Gabriele Proft (20 February 1879 – 6 April 1971) was an Austrian journalist, writer and politician. In 1919 she was one of eight women elected to the Constituent Assembly, becoming the country's first female parliamentarians. She remained in parliament until 1934, when she was arrested and imprisoned following the

Austrian Civil War The Austrian Civil War (german: Österreichischer Bürgerkrieg), also known as the February Uprising (german: Februarkämpfe), was a few days of skirmishes between Austrian government and socialist forces between 12 and 16 February 1934, in Aust ...

. After World War II she was elected to parliament again, serving until 1953.

Biography

Proft was born in Troppau, Austria-Hungary (now

Opava Opava (; german: Troppau, pl, Opawa) is a city in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 55,000 inhabitants. It lies on the river Opava (river), Opava. Opava is one of the historical centres of Silesia. It was a histori ...

, Czech Republic) in 1879.Gabrielle Proft
Parliament of Austria She moved to Vienna aged 17, initially working as a housemaid. She became a journalist and writer. She also became involved in politics, becoming central secretary of the

Social Democratic Party The name Social Democratic Party or Social Democrats has been used by many political parties in various countries around the world. Such parties are most commonly aligned to social democracy as their political ideology. Active parties For ...

(SdP) women's organisation in 1909. She briefly served as a member of Vienna City Council in 1918. The following year she was a SdP candidate in the Constituent Assembly elections and was one of eight women elected, becoming Austria's first female parliamentarians.Erste Parlamentarierinnen in der Konstituierenden Nationalversammlung
Democracy Centre She was re-elected in

1920 Events January * January 1 ** Polish–Soviet War in 1920: The Russian Red Army increases its troops along the Polish border from 4 divisions to 20. ** Kauniainen, completely surrounded by the city of Espoo, secedes from Espoo as its own ma ...

1923 Events January–February * January 9 – Lithuania begins the Klaipėda Revolt to annex the Klaipėda Region (Memel Territory). * January 11 – Despite strong British protests, troops from France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr area, t ...

1927 Events January * January 1 – The British Broadcasting ''Company'' becomes the British Broadcasting ''Corporation'', when its Royal Charter of incorporation takes effect. John Reith becomes the first Director-General. * January 7 * ...

and

1930 Events January * January 15 – The Moon moves into its nearest point to Earth, called perigee, at the same time as its fullest phase of the Lunar Cycle. This is the closest moon distance at in recent history, and the next one will be ...

. Following the

in 1934, she was imprisoned. She was later jailed again from 1944 to 1945. After World War II Proft became deputy leader of the Social Democratic Party and chair of its women's section. She contested the November 1945 elections and returned to the National Council. She was re-elected in

1949 Events January * January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2022. * January 2 – Luis ...

, serving until the

1953 elections The following elections occurred in the year 1953. Africa * 1953 Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland election * 1953 South African general election * 1953 Southern Rhodesian federation referendum * 1953 South-West African legislative election ...

. She remained deputy leader of the party and chair of the women's section until 1959.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Proft, Gabriele 1879 births 1971 deaths Writers from Opava People from Austrian Silesia Silesian-German people Social Democratic Party of Austria politicians Members of the Constituent National Assembly (Austria) Members of the National Council (Austria)

Austrian journalists Austrian mass media people, Journalists Austrian non-fiction writers, Journalists Journalists by nationality Austrian newspaper people, Journalists Journalism in Austria {{CatAutoTOC ...

Austrian writers 20th-century Austrian women politicians Mauthausen concentration camp survivors