Illegal National Socialist

The term Illegal National Socialist refers to persons in Austria who, between 1933 and 1938, during the last year's of the First Republic, were either members of or were active for the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazis). As the Nazi party was banned in Austria from 19 June 1933 to the day of Anschluss, 12 March 1938, by decree of the leader of government Engelbert Dollfuß.Those who remained active for the Nazis during that time or who were operative in their underground cells in Austria, are called "Illegals". Some of the most severe post-war repercussions were reserved for Illegals in post-war Austria.

Historical context and periodization

The NSDAP, the Nazi party that had assumed power in Germany in January 1933, was bannedin Austria after chancellor Dollfuß disbanded the Austrian national parliament and ruled unilaterally by emergency decree (period of Austro-fascism).

According to historian Gerhard Botz, three classes of Illegals are to be distinguished:

4. „Alte Kämpfer“ (Old Fighters): persons in Austria who joined the NSDAP, SA, SS or other Nazi formations before the ban from 19 June 1933
5. Illegale Nationalsozialisten per se (Illegal National Socialists proper): those who joined the NSDAP between 19 June 1933 and 11 March 1938 and who count as "Illegale Nationalsozialisten“ im engeren Sinne
6. After Anschluss (ost-Annexation): persons who joined after 12 March 1938

In everyday post-war language, however, all NSDAP members joining before 12 March 1938 are called "Illegals", not least because all Austrian party members at Anschluss were reassigned a new admission date of "1 May 1938".

Number of Illegals and social composition

It is estimated today that about 30,000 people were assessed as Illegals only after World War II, which comprises about 40% of those admitted of readmitted with a 1 May 1938 date. With NSDAP membership in Austria at the time of Anschluss amounting to 167,000, an additional 30,000 - 43,000 would be considered as illegal later. The social composition of Illegals sheds light in the spread of NS ideology in Austria prior to Anschluss. A sample of 1264 Illegals shows the following composition:

Social category	percent (of 1264)
students	4
civil servants	10
white collar employees	11
blue collar workers	27
skilled labourers	23
entrepreneurs	5
professionals	8
farmers	12
SUMME	100

Soziale Zusammensetzung der Illegalen Nazis in Österreich 1933 nach Botz (2016, Abb. 2)

Ein weiterer Gesichtspunkt ist der Frauenanteil der Illegalen, der 1933 bei 12 Prozent lag, doch bis Mai 1938 auf 28 Prozent anstieg (Botz, Tab. 2).

Nachkriegszeit

In post-war Austria the harshest repercussions and sanctions were reserved for Illegal National Socialists. Among the 536,000 members of the NSDAP in Austria about 100,000 we're deemed as Illegals by 1946. This number does not include a host of Illegals that managed to use their networks to escape more severe punishment. These include many academics and later celebrities, such as Otto Höfler, Eberhard Kranzmayer, Erich Frauwallner, Konrad Lorenz or Herbert von Karajan.

Weblinks

• Forschungsbericht zur österreichischen Nationalsozialisten in der Illegalität 1933–1938 auf ResearchGate
• Wer waren die illegalen Nazis? Kollektivbiografische und sozialstrukturelle Untersuchungen zum Nationalsozialismus in Österreich von 1933 bis 1938 bei Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Digital History