Anton Rintelen
Encyclopedia
Anton Rintelen was an Austrian
academic, jurist and politician. Initially associated with the right wing Christian Social Party, he later became involved in a Nazi
coup d'etat
plot.
He was a professor at the Charles University in Prague
before taking up a career in politics with the Christian Social Party.
He served the party as Landeshauptmann
of Styria from 1919 to 1926 and again from 1928 to 1933 and as Minister of Education in 1926 and 1932-3. He was sent to Rome
in 1933 as Ambassador to Italy
. In his role in Styria he was active in supporting the local Heimwehr
leader Walter Pfrimer
.
Despite having been a member of his government Rintelen had become an opponent of Engelbert Dollfuss
, and the Austrian Nazi Party, at the time planning a putsch under the direction of Theodor Habicht
, Rudolf Weydenhammer and Fridolin Glass, brought him into their conspiracy as a prospective Chancellor
in 1934. Rintelen wanted to quit at the last minute but the plan went ahead, although it proved a failure, reuslting in the death of Dollfuss but not a Nazi government.
Rintelen's involvement in the so-called 'July Putsch' saw him sentenced to life imprisonment for treason
in 1935. He was released in 1938 following the Anschluss
but he took no further role in politics.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
academic, jurist and politician. Initially associated with the right wing Christian Social Party, he later became involved in a Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
plot.
He was a professor at the Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
before taking up a career in politics with the Christian Social Party.
He served the party as Landeshauptmann
Landeshauptmann
Landeshauptmann is a former German gubernatorial title equivalent to that of a governor of a province or a state....
of Styria from 1919 to 1926 and again from 1928 to 1933 and as Minister of Education in 1926 and 1932-3. He was sent to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1933 as Ambassador to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. In his role in Styria he was active in supporting the local Heimwehr
Heimwehr
The Heimwehr or sometimes Heimatschutz were a Nationalist, initially paramilitary group operating within Austria during the 1920s and 1930s; they were similar in methods, organisation, and ideology to Germany's Freikorps...
leader Walter Pfrimer
Walter Pfrimer
Walter Pfrimer was an Austrian politician and leader of the Heimwehr in Styria...
.
Despite having been a member of his government Rintelen had become an opponent of Engelbert Dollfuss
Engelbert Dollfuss
Engelbert Dollfuss was an Austrian Christian Social and Patriotic Front statesman. Serving previously as Minister for Forest and Agriculture, he ascended to Federal Chancellor in 1932 in the midst of a crisis for the conservative government...
, and the Austrian Nazi Party, at the time planning a putsch under the direction of Theodor Habicht
Theodor Habicht
Theodor Habicht was a leading political figure in Nazi Germany. He played a leading role in the Austrian movement.-Early years:...
, Rudolf Weydenhammer and Fridolin Glass, brought him into their conspiracy as a prospective Chancellor
Chancellor of Austria
The Federal Chancellor is the head of government in Austria. Its deputy is the Vice-Chancellor. Before 1918, the equivalent office was the Minister-President of Austria. The Federal Chancellor is considered to be the most powerful political position in Austrian politics.-Appointment:The...
in 1934. Rintelen wanted to quit at the last minute but the plan went ahead, although it proved a failure, reuslting in the death of Dollfuss but not a Nazi government.
Rintelen's involvement in the so-called 'July Putsch' saw him sentenced to life imprisonment for treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
in 1935. He was released in 1938 following the Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
but he took no further role in politics.