History Communist Party of Austria

1 history

1.1 background , establishment
1.2 first republic, second world war, , resistance nazism
1.3 second republic
1.4 general strikes of 1950
1.5 weaknesses , crises
1.6 after fall of socialist bloc

1.6.1 financial situation
1.6.2 internal party conflict


1.7 revival , reentrance styrian landtag

history
background , establishment

the kpÖ officially established on 3 november 1918. due allies sea blockade during first world war, there supply shortage in austria, resulting in workers protests. such actions included strikes such 1918 jännerstreik . in 1917, concurrent russian october revolution, left wing of workers movement established kpÖ. ruth fischer, franz koritschoner, , lucien laurat among co-founders.

attempts establish räterepublik (republican system of councillors) in austria resulted in developments different in germany or russia, räte able establish in isolated, high-population density areas such vienna , industrial areas of upper austria. however, red guard (rote garde) formed , integrated volkswehr (people s resistance army). on november 12, 1918 party attempted coup d état, not professionally organised , not authorised soviet government. within hours, coup attempt defeated.

first republic, second world war, , resistance nazism

during first republic, kpÖ had little influence , failed gain single mandate in parliament, in part because of ability of social democratic party (spÖ) unite workers opposition movement. party weakened internal factional struggles. in parallel ascent of joseph stalin general secretary in soviet union in 1920s, kpÖ refashioned in accordance principles of democratic centralism, , party discipline more strictly enforced. due these reforms, party able overcome factional struggles late-1920s.

in 1933 kpÖ banned emergency decree of austrofascist government of engelbert dollfuß continued operate underground. according internal sources, kpÖ had been prepared situation since mid-1920s. after social democratic party banned, many former spÖ supporters , functionaries, such ernst fischer , christian broda, worked underground in cooperation kpÖ.

the kpÖ took part in failed workers rebellion of february 12, 1934, sparked militia republikanischer schutzbund (english: republican defense league). marked last attempt save austrian democracy fascism, ill-fated.

the kpÖ held line in disagreement communist party of soviet union, such disagreeing stalin’s branding of social democracy form of social fascism in late 1920s. austrian communists dissent avant-garde, refusal condemn social democracy reflecting aspects of 7th world congress of comintern in 1935. austrian communists tolerant stance opened party influx of more disappointed social democrats. after crushing of february 1934 uprising federal army , heimwehr, kpÖ grew rapidly 4,000 16,000 members.

—alfred klahr (under pseudonym rudolf ), after being asked in 1936 communist leadership in exile in prague if theoretical notion of independent austrian nation separate germany existed.

the kpÖ took independent stance mainstream in views nationhood , austrian identity separate germany, leading communist intellectual alfred klahr writing view austrian people part of germany theoretically unfounded. in contrast, many austrian social democrats regarded affiliation german nation natural , desirable. echoing thoughts of klahr, kpÖ expressed firm belief in independent austria when country annexed nazi germany in march 1938. in historic call das österreichische volk (english: austrian people), party denounced adolf hitler’s dictatorship , called on people fight independent austria.

as result of molotov-ribbentrop pact of 1939, number of austrian communists-in-exile, such kpÖ founder member franz koritschoner, deported soviet union , handed on nazis. after war broke out between germany , soviet union, soviets reverted stance , tried support austrian communists against former allies.

during third reich, kpÖ played important role in austrian resistance, fighting side-by-side former political enemies such christian socialists, catholics, monarchists, , farmers against hitler s regime. kpÖ took order of allied powers in moscow declaration october 1943, called austria s own contribution liberation fascism precondition resurrection of own state. more 4,000 communists imprisoned or sent concentration camps , more 2,000 lost live during resistance, including 13 members of kpÖ s central committee. there austrian communist resistance network in belgium, Österreichische freiheitsfront (english: austrian freedom front).

there disagreement amongst historians if kpÖ fought nazis out of patriotism, or followed pattern of ideological fight of communism against fascism in general. internal party documents show truth somewhere in middle; kpÖ wanted country free german occupation as wanted become communist.

