The Hitlerists have scored a verg big victory in the Austrian Parliamentary elections. They have not been able to obtain a majority, and form a Government, but they have secured powerful positions everywhere, even invading the Federal Council, which is the equivalent to a Senate.
In Vienna alone the Nazis have polled about 200,000 votes, compared with an almost infinitessimal number at the last elections, and in all the four State Parliaments of the Austrian Federal Republic the Hitlerists have this time obtained big representation, against practically none at all in the previous Parliaments.
Most of the Hitlerist votes, however, have come from the Christian Socialist Party, the Pan-Germans, whom they have practically wiped out, and from the very similar Heimwehr Party. The Social Democratic Party, their chief opponent, still retains an absolute majority in Vienna.
Immense forces of police were on duty to prevent any disturbances during the announcement of the election results, and no incidents have occurred.
Drastic changes are not expected as a result of the elections, despite the big Hitlerist gains, which leave the older Parties still in control. But the big increase in the Hitlerist vote has brought with it a big access also of antisemitic feeling, and Jewish anxiety here is increasing, Already the Austrian Judiciary has yielded to the antisemitic demand to take proceedings against Baron Louis de Rothschild in connection with the crash of the Austrian Credit-Anstalt, and he has been ordered to appear before the Examining Magistrate.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.