1934: Flight of Social Democrats – An Exhibition on Austrian Political Exile

This entry details the flight of Austrian social democrats who opposed the Dollfuß-Schuschnigg dictatorship, primarily to Czechoslovakia. It outlines the role of the 'Auslandsbüro der österreichischen Sozialdemokraten' in aiding refugees, organizing their accommodation, and smuggling political literature back into Austria.

The page chronicles the significant emigration of Austrian social democrats following the "February 1934" civil war and the establishment of the Dollfuß-Schuschnigg dictatorship. Czechoslovakia emerged as the principal country of asylum, hosting approximately 2,000 Februarkämpfer and political functionaries from banned organizations. A smaller contingent of endangered individuals from Styria and Carinthia sought refuge in Yugoslavia, with isolated cases extending to Switzerland, Belgium, France, Great Britain, and Scandinavian countries. The 'Foreign Office of the Austrian Social Democrats' (ALÖS), based in Brno and led by figures like Otto Bauer and Julius Deutsch, played a crucial role in facilitating these escapes. The organization assisted individuals in finding refuge, managing camps, and covertly distributing political writings and flyers into Austria. Around 1,000 Austrian refugees in Czechoslovakia later accepted an invitation to the Soviet Union. However, many of these individuals subsequently fell victim to Stalinist purges, joined the Spanish Civil War, or returned to Austria disillusioned.