1928: Celebration of the Republic

The Republic of Austria, proclaimed on November 12, 1918, was not a state structure based on consensus. None of the political camps supported it unconditionally: The Christian-Socials were bound to monarchist-patriarchal values, the German Nationals wanted the small state to be annexed to Germany. Although the Social Democrats welcomed the system of government and democratic institutions (even if only as a transition to socialism), they nevertheless saw themselves as Germans, not Austrians.

Although November 12, the anniversary of the founding of the Republic, was a national holiday from 1918 to 1934, it was only the Social Democrats who annually commemorated the introduction of universal suffrage and the social legislation linked to the Republic. This republican sentiment was expressed in small celebrations at party headquarters, and also with “worker symphony concerts” that were organised by the Social Democratic Kunststelle (Arts Council) as part of the “proletarian festival calendar”. The tenth anniversary was even commemorated in numerous locations with the festival oratorio Der Tag der Republik by Viktor Korda (1900–1992) and Paul Amadeus Pisk (1893–1990). Unveiled in 1928 and initiated by the municipality of Vienna, the Monument to the Republic next to the Parliament with busts of the three state founders, Viktor Adler (1852–1918), Ferdinand Hanusch (1866–1923) and Jakob Reumann (1853–1925), was initially covered up after February 12, 1934, and then removed: with the corporative state constitution of May 1, 1934, Austria became a federal state. The monument was only re-established in 1948.

The federal government published a deluxe volume edited by an inter-ministerial committee: 10 Jahre Wiederaufbau. Die staatliche, kulturelle und wirtschaftliche Entwicklung der Republik Österreich 1918–1928 remains one of the most important sources on various aspects of the First Republic.