Volkspolitisches Referat

Volkspolitisches Referat, political organisation founded on 17 June, 1937 within the framework of the Fatherland Front. The organisation, headed by W. Pembauer, operated from Innsbruck and sought to bring the "strongly nationally-minded", i. e the opposition, closer to the Fatherland Front. From among its members, the lawyer A. Seyß-Inquart was appointed to the "Staatsrat" (federal council of state) in order to "appease national circles". Following the conclusion of the "Berchtesgaden Agreement" on 12 February, 1938, the integration of National Socialists into the organisation (the Hitler Youth became part of the Jungvolk, the Storm Troopers (SA) were accepted as members of gymnastics associations) marked the end of the resistance on the part of the Corporate State against National Socialism and enabled Nazis to gain control over state institutions through which they were able to assert considerable power.

Literature: W. Rosar, Deutsche Gemeinschaft, Seyß-Inquart und der Anschluß, 1971; Anschluß, symposium Vienna 14/15 March, 1978, in: Veröffentlichungen des T.-Körner-Stiftungsfonds und des L.-Kunschak-Preises zur Erforschung der Geschichte Österr. der Jahre 1918-38, vol. 7, 1981.