08/22 - 08/23
We had our sixth day of class on Thursday (08/22) morning. Prof. Stuart began with the events in Austria during the early twentieth century. The assassination of the Austrian imperial heir—Franz Ferdinand—culminated in Emperor Franz Joseph declaring war on Serbia in 1914, thereby starting WWI. Franz Joseph's sixty-eight-year reign ended with his death in 1916, preceding the short-lived reign of Charles I. With the defeat of Austria in 1918, Charles I would abdicate from the throne, which ended the centuries-long reign of the Habsburg dynasty.
Prof. Stuart elucidated that the Treaty of St. Germain formally dissolved the union of Austria-Hungary in 1919, resulting in the independent Austrian Republic. During the period of the Social Democratic control of the Austrian capital—known as Red Vienna—generous social programs helped to alleviate the devastating post-war conditions and improved the city's infrastructure, while those in the countryside suffered. In a time period where political tensions were heightened—with both major political parties developing militias—the takeover of Christian Social Chancellor Dollfuss in 1933 marked the beginning of Austrofascism. As the Austrofascists were anti-Nazi as they didn't want to be incorporated into Germany, Chancellor Dollfuss was assassinated during a 1934 Nazi coup attempt. With the Nazi invasion and occupation of Austria—the 1938 Anschluss—Hitler was welcomed with open arms to Vienna. Arson in the Reichstag allowed the Nazis to declare emergency powers and seize full control of the government. Within a month, the Dachau concentration camp was established.
Wanting to learn even more about Austrian history, I stopped at the Wein Museum after class with a couple other students. Within this multi-level museum, I was taught the concise history of Vienna—much of which I already knew from our classes and tours—but I also uncovered new facts that I didn't know. 1) The Boii—a Celtic tribe—inhabited the region of present-day Vienna before the Romans established the military support camp of Vindobona in the first century. 2) Mayor Karl Lueger not only appealed to the Viennese pubic through his antisemitic rhetoric, but also sought to entice Viennese women by portraying himself as an available bachelor in the early twentieth century. 3) During Red Vienna, the Social Democrats implemented extensive education reforms, including by expanding education for adults, especially the working class.
The exterior and interior of the Wein Museum.
I woke up early on Friday (08/23) morning in order to prepare for my train to Prague at 9:00. Taking Streetcar 5 to the Wien Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof station, I boarded the train with a couple other students. While I also dedicated much of the train ride towards working on my blog and essay, I also made sure to spend time admiring the beautiful Austrian and Czech lands. On the way to Prague, we passed expansive farmlands, scenic woodlands, and quaint small towns. After exiting our train and dropping off our bags at our hostel, we decided to explore the historic city.
Though a sizeably smaller city in comparison to Vienna, in my view, Prague gave off a similar vibe as the Austrian capital. It is a very walkable city and the buildings are similarly structured. Interestingly, during our walk around the city, we even encountered a monument dedicated to Emperor Francis II and I of Austria: the Kranner Fountain. Located at the Park of National Awakening, a park sign explained that this neo-gothic structure was erected between 1844 and 1846 by architect Josef Max. According to Nicholas Parsons' Vienna: A Cultural History, the reason why there is a Habsburg presence in Prague dates back to when the Habsburg family became heirs to the Bohemian and Hungarian thrones after the respective betrothals of two of Emperor Maximilian I’s grandchildren in the early sixteenth century.
The Kranner Fountain at the Park of National Awakening.
Crossing the famed Charles Bridge, we climbed a flight of stairs to arrive at Prague Castle, a baroque castle complex established in the ninth century. The castle served as an important seat of power for many Holy Roman Emperors over the last millennia, including a couple imperial Habsburgs. Notably, Rudolph II and Maria Theresia oversaw major reconstructions of the castle during their respective reigns. We then went to the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square. Ascending the clock tower, we were greeted with breathtaking views of the city below. To end off our first day in Prague, we ate dinner at the U Fleku brewery, allowing us to try some traditional Czech food and beers.
The Charles Bridge.
The front of the Prague Castle.
The exterior of the Astronomical Clock & the view from the top of the clocktower.
German Words of the Day: Rechnung (Bill) & Wunderschön (Beautiful)
Provided by: Transparent Language