July Revolt of 1927

The July Revolt of 1927 (also known as the Vienna Palace of Justice fire, German: Wiener Justizpalastbrand) was a major riot starting on 15 July 1927 in the Austrian capital, Vienna. The revolt was sparked by the acquittal of three nationalist paramilitary members for the killing of two social democratic Republikanischer Schutzbund members and culminated with police forces firing into the outraged crowd and killing 89 protesters,¹ and five policemen died. More than 600 protestors and around 600 policemen were injured.

Background

The clash was the result of conflict between the Social Democratic Party of Austria and a right-wing alliance including wealthy industrialists and the Catholic Church. Many paramilitary forces had been formed in Austria during the early 1920s such as the nationalist Frontkämpfervereinigung Deutsch-Österreichs under Colonel Hermann Hiltl and the Social Democratic Republikanischer Schutzbund.

Events

Schattendorf shooting

On 30 January 1927, a Republikanischer Schutzbund group held a demonstration in the town of Schattendorf, in Burgenland. After the demonstration had ended, the Frontkämpfervereinigung Deutsch-Österreichs attacked the Schutzbund members heading back to the train station and injured several and killed Matthias Csmarits, a World War I veteran, and Josef Grössing, an eight-year-old boy.²³

The shooting provoked significant controversy, with the funeral of the two victims on 2 February being attended by thousands and trade unions declaring a 15 min general strike throughout Austria to mark the funeral. Several months later, on 5 July, the trial of three members who were accused of the shooting began in Vienna. During the trial, the three, defended by the lawyer , pleaded . After nine days, on 14 July, the jury acquitted them.