Considerable dissatisfaction has been aroused here in Social Democratic, Christian Social and Jewish circles by the announcement of the composition of the student Legions to be appointed to maintain peace at the University of Vienna.
The Legions, according to the announcement, are to be appointed on a rotary basis, and are to be comprised of Nazis, Aryans, Waffenring and Catholics, each serving in turn. The Social Democrats, Liberals and Jews are completely excluded from the Legions.
Christian Socialists also oppose the Legions, however, suspecting Rector
Abel of Vienna University of Nazi tendencies.
Rector Abel today visited the Minister of Education. It is understood that the government is watching the workability of the new system and is determined to introduce ordinary police in the University buildings if peace and order are not maintained.
The vigorous attitude adopted by the government is explained as being due to the continuous reduction in the number of Catholic students at Vienna University. The Catholics now stand in as much fear of Nazi attacks as the Jewish minority. This fact has aroused the Christian Socialist Press to defend the Jews while protecting its own students.
The student Legions are to be introduced in accordance with the announcement on January 3rd that stringent measures would be taken to prevent a recurrence of outbreaks at the University.
Responsibility for order, according to this announcement, was to be vested in a Student’s League, enjoying the confidence of the Rector. Party uniforms, party emblems and the carrying of arms are to be prohibited under the new regulations.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
