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. The caption read, "fahnenweihe des jungvolkes". That means, "on the day of a flag consecration". Photograph courtesy of the Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs.

We have little historical information on Austrian Boy Scouts, but we have begun to collect some basic information. The first important German youth movement was Wandervogel which I believe was also active in Austria, but have few details at his time. The political history of Austria is somewhat complicated and had significant conswquences for the Scouting movement. As a result there have been major changes over time. Scouting was founded by Baden Powell in ngland during 1906. The movement spread rapidly and by 1910 there were Scouting groups in most Europen countries. 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. I am not sure if there was more than one association. Hitler and the NAZIs carried out the Anschluss in 1937 which independent Austria to the Reich. As a result, the Hitler Youth became the only legal youth group. Scoutting was banned. I am not sure to what extent Austrian Scout leaders joined the Hitler Youth organization. Also I am not sure if Scout troops converted to the Hiler Youth en masse or the boys made individual decissions to join. There was no separate Austrian Hitler Youth organization, although HJ boys wore badges and units had banners identifying where they were from.

Austro-Hungarian Empire ( -1918)

Scouting was founded by Baden Powell in England during 1907. The movement spread rapidly and by 1910 there were Scouting groups in most Europen countries. The primary youth group in Germany was Wandervogel. This may have been the case in the German speaking areas of Austria as well, but no details available at this time. Scouting was founded in Austria in 1910 by Emmerich Teuber. The Wandervogel-Movement has nothing to do with it. An Austrian reader tells us that there was no youth organization in Austria which pre-dated Scouting. [Slanec] Scouting groups were founded in other parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. We do not know what the relationship was among these different Scout groups, such as the one in Hungary. There were several other youth organisations before and after World War I.

Austria (1918-38)

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 Anchluss. Apparently it was important enough to require government action.

The Anchluss (March 1938)

After months of agitating, Hitler ordered German troops to seize Austria. Most Austrians at the end of World War I had wanted to join Germany, but this was prohibited by the terms of the Versailles treaty. Not all Austrians wanted to be part of Germany, but the reception given German troops and Hitler himself suggests that there was widespread populas support for the Anchluss.

Third Reich (1938-45)

As a result, the Hitler Youth became the only legal youth group. The NAZIs after annexing Austria in the Anchluss prohibited Scouting. The boys were incorporated into the Hitlert Youth. I am not sure to what extent Austrian Scout leaders joined the Hitler Youth organization. Several high-profile Scout leaders were arrested and intered in concentration camps. We do not yet have details on the individuals involved and what happened to them in the camps. Austrian upon annexation became subject to German law. Unlike Germany where Catholic youth groups were able to operate for a few years, the NAZIs supressed the Austrian Catholic Scout Association (ÖPK). Also I am not sure if Scout troops converted to the Hiler Youth en masse or the boys made individual decissions to join. We think it was done in mass. Here we need more informtion. We see some Austrian HJ boys wearing Scout uniforms, but of course without the destinctive hats. Some Scouting activities under the disguise of red cross. Some Scouts cauhght trying to maintain the movement were arested, some of whom perished in the NAZI Concentration camps. Some Scouters left Austria. There was no separate Austrian Hitler Youth organization, although HJ boys wore badges and units had banners identifying where they were from. Many facilities of the Scouts and other youth groups were seized by the Hitler Youth, a practice they followed in areas with German populatiions incorporated into the Reich. An intreaguing study of Scouting in occupied countries during the War is available. Lessinformation is available on Austria as many view the country as a partner with the Germans rather than an occupied country. Eventually participation in the Hitler Youth was made mandatory.

Occupation (1945-55)

After Austria was occupied by the Americand and Russians, the country was divided into to different occupation zones. The Hitler Youth was of course banned, but we have limited information on the orgnization of Scouting or other youth goups. As Scouting was being reestablished in the Western zones, the Russians allowed Scouts to organize in their eastern occupation zone. We suspect that there was some caution among some Austrians in the Soviet sector concerning getting involved with Scouting. We have, however, no actual information. There was no attempt made to create a Young Pioneer organization. The Western Allies eventually consolidated their occupation zones into one Western zone. Scouts were organized in the Western zones, altough we have few details here. We do not know, however, to what extent Hitler Youth leaders were involved in the Austrain Scouts. Austria like Germany was subject the De-Nazification process. Presumably top HJ leaders were excluded, but we are not sure about junior leaders. Almost all of the boys who joined the Scouts in the years immediately after the War had been members of the HJ. We wonder if Scouting may have initially been most popular with the younger boys who had not been in the HJ or were just involved as very young boys. Here we need more information. Scouts formed only one national association (by agreement of all former associations). The association was called Pfadfinder Österreichs (PÖ) (Scouts of Austria). There was also an intependent Girl Guide Association (re)formed Österreichischer Pfadfinderinnenverband St. Georg (Austrian Girl Guide Association of St. George). The former religious division was not congtinued after the War. Austria is predominantly a Catholic country, but Protestants and Catholic youths joined together in the new Austrian Scouting movement as did the few Jewish boys who survived the Holocaust.

Post-war Austria (1955-69)

We have no information on post-war Austrian Scouting. I believe that the groups established gave serious attention to uniforms. Lederhosen were often worn as Scout shorts, but they were not the offical Scout pants.

Late-20th century (1970-200)

Austrian Souts became coeducational. The PÖ and ÖPVSG formed the new PPÖ Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs (Scouts and Guides of Austria (1976). An Austrian Scout writes, "Today in Austria we do not understand why the religious question was so importantb with early Scouting in our country. It never should have been a question of what religion someone had and it has not been since 1946. Today Muslim and Buddhist boys and girls or whatever reigion can become Scouts [Slanec]. Scouts by the 1970s had begun to wear jeans with Scout shirts.

Sources

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