October 24, 1929, New York: Examining the Financial Crisis and Its Austrian Legacy

This digital exhibition explores the immediate and long-term impacts of the 1929 New York stock market collapse on the Austrian economy. It examines how the crisis led to mass unemployment, austerity measures, and the eventual failure of major financial institutions like the Creditanstalt.

The exhibition titled 'October 24, 1929, New York' provides an in-depth look at one of the most significant financial crises in modern history and its ripple effects across the Atlantic. Following the collapse of the New York Stock Exchange, the global economy entered a period of profound instability. In Austria, the impact was severe, exacerbated by existing economic pressures and a reliance on international lenders, which led to a policy of austerity that deepened the struggle for ordinary citizens. Beyond the economic data, the exhibition highlights the broader social consequences of the crash, including the rise of mass unemployment. It also addresses the political atmosphere of the time, noting how the failure of the Creditanstalt bank in 1931 fueled social division and antisemitic agitation, particularly targeting major figures like Louis Rothschild. Through this digital format, the House of Austrian History captures the interplay between international financial events and their traumatic influence on Austrian society during the interwar period.

This is a digital exhibition provided online by the House of Austrian History and is accessible free of charge via the museum's website without the need for a ticket purchase or reservation.