second republic

after austria regained independence germany, kpÖ reached national importance, was, part, able count on support of occupying soviet authorities. in first provisional government under karl renner, kpÖ represented 7 members, along ten socialists, , 9 christian socialists. party chairman johann koplenig became vice-chancellor, while fellow communists franz honner , ernst fischer made ministers responsible home affairs , education respectively. however, renner outflanked communists having 2 powerful undersecretaries in each ministry, appointed anticommunists. during years of national reconstruction, kpÖ vehemently criticised capitalistic reconstruction @ expense of working class , totally rejected marshall plan.

the kpÖ assured soviets win as 30% of vote in first national council elections in 1945. however, kpÖ won 5.4% of votes (174,257 votes) , represented 4 members (out of 165) in austrian parliament. nevertheless, chancellor leopold figl (of right-wing Övp) offered party ministerial position in government, , communist karl altmann made minister energy. beginning of cold war, , continuing arguments on marshall plan, altmann resigned office in 1947 , kpÖ became opposition party.

general strikes of 1950

post-war, national economy in ruins, , Övp-led government instituted severe austerity programme. planned measures (viertes lohn- und preisabkommen, english: fourth wage , price-fixing agreement) included substantial price increases minor wage increases, , large-scale strike movements formed in protest september 26 october 6, 1950. this, largest strike action in post-war history of austria, started in steyr , voest factories , nitrogen plants in american zone of occupation, , 10:00 a.m. number of strikers reached 15,000. on 120,000 workers participated in first day of strike. however, interruption of strike legitimize conference of austrian work councils took momentum out of movement , in second phase concentration of strikes shifted soviet zone of occupation.

in morning of wednesday, september 27, thousands of pro-communist strike workers took control on Ögb regional headquarters in linz , graz communication infrastructure. again, police stayed aside socialists in vienna scrambled resources weaken communist influence. end of day police , paramilitary units forced communists out of Ögb buildings in british , american zones. on september 28 communists raised seventy volunteers storm national Ögb office in vienna, , routed police. 7 p.m. of september 27 soviets agreed strike failed , radio program instructed austrian workers return work. Ögb rejected strike. kpÖ took prominent role in strike, leading politicians of incumbent grand coalition fear coup d état, goal of installation of people s republic. kpÖ denied these allegations.

a second series of strikes began following week, in vienna , lower austria, , involved approximately 19% of industrial workforce. strikers made impact worse disrupting railroad traffic. stormed stadlau station in donaustadt 3 times, forced away 3 times, , blocked tracks until evening. on october 5 resumed blockade of stadlau 5 a.m., took control of nordbahnhof , threatened südbahnhof. police disabled, railroads defended employees , volunteers of olah battalion . armed clubs, operated in small teams, , engaged communists in hand-to-hand fighting @ first opportunity. there reports soviets provided trucks move communist crews around, far soviets went in supporting strike.

on october 5, chairman of building , wood workers trade union, franz olah, succeeded in negotiating dissolution of october strikes. olah organised workers supported spÖ clashes communists, able outnumber , defeat them. caused great friction between kpÖ , many spÖ members. fact soviet red army did not interfere brought strikes end.

weaknesses , crises

a post-war electoral poster saying communists have made sacrifices in liberation [from nazi germany] , demanding free , independent austria .

during 10-year allied occupation 1945–55, threat of national division similar befell post-war germany loomed large. iron curtain dividing european continent 2 halves. during period, kpÖ in constant contact soviet authorities , moscow. following party s poor results in parliamentary elections on november 25, 1945 (st. catherine s day, therefore elections became known katharinen-wahl), kpÖ representative in moscow, friedrich hexmann, had present report politburo proposals on how improve situation party. problem strategy of communists identified being goal build future coalition (volksfront) spÖ. required right-wing shift extent ideological differences between kpÖ , spÖ not readily apparent.

the closeness of kpÖ moscow made many voters wary of party , aims. in former territories of austro-hungarian empire, multiparty democratic systems surely being penetrated , undermined local pro-soviet communist parties covert or overt support of soviets, observable in czechoslovakia, hungary, , poland. iron curtain being drawn closed, austrians feared same fate neighbours.

