The Federation of Independents (Verband der Unabhängigen, VdU) was a national-liberal political party in Austria active from 1949 to 1955.

Contents 1 Formation 2 Electoral Success and Decline 3 Notable Members 4 References

[edit] Formation

Its foundation was encouraged by the Social Democrats, because they sought to split the conservative and right-wing vote and weaken the non-socialist People's Party to gain a parliamentary majority in Austria. ^[1]

The party was officially founded on 25 March 1949 by Herbert Kraus and Viktor Reimann. The constituent assembly was held in Salzburg on the next day. Herbert Kraus was elected Chairman (Bundesobmann), while Viktor Reimann, Josef Karoly, Karl Hartleb and Karl Winkler were appointed Vice-Chairmen (Bundesobmann-Stellvertreter). Kraus was party leader until 1952 ^[2]

VdU saw itself as representing the interests of former Nazi Party members, expellees from Central and Eastern Europe, returning war prisoners and other discontent portions of the Austrian population. Although close to the Austrian People's Party, the party also advocated liberal individualism, and did not concern itself much with the "Catholic question." VdU supported the abolition of laws limiting the political activities of former Nazis.

[edit] Electoral Success and Decline

In the 1949 election it obtained 12% of vote and 16 seats in the National Council. The Socialist's strategy of creating a split in the non-socialist vote failed, with both the Social Democrats and the People's Party losing equally to the VdU. The party drew most of its support in areas where formerly the Landbund had been rooted ^[3]and in cities with a high percentage of former Nazis. At the 1953 election, its share of the vote fell slightly.

Beginning soon after its foundation, the party saw the start of heavy internal strife between the more liberal approach of the founders Kraus and Reimann and the nationalist faction centering around former Luftwaffe General Gordon Gollob. This led to the collapse of the party, which was absorbed by the newly founded Freedom Party of Austria of Anton Reinthaller in 1956.

[edit] Notable Members

• Gordon Gollob

• Friedrich Peter

• Lothar Rendulic

[edit] References

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