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Fatherland Front ( Patriotic Front ) 1933-1938


leon21

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Austrian Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss created the Vaterlandishe Front ( Fatherland Front also known as the Patriotic Front

in March 1933, to replace political parties that were not " Faithful to the Government ". Within a few months of being created

all other political parties were banned , and many of their leaders were held in Concentration Camps.

The Organization was a pale imitation of the German and Italian Fascists but did its best to live up to the standards of Italy

and Germany, and many of its leaders were just as vicious and ruthless as any in Germany or Italy. They crushed all the

Opposition Parties (Socialists, Communists, and Nazis ).

It's membership was over 3 million in all over half the population of over 18 year olds in Austria, when a person joined the

Fatherland Front he or she received a membership card, on the back were printed the principles and duties of the Front

Here's the translation of the back.

 

The VF is called to be the Champion of the

Idea of the Austrian State. Your goal is the

Political Consolidation of all Citizens who

stand on the land of the self-sufficient,

Cristian, German, Professionally,

structured country of Austria and support

the leader of the VF. or his designated

successor. Everyone who joins the VF.

commits himself to it's political goals,

declaring his support of them at all times

and pledging himself, on his Honor.

1) To champion freedom, Honor and the image

of Austria.

2( To serve the community of people and

remain loyal.

3) To personally maintain loyalty and love of

country, and to premote these values among others.

4) To put aside disunity and disloyalty.

5) To belong to no Organization that wants

class or cultural conflict or whose goals

otherwise oppose the goals of the VF.

6) To give the leader unconditional trust and obedience.

7) In appearance and actions to uphold

the dignity of the VF.

8) Wear and protect the insignia of the VF.

 

Chancellor Dollfuss was assassinated in July 1934 by Nazi agents, his successor was Kurt Schuschnigg who was

opposed to Hitlers ambitions to absorb Austria into the Third Reich. Though large numbers of Austrians joined the

Fatherland Front, either out of conviction or necessity,it quickly disappeared along with Austria in March 1938 when

Hitler and his troops marched in to Austria.

After his efforts to keep Austria Independent had failed Schuschnigg resigned his office, Two days after Hitler banned

the VF. and Schuschnigg was arrested by the Germans and interned in various Concentration Camps, first Sachsenhausen

then Dachau he was liberated in 1945 by the Americans. He died in1977 aged 79.

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Interesing stuff Leon , Fascist vs Fascist , I suppose "what goes around comes around" :D

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Part Two.

 

Dollfuss was assassinated by ten Austrian Nazis of Regiment 89, who entered the Chancellery building and shot him in a

attempted Coup D'etat the July Putsch.

Mussolini personally broke the news to Dollfuss's widow and children who were staying at his villa in Riccione as guests of

his wife Rachele. Mussolini blaming Hitler for the murder of his friend Dollfuss, mobilized part of his army on the Austrian

border and threatened Hitler with war in the event of a German invasion of Austria to thwart the Putsch.

The assassination of Dollfuss was followed by uprisings in many regions of Austria. In Carinthia a large mob of German

Nazis tried to seize power but were beaten by Italian units nearby.

Hitler was surprized by the Italian reaction and officially denied liability stating his regret for the murder of the Austrian Prime

Minister and banned the ten assassins entry back into Germany they were later tried and hung.

 

So in the end it was Fascist vs Fascist vs Fascist.

 

Below is a picture cut from a Dutch newspaper in 1934 it translates,

 

Friends greet each other, Mussolini himself has come to the station to welcome the Austrian and Hungarian statesmen before

the Roman Conference.

From left to right Kalman. De Kanya the Hungarian Foreign Affairs Minister and Baron Berger Waldenegg his Austrian counterpart

Benito Mussolini and the Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg. They later signed the protocols of the Tripartite Pact between

Austria - Hungary - Italy.

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crazy stuff Colin, nothing comes close to WW2 for amazing stories. :thumbsup:

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  • 10 months later...

Here is a letter signed by the General Secretary of V.F. Vienna ( Vaterlandische Front ). It's one of three letters relating

to Georg Grasser, I'm translating at the moment.

 

Does anybody know what a Schulungsreferent der O.S.S. was and what was the O.S.S. organization.?post-3823-0-19199300-1423087242_thumb.jpg

What I've translated so far indicates the letter is a Character reference for Georg Grasser as he is about to leave Austria and enter

the German Reich area, to study in the German - Japanese one year study programme.

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Hi Colin,

 

Schulungsreferent is a training consultant not sure about the OSS certainly nothing to do with the US Office of Strategic Services as they were not formed untill 1942.

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Thanks Kenny, couldn't decide between educational or political Organization,

 

O.S.S. could be simply short for Osterreichisch State Schools, Think he was a lecturer or Professor during that time and

that's how he came across Georg Grasser, but I could be wrong.

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I think Österreichische Staatliche Schule is most likely, I had a good look and could not find any reference to an OSS organization , if it is one it must be a pretty obscure one.

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  • 1 year later...

Nice decoration of the Austrian 1st Republic, as seen in the photo of Schuschnigg - it was basicly known as the "Krückenkreuz", and was an official Order of the Austrian Republic, and in several classes. Now become rare and very collectible.

The period between 1933 and 1938 is known as the "Austrofaschismus", or Ständestaat.

Could OSS be Österreichische Staats-Schule? Schulungsreferent - is a consultant for schooling.

Sr. Hochwohlgeborenen - (Seiner - His - 3rd Person - highly born) oldfashioned polite title for addressing someone of standing. Still occasionaly used in Austria - no longer in Germany!

 

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Dollfuss, a contemporary postcard

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Das Kruckenkreuz, Symbol of the Austrofaschistische Vaterländische Front and the Ständestaat.

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10. October 1936, a march of the Vaterländische Front, which proclaimed Kanzler Schuschnigg as Front Führer.

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Wien, 18. October 1936, a rally of the Vaterländische Front

https://media.diepresse.com/images/uploads/0/a/7/3838119/dollfuss_1405338454520803.jpg

Kurt Schuschnigg, katholisch, diktatorisch, amerikanisch. - ORF III

Dr. Kurt von Schuschnigg, last head of state before the "Anschluß"

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A memorial plaque to Dollfuß was recently defaced, report by Tiroler Tageszeitung

 

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