Evening star., 1942-07-24
Fiqhtinq Austriu'

lIlOI1OW ID AuotA ldl LAY, WilCll
throughout America and other lands
beyond the reach of Himmler's
Gestapo, patriotic Austrians and
their friends will affirm the will of
that oppressed country to liberate
itself from Hitler's Third Reich"
The date commentaries the eighth
anniversary of Hitler's abortive at
tempt to seize Austria in 1884. Al
though the heroic Austrian Chan
cellor, Englebert Dollfuss, was assas-
sinated by Nazi gunner, the coup
failed and Austria's independence
was maintained Unfortunately, four
years later, European diplomacy had
taken its fatal shift to "appease-
ment," and the gallant little country
left alone, was overwhelmed by the
NaZi tide. Renamed "Ostmark,"
Austria became a province of the
Reich.
There can be no greater indictment
of the character of NaZi rule than its
utter failure to reconcile the Austrian
people to their new status. The Aus
trianS are Germanic in blood, speech,
and culture, and were historically
connected with their kinsmen to the
northWard in the loose federation of
German states which was shattered
in 1866 when Bismarck effected the
supremacy of Prussia over Germany
with policy of blood and iron"
The Austrian Germans thenceforth
played leading role in the Hapsburg
Empire of Austria Hungary which
was destroyed by the First World
War. From that cataclysm emerged
the diminutive Austria which strug-
gled so gallantly to create a national
life under grave economic handicaps
and political dangers.
The traditional Austrian spirit, so
different from that of North Ger
many, is based upon proud tradition
expressing itself most fully in the
great city of Vienna, the metropolis
of the upper Danube Valley and the
seat of the imperial Hapsburg dynasty
which evoked strong dynastic 10y
atty among the Austrian people Be-
Wildered by the catastrophe which
destroyed the Hapsburg Empire, many
Austrians sought union with Ger
many. But that was at time when
postwar Germany was the liberal
Weimar Republic Sentiment for
union quickly cooled when Germany
was engulfed by predatory Naziism.
Disillusionment became complete
after the forced absorption with the
Third Reich In 1898. And, con-
versely, the Nazis, seeing the hostile
temper Of the Austrian people, soon
abandoned attempts to reconcile
them and ruled Austria as an ex-
plotted and conquered land.
The upshot has been a growing
spirit OF rebellion, expressed in an
underground movement which en-
braces, according to reliable esti-
mates, fully four-fifths of the popu-
lation. Former political differences
have been abandoned in what is
known as the Common Front, where
in Monarchists, Clerical republicans,
and Socialist workingmen join hands
in the Joint task OF liberation from
Nazi tyranny. Brutal repression and
numerous executions have merely
famed the smouldering flame of
revolt.
1t is this Fighting Austria" whose
cause is being honored tomorrow.
Several States of the American Union,
including nearby Maryland, have Of
ficially designated the date as Aus
trian Day, while here in the District
the hopes of Free Austria will be
heartened by addresses from Senator
Claude Pepper of Florida, Represent
ative Eberharter of Pennsylvania, and
the Archduke Otto of Hapsburg
Thus does Austria proclaim it's de-
termination to regain its freedom and
take its place in repenerated con