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Kurt Qualities Josef Johann von Schuschnigg (December 14th 1897 - November 18th 1977), Dictator and federal Chancellor of Austria of the July 25th 1934 with the March 11th 1938

An aristocrat

Born in old the Empire Austro-Hungarian, the December 14th 1897 with Rivetted del Garda (maintaining in Italy), Kurt von Schuschnigg is resulting from a former family of catholic aristocrat autrichienne.
It is only in 1915, after having passed its baccalaureat, which it engages as voluntary in the army where he becomes lieutenant. He is made prisoner by the Italians.

A young lawyer and politician

After the War, it begins studies of right to In where it obtains in 1922 a diploma and opens its own cabinet. In 1926, whereas it enters to the party social-Christian, it meets Herma Masera with which it Marie and will have a son. The following year, he is elected appointed at the thirty years age becoming thus the youngest elected official of the Parliament. In 1930, it founds the “Ostmärkische Sturmscharen”, a paramilitary and catholic political group.

A dictatorial chancellor

In 1932, Schuschnigg is named Minister for Justice then in 1933, Minister for the State education. During the car-dissolution of the Parliament the March 4th 1933, it takes an active part in the organization of the new dictatorship. And the July 25th 1934, following the assassination of the chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss by the Austrian Nazis, Schuschnigg has to succeed to him. It keeps at the same time, its post of minister of the Instruction and takes that of the Businesses Etrangères.
Decided well to continue the policy of its predecessor, it continues repressions of the political parties and tries to stabilize the economy of the country. But with the difference of Dollfuss, it tries a bringing together with the Nazi Germany.

In 1935, his wife dies.

The treaty with Germany

In 1936, the economic situation is with most badly, unemployment increases by 20%. This disastrous situation makes thus essential, with the eyes of Schuschnigg, a treaty with the Germany. And the July 11th 1936, Schuschnigg signs an agreement with Hitler. This bringing together due to the German ambassador Franz von Papen, stipulates that in exchange of the lifting of the Embargo and the recognition of the statute quo by the Germany, the Austria stops all persecutions against the Nazis and calls two ministers pro-Nazi in his government.

A political insulation

Ensured of the independence of the Austria, and handled by Von Papen, Schuschnigg lets settle the Nazisme in the country. It considers in 1937, to restore the Monarchie while making return the archduke Otto de Habsbourg but must give up it in front of the reserves of Hitler and Mussolini. Moreover Mussolini, the “large friend” of Austria, with continuation of the creation of the Axis Rome-Berlin, gives up any protection which it could previously have granted to Austria. And after the loss of its French and English supports, the Austria is found completely insulated.

Anschluss

Beginning 1938, Schuschnigg learns that an attack pro-Nazi prepares against him. It includes/understands whereas Hitler forever intend to respect its engagements, and seeks at all costs a bringing together with the social democrats. Too much late, it is convened without cares by Führer with Berchtesgaden. This last obliges it to yield the ministries for the Interior and the War to sympathizers Nazis, and to release all the prisoners Nazis.

Schuschnigg seeks a solution hopelessly, and in a last hope, the March 9th a Plébiscite announces on the question of the independence of Austria. Deeply outraged, Hitler requires the March 11th its resignation, and the nomination at its station, of the , Minister of Interior Department Arthur Seyss-Inquart. The following day, the March 12th 1938, it is the Anschluss, the pure and simple annexation of the Austria.

Seven years in prison

This event is worth to him to be imprisoned with the prison of Vienna where it is placed like a distinguished guest. Thus, it settles with his new wife Vera Fugger, countess of Czernin, which it marries in prison, in June 1938. From this love in prison a girl in 1941 is born.
The same year, it and all its family are transferred, with a special treatment, with the concentration camp of Sachsenhausen where it will divide the same hutments as Herschel Grynszpan, then in 1944 with that of Dachau. The May 4th 1945, at the last days of the Reich, an order of execution is launched against him. But it is saved in extremis by the Americans, during the release of the camp

Model American

With its release, the Austria refuses its repatriation. It settles then in Italy where it starts to write articles like its autobiography Requiem , published in 1946. It gives many conferences to the the United States where finally it settles in 1947, in the the Mississippi. He becomes professor of political sciences and international law at the catholic university of Saint Louis. In 1956, it obtains American nationality and receives thereafter many rewards of small universities.

The Années 1950 are also for Schuschnigg, the reconciliation with its country. It can thus again return to Austria where it spends from now on all its holidays there. In 1959, its wife décède.
And in 1967, after having taken its retirement, it settles in Austria with In. He writes again, of many articles and goes on a journey in 1972 in South America. The November 18th 1977, it dies with Mutters, close to In.

Sources

Encyclopedia Universalis, Andre Brissaud, Kurt von Schuschnigg
Edouard Boeglin, '' chronological Biographie of Kurt von Schuschnigg '' (of)
Earl Edmondson, '' Biographie of Kurt von Schuschnigg '' (in)
Quid 2005, States (Austria) , p. 1131

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