leon21 Posted March 18, 2014 Share Posted March 18, 2014 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. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 Interesing stuff Leon , Fascist vs Fascist , I suppose "what goes around comes around" 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted March 21, 2014 Author Share Posted March 21, 2014 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. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 crazy stuff Colin, nothing comes close to WW2 for amazing stories. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted February 4, 2015 Author Share Posted February 4, 2015 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.? 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. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 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. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted February 5, 2015 Author Share Posted February 5, 2015 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. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 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. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted June 29, 2016 Share Posted June 29, 2016 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! Dollfuss, a contemporary postcard Das Kruckenkreuz, Symbol of the Austrofaschistische Vaterländische Front and the Ständestaat. 10. October 1936, a march of the Vaterländische Front, which proclaimed Kanzler Schuschnigg as Front Führer. Wien, 18. October 1936, a rally of the Vaterländische Front Dr. Kurt von Schuschnigg, last head of state before the "Anschluß" A memorial plaque to Dollfuß was recently defaced, report by Tiroler Tageszeitung 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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