Proclamation of the Republic 1918: A Democratic State Emerges
A crucial change occurred in 1918. The First World War ended, and the Habsburg Monarchy was replaced by a number of new states—one of which was the democratic republic of German Austria.
The film footage on the screen is from 12 November 1918. It shows a crowd of people gathering in front of the Parliament on Vienna’s Ringstrasse. The people came to witness the proclamation of the Republic, or to demonstrate for what they imagined a new political system should be.
The parliament and political parties had already existed under the Monarchy. Their influence on decision-making processes, however, was limited. Now, a radical political change was about to take place.
Representatives from all the parties of the former Parliament had come together and—despite their different visions—agreed to establish a new state in the form of a democratic republic. On 11 November the Emperor had abdicated.
On 12 November, the three presidents of Parliament publicly declared the instatement of the new Democratic Republic. The power to decide on the country’s affairs now rested with the Parliament, which was to be elected by all—women could also vote from now on.
In front of the monitor on the table, you can follow the events in the fall of 1918 that came thick and fast—from the establishment of a temporary National Assembly on 21 October to the proclamation of the Republic on 12 November.
The history of democracy in Austria did not, however, only begin in the fall of 1918. At the next station we will take a look at what came before.