Figure 1.--Here we see see a group of Austrian Scouts in 1937, the last full year of Scouting before the NAZIs took power. Notice that there have been some changes in the uniform. The boys now wear shirts and shorts in different colors. Also notice the white socks that they wear over their kneesocks. We are not sure if the boys always dressed like this or if this was for hiking. Notice the boy with the buggle. The boy in the suit may have just joined the troop. The caption read, "fahnenweihe des jungvolkes". I'm not sure what that means. Photograph courtesy of the Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs.

The Austrian monarchy was overthrown in 1918 at the end of World War I. The Treaty of Versailles reduced Austia to a small republic south of Grmany. The rest of the Austro-Hungarian Empire with non-German populatons were divided into new nations. We believe Scouting was the principal youth group in Austria. Several Scout associations were organized. Two of the most important associations were: Österreichischer Pfadfinderbund and Pfadfinderkorps St. Georg. We note both Scouting and Wolf Cubbing. Our understanding is that some Austrians attempted to organize Hitler Youth groups. The Government banned the Hitler Youth, but some groups organized sureptitiously. We are not sure at this time how extensive this was in Austria before the Anschluss. Apparently it was important ebough to require government action.

Republic of Austria

The Austrian monarchy was overthrown in 1918 at the end of World War I. The Treaty of Versailles reduced Austia to a small republic south of Germany. The rest of the Austro-Hungarian Empire with ethnically non-German populatons were divided into new nations (Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Yugoslavia). Each had German minorities. There was consideravle sentiment in Austria to join Germany after the War. This was, however, prohibited by the Versailles Peace Treaty. Austria experienced considerable economic difficulties as a result of the dislocations created by disolving the Austro-Hungarian Empire and establishing new nations with varying economic policies, including tariffs.

Popularity

We believe Scouting was the principal youth group in Austria. This was somewhat different than in Germany, where Scouting suffered from an associaion with the English. It was the Germans that primarily engaged the British in the critical struggle on the Western Front. The Austrians mostly engaged the Russians on the Eastern Front and the Serbians and Italians on the Southern Front. Perhaps because of this, Scouting was less tarnished in Austria with an English association. We have, however, little actual informarion and this needs to be confirmed. We are not sure just how many Austrian boys participated in the Scouting movemnent.

Associations

Several Scout associations were organized. Two of the most important associations were: Österreichischer Pfadfinderbund and Pfadfinderkorps St. Georg. Austria had a large, vibrant Jewish community, centered primarily in Vienna. Presumably Jewish boys had a separate association, but again we are not positive.

Levels

We have few details about the levels of Scouting during the inter-war era. We know that besides the regular Scouting program that there was also Wolf Cubbing. We are not sure when the Cubs were founded, but we note them operating in the 1930s.

Uniforms

Available images provide some information on the Austrian Scout uniform. We do not yet have any images from the 1920s, but some are avaiable from the 1930s. One image from 1931 show the boys wearing the traditional wide-brimmed Scout hat. And we note other images with the boys wearing these hats. This was fairly common for Scout groups at the time. The boys wore the same standard Scout shirts and shorts that we have seen boys in other countries were wearing. I think they were brown or khaki, but am not yet positive about that. They wear kneesocks with light-colored bands. We are not sure about the colors. This appears to have been fairly standard in Austri. The photograph here in 1937 shows the boys wearing what looks like the same shirt with dark-colored, perhaps, corduroy shorts (figure 1). The color may have been tan and brown. The boys wear the same dark kneesocks with light-colored bands. I'm not sure what color the neckerchiefs were, but they are not the red and white (Austrian national colors) ones we see in the post-World war II period. We suspect that the same color was used, but there may have been diffrences among the different associations.

Other Youth Groups

A reader tells us that Wandervogel was not active in Austria. We believe, however, that a variety of small grouips did operate, although we have little information at this time.

Hitler Youth

My understanding is that some Austrians attempted to organize Hitler Youth groups. The Government banned the Hitler Youth, but some groups organized sureptitiously. We are not sure at this time how extensive this was in Austria before the Anchluss. Apparently it was important ebough to require government action. An Austrian reader tells us that the HJ was not very imporant and only began to become significant just before the Anchluss. [Slanec]

Sources

Slanec, Hansi. Groupleader, Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs, December 19, 2004.