Federation of Independents
Encyclopedia
The Federation of Independents (Verband der Unabhängigen, VdU) was a German national
and national-liberal
political party in Austria active from 1949 to 1955. It was the predecessor of the Freedom Party of Austria
.
Its formation had been encouraged by the Austrian Social Democrats
, because they sought to split the right-wing vote and to weaken the conservative People's Party
to gain a parliamentary majority in Austria. On the next day the constituent assembly was held at Salzburg
, then in the US occupation zone. Herbert Kraus was elected Chairman (Bundesobmann), while Viktor Reimann, Josef Karoly, Karl Hartleb and Karl Winkler were appointed Vice-Chairmen (Bundesobmann-Stellvertreter). Kraus was party leader until 1952.
VdU saw itself as representing the interests of former Nazi Party members, expellees from Central and Eastern Europe
, returning war prisoners
and other discontent portions of the Austrian population. Although close to the Austrian People's Party
, the party also advocated liberal
individualism
, and did not concern itself much with the "Catholic question." VdU supported the abolition of laws limiting the political activities of former Nazis.
it obtained 11.7% of vote and 16 seats in the National Council
. The Socialists' strategy of creating a split in the non-socialist vote failed, with both the Social Democrats and the People's Party losing equally to the VdU. The party drew most of its support in areas where in pre-war times the rural Landbund
had been rooted and in cities with a high percentage of former Nazis. At the 1953 election, its share of the vote fell slightly to 10.9% and 14 seats in the National Council.
Beginning soon after its foundation, the party saw the start of heavy internal strife between the more liberal approach of the founders Kraus and Reimann and the German nationalist
faction centering around the former Luftwaffe
General Gordon Gollob
. This led to the collapse of the party, which was absorbed by the newly founded Freedom Party of Austria
of Anton Reinthaller
in 1956.
German nationalism in Austria
German nationalism is a political ideology and a current in Austrian politics. It has its origins in the German National Movement of the 19th century, a nationalist movement of the German-speaking population in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and had striven for a closer connection of the...
and national-liberal
National liberalism
National liberalism is a variant of liberalism, combining nationalism with some liberal policies, especially regarding economic liberalism. The roots of it are to be found in the 19th century, when conservative liberalism was the ideology of the political classes in most European countries, then...
political party in Austria active from 1949 to 1955. It was the predecessor of the Freedom Party of Austria
Freedom Party of Austria
The Freedom Party of Austria is a political party in Austria. Ideologically, the party is a direct descendant of the German national liberal camp, which dates back to the 1848 revolutions. The FPÖ itself was founded in 1956 as the successor to the short-lived Federation of Independents , which had...
.
Formation
The party was officially founded on 25 March 1949 by Herbert Kraus and Viktor Reimann.Its formation had been encouraged by the Austrian Social Democrats
Social Democratic Party of Austria
The Social Democratic Party of Austria is one of the oldest political parties in Austria. The SPÖ is one of the two major parties in Austria, and has ties to trade unions and the Austrian Chamber of Labour. The SPÖ is among the few mainstream European social-democratic parties that have preserved...
, because they sought to split the right-wing vote and to weaken the conservative People's Party
Austrian People's Party
The Austrian People's Party is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Austria. A successor to the Christian Social Party of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it is similar to the Christian Democratic Union of Germany in terms of ideology...
to gain a parliamentary majority in Austria. On the next day the constituent assembly was held at Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, then in the US occupation zone. Herbert Kraus was elected Chairman (Bundesobmann), while Viktor Reimann, Josef Karoly, Karl Hartleb and Karl Winkler were appointed Vice-Chairmen (Bundesobmann-Stellvertreter). Kraus was party leader until 1952.
VdU saw itself as representing the interests of former Nazi Party members, expellees from Central and Eastern Europe
Expulsion of Germans after World War II
The later stages of World War II, and the period after the end of that war, saw the forced migration of millions of German nationals and ethnic Germans from various European states and territories, mostly into the areas which would become post-war Germany and post-war Austria...
, returning war prisoners
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
and other discontent portions of the Austrian population. Although close to the Austrian People's Party
Austrian People's Party
The Austrian People's Party is a Christian democratic and conservative political party in Austria. A successor to the Christian Social Party of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it is similar to the Christian Democratic Union of Germany in terms of ideology...
, the party also advocated liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
individualism
Individualism
Individualism is the moral stance, political philosophy, ideology, or social outlook that stresses "the moral worth of the individual". Individualists promote the exercise of one's goals and desires and so value independence and self-reliance while opposing most external interference upon one's own...
, and did not concern itself much with the "Catholic question." VdU supported the abolition of laws limiting the political activities of former Nazis.
Electoral success and decline
In the 1949 electionAustrian legislative election, 1949
The elections to the Austrian National Council of 1949 were the second nation-wide elections in Austria after World War II. About 500,000 registered Nazis, who were not allowed to vote in 1945, regained their voting rights...
it obtained 11.7% of vote and 16 seats in the National Council
National Council of Austria
The National Council is one of the two houses of the Austrian parliament. According to the constitution, the National Council and the complementary Federal Council are peers...
. The Socialists' strategy of creating a split in the non-socialist vote failed, with both the Social Democrats and the People's Party losing equally to the VdU. The party drew most of its support in areas where in pre-war times the rural Landbund
Landbund
The Landbund was an Austrian political party during the period of the First Republic .-History:The Landbund was founded in 1919 as Deutsche Bauernpartei and represented liberal and protestant farmers in Styria, Carinthia and Upper Austria...
had been rooted and in cities with a high percentage of former Nazis. At the 1953 election, its share of the vote fell slightly to 10.9% and 14 seats in the National Council.
Beginning soon after its foundation, the party saw the start of heavy internal strife between the more liberal approach of the founders Kraus and Reimann and the German nationalist
German nationalism in Austria
German nationalism is a political ideology and a current in Austrian politics. It has its origins in the German National Movement of the 19th century, a nationalist movement of the German-speaking population in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and had striven for a closer connection of the...
faction centering around the former Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
General Gordon Gollob
Gordon Gollob
Gordon M. Gollob was an Austrian-born German fighter pilot and flying ace in the Luftwaffe from 1938 to 1945 during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat...
. This led to the collapse of the party, which was absorbed by the newly founded Freedom Party of Austria
Freedom Party of Austria
The Freedom Party of Austria is a political party in Austria. Ideologically, the party is a direct descendant of the German national liberal camp, which dates back to the 1848 revolutions. The FPÖ itself was founded in 1956 as the successor to the short-lived Federation of Independents , which had...
of Anton Reinthaller
Anton Reinthaller
Anton Reinthaller was an Austrian right wing politician active before and after the Second World War. He was the inaugural leader of the Freedom Party of Austria .- Early life :...
in 1956.