Page - 328 - in Otto Bauer (1881–1938) - Thinker and Politician

328 chapter 8 Itwasprecisely this belief that additionally reinforced theparty’s unrealistic evaluation of its own strength and of the situation.67 Other political factors alsoplayedasignificantpart in its choiceof tactics– that is, theparty’s long- standing and loyal adherence todemocraticmethods, its lack of faith in the workers’ fightingspirit,andthenotionthatthecountrywasisolatedandunder threat from the fascist powers that had grown abroad. These were accom- panied bymoral considerations, such as the aversion to fratricidal struggle, andindividual temperaments, suchasthefearof takingresponsibility forrad- ical political decisions and unwillingness to act consequently displayed by Social-Democratic politicians. These various factors led to the sdap leader- ship’spassivity,whichunderminedtheworkers’militancy,whichhadstillbeen alive and full of promise in 1933. Consequently, the winner in the struggle against fascismwaspredetermined, as itwere, and thedemiseof democracy inAustriaaccelerated.68 The fascist dictatorships of Italy andGermanywere no less interested in thedestructionofAustriandemocracy thanDollfusswas. Theydifferedonly intheirultimateobjectives:Dollfussaspired, inthenameofbanishingthe ‘red peril’, to abolish the democratic and social successes of theworkingmasses, dissolve theMarxist parties and trade unions, and strengthen the position of the church by exterminating the influence of anti-clerical Social Demo- cracy.ForItalyandGermany,incontrast,expansionistaimswereparamount.69 WhenDollfuss’s attempts to come to an understandingwithHitler failed,70 Italyoffered tohelphimto introducedictatorialpowers inAustria,butmade theofferdependentonDollfuss’shasteningoftheprocessofcombatingSocial Democracy.TheHeimwehr,havingwonsuchastrongally,decidedtoproceed in radical fashion.71 Thesewere truly decisivemoments for the republic, yet thesdapleadershipfailed. It lackedgumption,andthefearofcivilwarandits 67 Over years, theparty leadership’swaiting for a favourablehistoricalmoment insteadof going on the offensive inevitably led to an eternal ‘wait and see’ politics in practice, as Leserwrites. Consequently, the partywas not taken seriously as a political partner. CompareLeser1986,pp.296–7. 68 In 1933,Dollfuss stillhadtoconsiderdemocratic forces in theChristianSocialPartyand stateapparatus. 69 Germanywanted to annexAustria tomake its invasion of Czechoslovakia easier. Italy aimedatestablishingaunionof fascist states(Italy,Hungary,Austria) tocounterbalance NaziGermany. 70 ThefailednegotiationsbetweenDollfussandHitlerweredecisive inDollfuss’s resolveto preserveAustrianindependenceandhishostilitytowardsNazism. 71 TheleaderoftheHeimwehrandministerofdomesticsecurity,EmilFey,orderedtosearch party buildings for arms, destroy Social-Democratic printing presses, and arrestmem-