Leopold Figl , born the October 2nd 1902 in Rust in Tullnerfeld and dead May 9th 1965 with Vienna, was a Austrian politician .

Origins and formation

Third wire of a country family of old stock, it helps his/her mother in the agricultural work but also for the education of his/her six brothers and sisters juniors, after the premature death of his/her father. That develops in him a feeling of responsibility in a completely natural way. Its social origin plays a very important part in its life, whether it is from a private or political point of view. As of its childhood, the words “to give up, help and work with a cause” have an obvious direction for Figl.

High-school pupil with Saint-Pölten, it creates the MKV of Nibelungia. Its completed secondary studies, it is the only one of his brothers and sisters to be launched out in higher learning, expensive, in Vienna. It obtains an agricultural diploma for the occupation of engineer in 1931, trade which enables him to continue the trade of his/her father but on a higher level. During its academic works, it belongs to the student's corporation catholic Norica.

Political career

Its beginnings

Its diploma obtained, one proposes in Figl a place of secretary to the federation of the peasants of Low-Austria which it accepts. Occupant this station, it belongs to the core of the Christian-social Parti. In 1933, he becomes the director of the federation of the peasants of Low-Austria.

After the coup d'etat d' Engelbert Dollfuss, Figl becomes member of the federal Economic council. In 1937, it is named president of the Federation of the peasants of the State.

Deportation and the return of the camps

After the annexation of Austria by German Reich, Figl is stopped on March 12th, 1938 and deportee with the concentration camp of Dachau, which it leaves on May 8th 1943. After its release, it takes a place of engineer of oil in Low-Austria. October 8th 1944, Figl again is stopped and off-set with the concentration camp of Mauthausen. He is shown of high treason, following this charge, he is transferred to the court from Vienna on January 21st, 1945 and is condemned to died the next month, pains which will not be carried out with the end of the war.

After the release of Vienna by the Soviet troops, the Russian military command charges Figl with the food provisioning of the population Viennese. Following its experiments with the State and the Nazism, Figl becomes the defender of all the political camps. April 14th, 1945, Figl restores the Federation of the peasants ( Bauernbund ) of which he becomes the director and into the Austrian Popular party integrates it founded three days later, on April 17th, 1945, and of which he is selected as vice-president. April 27th, Figl becomes the chief of the provisional provincial government of Low-Austria like Secretary of State.

Chancellor and minister

After the first elections of December 1945, first since 1934, the ÖVP gains the absolute majority and Figl is seen named, the December 20th 1945, federal chancellor Austrian. The Soviets who occupy Austria accept because of his opposition to the Nazism and its qualities of management. Figl is very popular near the population. One of its most famous speeches is the speech of Christmas of 1945.

From 1945 to 1966, a great coalition of its party and social democrat Left Austria (SPÖ) control surface the country and will be able to solve the economic and social main issues of post-war period, helped by the Mashall plan. But however, on November 26th 1953, it must give up the post of chancellor following internal criticisms of its party on its too great mind of compromise with the SPÖ. Figl then becomes Minister for the Foreign relations of the government of the new chancellor Julius Raab, he thus takes a great part in the conclusion of the Traité Austrian State. After its signature, the May 15th 1955 with the palate of the View-point in Vienna, Figl pronounces as a Minister for the Foreign relations, the famous sayings: Austria is free!

Last years

In 1959, at the time of the elections, the SPÖ arrives almost at equality with the ÖVP. It is thus in position to ask the post of minister of the Foreign relations in the new coalition government. Figl thus loses its place and is replaced by Bruno Kreisky. From 1959 to 1962, he is the first president of the National council, then the chief of the provincial government of Low-Austria. He dies in 1965 in Vienna at sixty two years after very short but very heavy disease.

Anecdote

With the visit of Khrouchtchev, in the small fatherland of Figl, in 1962, comes the legendary bet from corn, bet to know where the most corn pushes. Figl wins the bet but never receives the pig which had been agreed like profit.

See too

• Speech of Christmas of 1945

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