Republikanischer Schutzbund
Encyclopedia
The Republikanischer Schutzbund was a paramilitary
organization established in 1923 by the Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei Österreichs
(SDAPÖ) to secure power in the face of rising political radicalization after World War I
.
It had a Czech section associated with the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Workers Party in the Republic of Austria
.
, as encouraged by the SDAPÖ newspaper, the Arbeiter Zeitung
.
. The results of the trial led to the July Revolt of 1927
Engelbert Dollfuß banned the Schutzbund, forcing it underground. On February 11, 1934, the Heimwehr
commander in Vienna
Emil Fey called for the disarmament of the Schutzbund. Upon raiding Hotel Schiff
in Linz
, the Linz Schutzbund commander Richard Bernaschek actively resisted, resulting in armed conflict known as the Austrian Civil War
.
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organization established in 1923 by the Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei Österreichs
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...
(SDAPÖ) to secure power in the face of rising political radicalization after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
It had a Czech section associated with the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Workers Party in the Republic of Austria
Czechoslovak Social Democratic Workers Party in the Republic of Austria
The Czechoslovak Social Democratic Workers Party in the Republic of Austria was a political party in Austria, working amongst the Czech minority...
.
Origins & Development
The Republikanischer Schutzbund was one of many paramilitary forces to organize after the fall of the Habsburg Empire. This one in particular was a branch of the Social Democratic Workers' Party (SDAPÖ). Its purpose was to defend the party and to maintain the balance of power amidst increasing radicalization of politics in Austria. This includes a good amount of saber rattling between the Schutzbund and the conservative HeimwehrHeimwehr
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...
, as encouraged by the SDAPÖ newspaper, the Arbeiter Zeitung
Arbeiter-Zeitung (Vienna)
For the Chicago anarchist newspaper, see Arbeiter-Zeitung The Arbeiter-Zeitung was started as a Socialist newspaper on July 12, 1889 by Victor Adler. The paper was banned in 1934 after the Feb. 13 issue , but reappeared on Aug...
.
July Revolt of 1927
On January 30 of 1927, a veterans' group clashed with the Schutzbund, leaving one veteran and one child were killed by the right-wing HeimwehrHeimwehr
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...
. The results of the trial led to the July Revolt of 1927
July Revolt of 1927
During the Austrian July Revolt of 1927 Austrian police forces killed 84 protesters, while four policemen died. More than 600 people were injured....
Austrian Civil War
By June 1933, Federal ChancellorChancellor 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...
Engelbert Dollfuß banned the Schutzbund, forcing it underground. On February 11, 1934, the 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...
commander in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
Emil Fey called for the disarmament of the Schutzbund. Upon raiding Hotel Schiff
Hotel Schiff
The Hotel Schiff is a hotel in Linz. In 1934 it was the starting point of the Austrian Civil War.The Gasthof Zum Goldenen Schiff was built in 1788 on a site which had been used since 1563 by the Brethren of the Poor.-Cinema:...
in Linz
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
, the Linz Schutzbund commander Richard Bernaschek actively resisted, resulting in armed conflict known as the Austrian Civil War
Austrian Civil War
The Austrian Civil War , also known as the February Uprising , is a term sometimes used for a few days of skirmishes between socialist and conservative-fascist forces between 12 February and 16 February 1934, in Austria...
.