talks between party leader johann koplenig , stalin (sondermappe codename: gen. filipof(f)) resulted in proposals of possible division of austria between east , west, similar germany. since kpÖ losing votes in parliamentary elections, division , establishment of communist-led east austria have been practical way consolidate @ least part of dwindling power. interestingly, soviet authorities in moscow showed little interest such division various reasons, namely because size of newly established east austria have been quite small , may not have been capable of existing without significant soviet assistance. already, situation in soviet sector of austria difficult soviets confiscated industries, factories, , goods , transported of economic value soviet union part of war-reparations. strategically, division of austria have meant west austria, closely linked nato, have provided connection between west germany , italy. united, neutral austria act barrier, switzerland, thereby securing part of central european front soviets. proposals austrian communists therefore brushed aside.

moscow wanted guarantee of neutrality pre-condition release of austria independence; country not allowed join either side of iron curtain. negotiations underway, kpÖ changed tactics. kpÖ swerved moscow’s stance , supported idea of neutrality during negotiations of austrian state treaty. many members of other parties, such leopold figl, did not want neutrality, firm anchoring west , nato. however, soviets able push demand through. austrian state treaty voted upon on may 15, 1955, declaration of neutrality proclaimed on october 26, 1955. decided in national council votes of Övp, spÖ, , kpÖ; federation of independents (vdu, forerunner of fpÖ) voted against neutrality.

because of economic recovery , end of occupation in 1955, protective power of soviet occupiers lost kpÖ. party lost main pillar of support , shaken internal crisis. many other communist parties around world, kpÖ had oriented towards marxism-leninism of stalinist brand, , has closely allied @ point line of soviet communist party. party’s failure condemn bloody suppression of 1956 hungarian uprising led wave of withdrawals party. on may 10, 1959 kpÖ lost representation in national council, receiving 142,578 votes, 3.3% of total tally , missing 4% election threshold receive seats.

the invasion of czechoslovakia soviet troops in 1968 during prague spring @ first condemned kpÖ. however, in 1971 party revised position , swung soviet line. critic of these developments, former kpÖ minister of education, ernst fischer (who branded tank communism ) expelled party, , readmitted in 1998.

due continuiing fall in support in late 1970s , 1980s, party flirted briefly rightward move towards eurocommunism , democratic socialism. this, in turn, provoked protest of party s core supporters, saw little difference social democracy, , feared weakening of communist cause. following reforms, more 1 third of party s members left. leadership of kpÖ backtracked these changes, , party restored connections cpsu.

having had 150,000 members directly following world war ii, party’s ranks shrank approximately 35,000 in 1960s , few thousands in 1970s. of 2005, membership stands @ 3,500 members.

the kpÖ represented in national council 1945 until 1959, in state assemblies (landtage) (with interruptions) of salzburg until 1949, in lower austria until 1954, in burgenland until 1956, in vienna until 1969 , in carinthia styria until 1970. in upper austria, tyrol , vorarlberg kpÖ never held state representation.

after fall of socialist bloc

with fall of communism in eastern europe , soviet union, kpÖ saw confronted new challenges regarding philosophy , future. experiment moderate form of eurocommunism not received core supporters; however, moderate voters not persuaded either. kpÖ faced difficult times during period communist parties throughout world receding.

in january 1990 2 new leaders, walter silbermayr , susanne sohn, appointed renew party , uncover errors , mistakes made in past. attempts sohn , silbermayr create leftist alliance (wahlbündnis) 1990 national council elections failed. party lost third of members during process. in march 1991, 3 months later, both chairpersons resigned, course of renewal being insufficiently supported internally party-members.

the party has consistently been critical of nato , european union, comparing austria’s accession eu in 1995 anschluß nazi-germany. party campaigned against european constitution in planned form; however, not regard leaving european union immediate priority, long-term goal.

until 2003, there official celebration on jesuitenwiese in vienna prater park, held each year in first weekend of september. celebration named volksstimmefest, after party s former newspaper. due financial reasons, festival unable take place in 2004. has, however, since staged comeback, being held again in september 2005 , years since. today, kpÖ sees part of anti-globalisation movement feminist party. ran linke liste, during european elections 2004 part of party of european left.

financial situation

after collapse of german democratic republic in 1989, there long court-proceedings many years concerning considerable net assets of company novum. although company east german one, used siphon money , finance kpÖ, see rudolfine steindling further details. company used able make large amounts of money through gdr foreign trade , protection of east german socialist unity party (sed), profits used exclusively support kpÖ. successor state, federal republic of germany laid claim finances of novum, hotly contested kpÖ. german courts decided in 2002, former sed-company belonged state-assets of gdr, hence successor state unified germany. therefore, these net assets of kpÖ confiscated.

