attempted
coup.
Engelbert's death led to an increase in participation in the Fatherland Front
organization which he founded. He was buried in Austria's Chancellors' Church.