!!!Freiheitsbund

Freiheitsbund, Christian-Socialist defence organisation, founded in 
1927 in Vienna to prevent assemblies and industrial terrorism by the 
Social Democrats; the Freiheitsbund existed formally only until 1936, 
but in reality until 1938. The Freiheitsbund, as a troop of 
blue-collar workers without officers dedicated to upholding democracy, 
was always treated with hostility by the  Heimwehr (para-military 
force). A prominent political exponent was L.  Kunschak, its leader J. 
Dengler. After the revolts in February 1934 and the National Socialist 
putsch in 1934, former members of the Schutzbund and National 
Socialists joined the Freiheitsbund in large numbers, bringing 
membership from 2,100 (1934) to 30,350 (1935) and considerably 
changing the structure of the Freiheitsbund changed considerably as 
well. During the era of the corporate state, the Freiheitsbund worked 
closely with the Unified Trade Union and had significant influence on 
the distribution of jobs (Staatssekretaere, ministers without 
portfolio, after February 15, 1938).

!Literature
J. Dengler, Der niederoesterreichische Freiheitsbund 
1927-1935, 1935; idem, Berg und Tal, 1957; W. Wiltschegg, Die 
Heimwehr, 1985.


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