due court decision on novum holding, party lost on 250 million euros of financial assets. party saw no alternative fire employees , stop production of weekly newspaper volksstimme ( voice of people , later restarted volksstimmen.) continuing existence of party depends largely on volunteer work of dedicated communists , sympathisers.

transparency of ekh-bleibt-aktion (ernst-kirchweger-house-remains action)

because of financial problems, party had sell so-called ernst-kirchweger-haus (ekh), occupied so-called autonome (autonomous) activists since 1990. sale led substantial criticism leftists within , outside austria, being condemned capitalistic . critics accused kpÖ of not having exhausted possibilities avoid sale. accusation private buyer right-wing extremist could, however, not substantiated.

in january 2005 there several acts of vandalism against cars , private dwellings of kpÖ functionaries house of kpÖ chairman. according media reports perpetrators outed through graffiti ekh sympathisers. kpÖ defended arguing had no possible financial means keep house. in 2003 party tried convince city of vienna buy building save privatisation; however, city authorities did not respond.

internal party conflict

beginning in 1994 conflict between party leadership revolving around chairman walter baier , different internal oppositional groups, had gathered around newspaper nvs (neue volksstimme, english: new voice of people) , internet platform kominform. internal party critics accused walter baier of revisionism , betrayal of marxism; in turn accused them of stalinist tendencies.

this conflict escalated in 2004, when @ party convention decided enter party of european left. in elections european parliament kpÖ ran in largely self-financed alliance ( wahlbündnis links ) leo gabriel leading candidate. in interview magazine profil, spoke out against socialism, saying want europe of solidarity, not socialist europe , sparked furious criticism internal party opposition. further point of contention opposition party, in course of entry european left party, had drop previous demand of austrian withdrawal european union. many party organisations therefore boycotted election campaign. election result of 0.77% (20,497 votes) disappointing , meant drop of 1,466 votes compared election results of 1999.

the pressure on party leadership convene party congress rose , consequence leadership, consisted of walter baier , 2 further members, called 33rd party congress of kpÖ december 11 , december 12, 2004 delegation party congress in linz-ebelsberg. summoning leadership ignored resolution of 32nd party congress (which held all-members party congress, not delegates), stated following 33rd party congress again held all-member party congress, somewhere outside vienna. since party congress is, according party statute, highest committee of kpÖ, opposition saw breach of statute , called upon arbitration commission of party, internal authority in such cases. arbitration commission decided, however, no formal breach of statute recognisable since, according statute, party congress cannot decide on form of future convening party congress. members of kpÖ branch in ottakring (ottakring traditional low income worker’s district in vienna) tried convene all-members party congress of own, justifying actions on statute of party. attempt called off due threats of legal action baier. delegates party congress convened , took place on december 4 , december 5, 2004 76 delegates meeting in ebelsberg. party congress boycotted internal party opposition kpÖ regional branch in tyrol, graz, , styria. agenda of 33rd party congress rejection of european constitution , european union services guideline, defence of public property privatisation, how celebrate austrian jubilee year 2005 (60 years since end of world war ii, 50 years of independence second republic, 10 years member of european union).

walter baier re-elected without opposition 89.4% of votes. among other things, party statute changed. because of internal conflict, several members of opposition expelled party. critics accused leadership of undemocratic procedures, , withdrew party voluntarily. relationship communist youth of austria - young left (kjÖ) tense, because of attempts made leadership develop new youth organisation.

in march 2006 walter baier resigned presidency of party personal , political reasons. replaced mirko messner, carinthian slovene , longtime party-activist, , melina klaus later month.

revival , reentrance styrian landtag

recently party has seen revival, particularly in state of styria. in styrian capital, graz, kpÖ developed successful local party (20.75% in 2005 local council elections). success largely attributed leadership of popular town councillor ernst kaltenegger. traditionally @ end of year leaders of graz kpÖ reveal accounts. kpÖ councillors required earn average industrial wage , donate rest social programmes in accordance basic rules of kpÖ. party retained stronghold in 2012.

in election styrian landtag (state parliament) on october 2, 2005 kpÖ, leading candidate ernest kaltenegger, able win 4 seats (6.34% of votes.) first return in styrian landtag (or state parliament) since 1970. party retained representation in body since then.