The History of Austria 23about 63,000 apartments for workers between 1923 and
- These complexes were quite innovative for their
time in that they included amenities like indoor plumbing
and community facilities such as kindergartens, cooperative
food stores, medical services, meeting halls, libraries and
green courtyards.
Growing Tensions
While the Socialists had a lock on Vienna, the Christian
Socials ran the federal government. The two were constantly
at odds. Political tensions were heightened by the existence of
paramilitary organisations linked to the political parties whose
ranks swelled as unemployment grew. In July 1927, a strike
was called to protest the acquittal of three right-wing men
accused of killing a man and a boy who had been marching
in a Socialist parade. Clashes between demonstrators and
the police in Vienna left 91 dead.
Civil War
The country was heading for civil war. By the late 1920s, the
Nazi movement had entered Austria through the western
provinces. By 1932, Austrian Nazis had begun to hold
elected positions. The Christian Democrat Engelbert Dollfuss
became chancellor. He took advantage of the resignation of
the Speaker of the House and his two deputies following an
impasse in parliament and quickly imposed an authoritarian
regime. His right-wing government was hostile to both
Social Democrats and the Nazis, a position that would
ultimately lead to his downfall and the disappearance of
Austria as a political entity. Instead of aligning with the Social
Democrats against the threat of the Nazi government in
Germany (Hitler had risen to power in May 1933), he faced
both enemies simultaneously.
On 12 February 1934, civil war finally broke out, pitting
the Social Democrats against the federal government, led
by the Christian Socials and supported by the police and the
army. The Social Democrats were summarily defeated and
their hold on power was broken. The party was outlawed and
the leaders were either exiled or imprisoned.