Post Seven - Hitler in Vienna

The “Second Reich” was established by Prussia between 1870 and 1918, uniting most of the German speaking states.   Austria was excluded from this unification, and remained part of the Hapsburg empire.  The Austrian empire was much more multi-ethnic than the unified Germany.  The other nationalities, such as the Slavs and Czechs, that were part of the Austrian empire demanded equal treatment, causing a “conflict of nationalities [that] dominated Austrian politics from 1870 to the break-up of the Empire in 1918” (Bullock 42).  Hitler “had no patience with concessions” and felt “Germans should rule the Empire” (Bullock 42). Even though there were also German Jews in the Prussian capitol of Berlin, the Prussians felt the Austrians were too ethnically mixed, and not "pure" enough a society to be worthy of joining a unified Germany.  This multi-ethnic society was one of the elements unique to Austria which led to Hitler’s obsession with the purity of the German race.

Vienna was representative of the Austrian empire, “in the sense that all its minorities wandered its streets, but none had established itself … in larger numbers than the Jews” (Hoerle).  The Jews in Vienna were prominent "financiers, merchants, and bureaucrats," and held other notable professions such as physicians (Hoerle).  Hitler's younger brother died of the measles at age six, and his mother died at the age of 50.  It is possible that Hitler blamed the Jewish doctor for their deaths.  Austria at that time provided a fertile ground to grow feelings of anti-Semitism.  The "roots of National Socialism grew best" in Austria rather than Germany (Remak 8).  Austria, in particular Vienna, offered more opportunities for social advancement.  "More Jews were elevated to the nobility in Vienna than in Berlin..." (Remak 9).  Also present was a "particularly virulent anti-Semitism" (Remak 9).  For the Austrian Germans who were poor, like Hitler was at that time, the well-to-do Jews were "a constant irritant" (Hoerle).  So much so, that anti-Semetic "propaganda was widely distributed on the city's streets" (Hoerle).  The Austrian disdain for Jews grew into an intense hatred for Hitler.  "He hated them for living in a German city, in a German country, and for “trying” to be German" (Hoerle).  Even though they were citizens, the Jews were not considered German by blood, and that became Hitler's obsession.  In "Mein Kampf," Hitler is quoted as saying: "All great cultures of the past were destroyed only because the originally creative race died from blood poisoning" (Remak 33).  The "Nordic people" such as the Germans, were considered the "culture creators" and the Jews were considered "culture destroyers" (Remak 32).  Hitler put anti-Semitism and "Social Darwinism" -- keeping the German race pure -- at the heart of his ideology (Remak 32). 

According to Bullock, even though Hitler did not actively take part in politics in Vienna, “he owed much to observations drawn from his years in Vienna” (Bullock 44). By observing Georg von Schonerer, the leader of the Pan-German Nationalists, “Hitler took his extreme German Nationalism, his anti-Socialism, his anti-Semitism, his hatred of the Hapsburgs and his program of reunion with the Germany” (Bullock 45).  According to Remak, "Hitler ... very much retained the party's anti-Semitism" (32).  In addition, Hitler absorbed a lot from Karl Lueger, the leader of the Christian Socialists.  Here Hitler learned the importance of organizing members of the middle class, such as shopkeepers, business men, artisans, petty officials and municipal employees, and most significantly “the need for propaganda on a large scale” (Bullock 45).  Hitler “devoted the greatest part of his political activity to the task of winning over those sections of the population whose existence was in danger” (Bullock 45).  It was of course, Hitler’s study of propaganda that was of most help to him achieving his evil goals and Vienna provided him a unique opportunity to acquire this skill. 


Bullock, Alan. “Hitler: A Study in Tyranny.” Harper & Row, New York 1962.
Hoerle, Professor W. Scott. Lecture Notes: "The Pathos of Prejudice:  Adolf Hitler and the Rise of the Nazi" UML - Nazi Germany. Section 031-SU12R
Remak, Joachim.  "The Nazi Years: A Documentary History." Long Grove, Ill.  Waveland Press 1990.