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As in Austria’s July Revolt, we must stand against fascism!

By Editor-in-Chief on July 17, 2024

*^{Members of Republikanischer Schutzbund, a workers’ paramilitary organization established by the Social Democratic Workers’ Party of Austria, march in formation.}*

Nadya H. | Red Phoenix correspondent | Maryland–

*^{Photos from the July Revolt massacre in Vienna, Austra, 1927.}*

On July 15, 1927, militarized police forces in Vienna, Austria fired upon a crowd of protesters, killing 89 attendees while wounding 600 others in what has come to be known as the July Revolt. The protests had been organized in response to the acquittal of the three accused of the killings that occurred at the Schattendorf shooting on January 30, 1927.

After leaving a protest on January 30, members of the social-democratic Republikanischer Schutzbund were accosted and suddenly fired upon by members of the Nationalist paramilitary group Frontkämpfervereinigung Deutsch-Österreichs. War veteran Matthias Csmarits and 8-year-old Josef Grossing were killed. The shooting sparked outrage throughout Austria, leading to thousands of trade unionists and organizers to attend the funeral in solidarity while calling for a 15-minute general strike nationwide.

The trial of three defendants began on July 5, represented by Dr. Walter Riehl, an early exponent of Austrian National Socialism. After nine days of deliberation, the three were found not guilty by self defense, exonerating them of all charges. The next day, massive protests erupted throughout Vienna. The protest began at the University of Vienna and ended at the Austrian Parliament Building, where protestors descended upon the building and ignited the many documents inside.

As the blaze consumed the building, Austrian chief of police Johann Schober requested military forces from both the mayor of Vienna and also the Austrian defense minister. When his request was denied, Schober proceeded to supply police troopers with army rifles and demanded that the crowd disperse from the building. When the crowd did not comply, police fired upon the crowd, killing 89 protestors and wounding 600.

The massacre known as the July Revolt of 1927 is commemorated by a memorial in Vienna, and also by the popular song “Arbeiter von Wien.” As we live today, we are seeing a grim pattern emerge throughout the world: the formations of Nationalist militias, flagrant court injustice, the militarization of police forces, and the devaluation of human lives to protect capital. We must oppose this repertoire of history, and educate ourselves of the past so we may build a future. We must stand together against fascism!

All power to the working people!