Austria – Demonstration on February 12: Up the Red Banner of the Antifascist Struggle!
We hereby publish an unofficial translation of a report by Rote Fahne, Austria:
On February 12, a demonstration took place in Vienna on the occasion of the 91st anniversary of the February combats of 1934. Around 400 people lively participated in the campaign organized by the “Aliance February 12”.
The demonstration moved through the Viennese workers’ neighborhood of Meidling, which at that time was one of the central locations of the armed defense struggle against Austrofascism in the capital. The loud and combative demonstration attracted the interest of numerous residents and passers-by, some of which showed their support for the demonstration. It was pointed out in speeches places such as the Reumannhof: in the large community facility, 1934 armed clashes between workers on the one hand and paramilitaries, police and the army on the other lasted for hours. With good reason, speakers repeatedly drew attention to current developments, especially the attacks on democratic and social rights associated with the deepening crisis of capital.
On the other hand, the extensive lack of references to those current issues that have strongly promoted social disputes and contradictions last year was striking. However, many demonstrators expressed the decisive opposition to imperialist armament and militarization, or the genocide in Palestine, by slogans and placards. A combative mood developed, among other things, by slogans, which was directed against the hollowing out and depoliticization of antifascism (“Behind Fascism is Capital”), or also on teaching of the February combats: “The February combats already showed: struggle for revolution! “. The defense of neutrality was also often heard: “Against the war of the ruling – Restore neutrality!”
On the occasion of the 120th birthday of the anti-fascist and communist Erwin Puschmann (LINK), a poster printed by the “Rote Fahne” was carried within the demonstration.
The heroic anti-fascist defensive combats from 12th to 16th February 1934 is still an instructive and significant event for the democratic and revolutionary movement. They created an essential basis for the further course of the anti-fascist resistance in Austria, initially against Austrofascism and later against the occupation by Nazi fascism. Their reverberation went far beyond the borders of Austria and remains an unforgettable event within the experiences of the international workers movement.
