The anti-Jewish terror of the Austrian Nazis will constitute the main instrument of the party in its fight against the Austrian government, it is feared, as the decisive struggle for power between the government and the pro-Hitler group looms. The Government struck a preliminary blow today, issuing an ordinance for the suppression of Nazi uniforms in all Austria.
Meanwhile anti-Semitism shows signs of being on the increase in Austria. The Nazi methods of placarding Jewish shops and homes is in use, “Jewish store” signs and swastikas now being put up in broad daylight, and lists of Jewish firms to be boycotted being circulated by the brown shirts.
Agitation is carried on by the Catholic Centre party, as well, and even the Social Democrats are leaning toward anti-Semitism. Here, as in Germany, Jewish lawyers are among the first butts of attack. It is pointed out that 1,800 of Vienna’s 2,400 lawyers are Jews, while the Jews only form three percent of Austria’s population.
The government has discriminated against Jews in the formation of a new auxiliary police force, as no Jewish enlistments were permitted for the body.
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.