Austria Legitimismus

The file contains informations about the Austrian legitimism and in addition about internal politics, the economic position, foreign relations and about the Anschluss problem. Several reports are dealing with the internal politics, the change of systems in the early 20th century untill the Anschluss in 1938. For example Austro-Hungarian monarchy which was founded in 1867 and lasted till 1918. The position of the legitimists was incompatible not only with the republic, but also with the National Socialist dictatorship of 1938-45. During the Nazi era confessed legitimists were persecuted by the National Socialists, as they considered Otto von Habsburg as their rightful head of state and refused the German Reich's oath of allegiance. Approximately 4,500 legitimists and their loved ones were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Even during the Second World War, this group played a significant role in resistance and exile. Other reports regarding the time before the Anschluss from 1933 till 1938, foreign relations and the economic position have been discussed.