The Austrian Empire: Authoritarian Rule And Its Legacy

The Federal State of Austria was an authoritarian government that existed between 1934 and 1938. It was led by the conservative, nationalist, corporatist and clerical fascist Fatherland Front, and was based on a mix of Italian Fascist and conservative Catholic influences. The country's constitution was recast into an authoritarian document, with the executive given complete control over the legislative branch of government. The country's official name was changed from the 'Republic' to the 'Federal State of Austria', and its human rights guarantees were swept away. The regime was weakened by the personal rivalries and ambitions of its leaders, and it never achieved broad support among Austrians.

The Federal State of Austria was a one-party state led by the conservative, nationalist, corporatist and clerical fascist Fatherland Front

The Federal State of Austria was an authoritarian government, based on a mix of Italian Fascist and conservative Catholic influences. The constitution was recast into an authoritarian and corporatist document, with the executive given complete control over the legislative branch of government. The elected assemblies were replaced by appointed advisory bodies, and human rights were swept away. The country's official name was changed from the 'Republic of Austria' to the 'Federal State of Austria', removing the word 'Republic'.

The Federal State of Austria never achieved broad support among Austrians. Its most prominent policy was an embrace of Catholicism, and its economic and social policies bore more of a resemblance to Portugal under Salazar than to Fascist Italy or Nazi Germany. John Gunther wrote in 1940 that the state "assaulted the rights of citizens in a fantastic manner", noting the large number of arrests of Nazis, social democrats, liberals and communists.

The regime was weakened by the personal rivalries and ambitions of its leaders and sustained only by a guarantee from Italy. In 1935, the unity of the Western powers was destroyed by the Italo-Ethiopian War, and Austria’s isolation was complete when Hitler and Benito Mussolini allied themselves in 1936.

The Austrian government was based on a mix of Italian Fascist and conservative Catholic influences

In April 1934, the rump of the parliament was brought together and accepted an authoritarian constitution. The executive was given complete control over the legislative branch of government; the elected assemblies disappeared and were replaced by advisory bodies, appointed in a complicated and futile fashion. The human rights guaranteed under the democratic constitution were also swept away. “Republic” was removed from the official name of the country, which became merely the Federal State of Austria.

The path to dictatorship was completed on 1 May 1934, when the Constitution of Austria was recast into a severely authoritarian and corporatist document by a rump National Council. The regime drifted on without popular favour, weakened by the personal rivalries and ambitions of its leaders and sustained only by a guarantee from Italy.

Whether the Federal State could be considered genuinely fascist is debatable. Although it was authoritarian and used fascist-like symbols, it never achieved broad support among Austrians. Its most prominent policy was an embrace of Catholicism, and its economic and social policies bear only a passing resemblance to those of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany and more of a resemblance to Portugal under Salazar.

The Austrian constitution was recast into a severely authoritarian and corporatist document by a rump National Council

On 1 May 1934, the Austrian constitution was recast into a severely authoritarian and corporatist document by a rump National Council. This was the final step in the country's path to dictatorship. The executive was given complete control over the legislative branch of government, and the elected assemblies disappeared, replaced by advisory bodies. Human rights guaranteed under the democratic constitution were swept away.

The Federal State of Austria, which lasted from 1934 to 1938, was a one-party state led by the conservative, nationalist, corporatist and clerical fascist Fatherland Front. The government was authoritarian, based on a mix of Italian Fascist and conservative Catholic influences. It was never broadly supported by Austrians, and its most prominent policy was an embrace of Catholicism. Its economic and social policies bore only a passing resemblance to those of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.

Kurt von Schuschnigg, who became chancellor on the death of Dollfuss, administered the authoritarian constitution in an easygoing Austrian fashion, less oppressive than in Italy and Germany. Schuschnigg preferred to restore the Habsburgs, but he shrank from the international complications this would involve. The regime drifted on without popular favour, weakened by the personal rivalries and ambitions of its leaders.

On 25 July 1934, a group of Nazis seized the chancellery and attempted to proclaim a government. Dollfuss, whom they had taken prisoner, was murdered. The Federal State of Austria ended in March 1938 with the Anschluss, the German annexation of Austria.

The Austrian government was less oppressive than Italy and Germany

In April 1934, the rump of the Austrian parliament accepted an authoritarian constitution. The executive was given complete control over the legislative branch of government, and the elected assemblies were replaced by appointed advisory bodies. Human rights were swept away, and the word "Republic" was removed from the country's official name, which became the Federal State of Austria.

The path to dictatorship was completed on 1 May 1934, when the Constitution of Austria was recast into a severely authoritarian and corporatist document by a rump National Council. The result was an authoritarian government based on a mix of Italian Fascist and conservative Catholic influences.

Kurt von Schuschnigg, who became chancellor on the death of Dollfuss, administered the authoritarian constitution in an easygoing Austrian fashion, less oppressive than in Italy and Germany. Schuschnigg had a mild preference for restoring the Habsburgs, but he shrank from the international complications this would involve. The regime drifted on without popular favour, weakened by the personal rivalries and ambitions of its leaders and sustained only by a guarantee from Italy.

The Austrian government was sustained only by a guarantee from Italy

In April 1934, the rump of the parliament was brought together and accepted an authoritarian constitution. The executive was given complete control over the legislative branch of government; the elected assemblies disappeared and were replaced by advisory bodies, appointed in a complicated and futile fashion. The human rights guaranteed under the democratic constitution were also swept away.

The path to dictatorship was completed on 1 May 1934, when the Constitution of Austria was recast into a severely authoritarian and corporatist document by a rump National Council. The regime drifted on without popular favour, weakened by the personal rivalries and ambitions of its leaders. Kurt von Schuschnigg, who became chancellor on the death of Dollfuss, was a man of gentler personality and of less-violent political passions. His administration of the authoritarian constitution was in the easygoing Austrian fashion, less oppressive than in Italy and Germany.

Whether the Federal State could be considered genuinely fascist is debatable. Although it was authoritarian and used fascist-like symbols, it never achieved broad support among Austrians. Its most prominent policy was an embrace of Catholicism, and its economic and social policies bear only a passing resemblance to those of Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.

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