NAZI VIOLENCE IN AUSTRIA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22344, 7 March 1938, Page 9

NAZI VIOLENCE IN AUSTRIA

♦ FATHERLAND FRONT ATTACKED BLOODSHED AT POLITICAL MEETING SWASTIKA EMBLEMS APPEAR IN STREETS UIMTF.U PRKSS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received March 6, 11.55 pm.) VIENNA, March 5. The first act of violence by Austrian Nazis against the Fatherland Front occurred at a suburb of Vienna, where 20 masked men burst in on a meeting of the Fatherland Front and fired revolvers, seriously wounding two. Great numbers of Nazis have appeared in the streets wearing a special swastika badge which, they declare, is not the symbol of Nazism but of anti-Semitism, thus evading the law.

The Austria Cabinet met to consider the raid by masked gunmen. A serious view was taken of the incident as the principal victim wis the 20-year-old leader of the Fatherland Front. He is not expected to

live. The gunmen ordered the members of the Fatherland Frort

to stand up and give the Nazi salute and say “Heil Hitler.” The leader of the Fatherland Front turned his back on the intruders, who riddled him with bullets.

The Vienna University has been closed because of clashes between Nazi and Catholic students, in which the police had to intervene. A message from Linz says that thousands of fully-uniformed Nazis defying Herr von Inquart’s ruling. issued last night, assembled to welcome him on his arrival. Herr \on Inquart unhesitatingly replied to their Nazi salute with upraised arm and a shout of “Heil.”

Herr von Inquar* drove through the streets packed with cheering Nazis—estimated to- number 100.000 —to confer with the local authorities. Later he addressed hundreds of Nazi delegates. Herr von Inquart announced important fresh concessions. including posts for Nazis in the provincial government and municipalities. However, lie reminded the Nazis that party emblems were prohibited for Austrians, although Nationalist societies could incorporate the swastika in their badge, which rcruired the authorities’ approval. He also emphasised that anv new type of propaganda must have his consent.