The Federation of Independents (german: Verband der Unabhängigen, VdU) was a

German nationalist German nationalism () is an ideological notion that promotes the unity of Germans and German-speakers into one unified nation state. German nationalism also emphasizes and takes pride in the patriotism and national identity of Germans as one nat ...

and national-liberal

political party in Austria This article lists political parties in Austria. Austria has a multi-party system. Of the over 1,100 registered political parties, only few are known to the larger public. Since the 1980s, four parties have consistently received enough votes to g ...

active from 1949 to 1955. It was the predecessor of the

Freedom Party of Austria The Freedom Party of Austria (german: Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs, FPÖ) is a right-wing populist and national-conservative political party in Austria. It was led by Norbert Hofer from September 2019 to 1 June 2021.Staff (1 June 2021"Aust ...

(FPÖ).

Formation

The party was officially founded on 25 March 1949 by

Herbert Kraus Herbert Kraus (2 January 1884 – 15 March 1965) was a German professor of public international law. He was the first director of the Institute of International Law at the University of Göttingen. Due to his criticism of Nazism he was forced to re ...

and

Viktor Reimann Viktor Riemann (25 January 1915 - 7 October 1996) was an Austrian author, commentator, journalist and politician ( VdU). He sat as a member of the "Nationalrat" (''"National Parliament"'') between 1949 and 1956. Despite his involvement in liberat ...

. The party's formation had been encouraged by the

Socialist Party of Austria The Social Democratic Party of Austria (german: Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs , SPÖ), founded and known as the Social Democratic Workers' Party of Austria (german: link=no, Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei Österreichs, SDAPÖ) unti ...

(SPÖ), which sought to split the

right-wing Right-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that view certain social orders and hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this position on the basis of natural law, economics, authorit ...

vote in the 1949 legislative election in order to weaken the conservative People's Party (ÖVP) and gain a parliamentary majority. On the next day the constituent assembly was held at

Salzburg Salzburg (, ; literally "Salt-Castle"; bar, Soizbuag, label=Bavarian language, Austro-Bavarian) is the List of cities and towns in Austria, fourth-largest city in Austria. In 2020, it had a population of 156,872. The town is on the site of the ...

, then in the US occupation zone. 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. VdU saw itself as representing the interests of former members of the

Nazi Party The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right politics, far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that crea ...

, expellees from Central and Eastern Europe, returning

prisoners of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held Captivity, captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold priso ...

and other discontent portions of the Austrian population. Although close to the ÖVP, the party also advocated

liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

individualism Individualism is the moral stance, political philosophy, ideology and social outlook that emphasizes the intrinsic worth of the individual. Individualists promote the exercise of one's goals and desires and to value independence and self-reli ...

, and did not concern itself much with the "Catholic question." VdU supported the abolition of

denazification Denazification (german: link=yes, Entnazifizierung) was an Allied initiative to rid German and Austrian society, culture, press, economy, judiciary, and politics of the Nazi ideology following the Second World War. It was carried out by remov ...

laws limiting the political activities of former Nazis.

Electoral success and decline

In the 1949 legislative election the VdU obtained 11.7% of the vote and won 16 seats in the National Council. The SPÖ's strategy of creating a split in the non-Socialist vote failed, with both the SPÖ and the ÖVP losing equally to the VdU. The party drew most of its support in areas where in pre-war times the rural

Landbund :''"Landbund" may also refer to the Agricultural League, a former political party of Germany.'' The Landbund ( en, Rural Federation) was an Austrian political party during the period of the First Republic (1918–1934). History The Landbund was f ...

had been rooted and in cities with a high percentage of former Nazis. At the 1953 legislative election, its share of the vote fell slightly to 10.9% and 14 seats in the National Council. 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

faction centering on the former

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...

General

Gordon Gollob Gordon Gollob (16 June 1912 – 7 September 1987) was an Austrian fighter pilot during World War II. A fighter ace, he was credited with 150 enemy aircraft shot down in over 340 combat missions. Gollob claimed the majority of his victories ...

. This led to the collapse of the party, which was absorbed by the newly founded

(FPÖ) of

Anton Reinthaller Anton Reinthaller (14 April 1895 – 6 March 1958) was an Austrian right-wing politician active before and after the Second World War. After a career in Nazi Germany as an '' SS-Brigadeführer'' and member of the Nazi Reichstag, he was the ...

in 1956.

Notable members

Friedrich Peter Friedrich Peter (13 July 1921 – 25 September 2005) was an Austrian politician who served as chairman of the Freedom Party of Austria from 1958 to 1978. He was an active Nazi between 1938 and 1946. World War II and SS service Born in Attnang-P ...

Lothar Rendulic Lothar Rendulic ( hr, Rendulić; 23 October 1887 – 17 January 1971)Rudolf Neck, Adam Wandruszka, Isabella Ackerl (ed.) (1980): ''Protokolle des Ministerrates der Ersten Republik, 1918–1938, Abteilung VIII, 20. Mai 1932 bis 25. Juli 1934''. ...

References

{{Authority control 1949 establishments in Austria Defunct political parties in Austria Defunct liberal political parties in Austria Freedom Party of Austria German nationalism in Austria German nationalist political parties National liberal parties Nationalist parties in Austria Political history of Austria Political parties disestablished in 1955 Political parties established in 1949 Veterans' organizations Landsmannschaften Right-wing parties in Europe