1918: Founding of the Republic

On October 21, 1918, 208 deputies of the Austrian Parliament met at the Provisional National Assembly for German-Austria. Among them were 85 people who were deputies from territories that had not remained in Austria under the provisions of the Treaty of Saint-Germain. On October 30, 1918, this Provisional National Assembly introduced the first government under Karl Renner.

On November 11, Emperor Charles renounced his participation in state affairs. As a result, the Provisional National Assembly decided to proclaim the Republic on the following day. Several hundreds of thousands of people gathered in front of the parliament to celebrate the founding of the Republic. Members of the communist Red Guard tore the white middle stripe out of the red-white-red flag and raised a completely red flag. Other attempted disruptions were contained, but the solemn moment of the day, which social democracy especially wanted to stage as a celebration, was disturbed.

Nevertheless, November 12, 1918 is regarded as the day on which the Republic came into being and on which the “Austrian revolution” culminated. If revolution is understood as a radical socio-political transformation from the bottom up, which gives a larger number of people access to participation, the term is then definitely applicable to November 12.