Franz Olah
Encyclopedia
Franz Olah was an Austria
n politician
who served as the country's Interior Minister
from 1963 until 1964 as a member of the Social Democratic Party
(SPÖ).
Olah was born on March 13, 1910, in Vienna
. He attended school in Budapest for three years. Olah returned to his native Vienna from Budapest where he learned to build piano
s. He also began developing ties with Austrian trade unions and the Social Democratic Party of Austria
during this period of his life.
Olah found himself in trouble with the police during the 1930s. In 1938, Austria lost its independence and was annexed by Nazi Germany
during the Anschluss
, which brought the rule of Adolf Hitler
and the Nazis. Olah was arrested by the Nazis following the Anschluss and deported on the very first train to transport Austrian prisoners to the Dachau concentration camp in 1938. He was transferred as a prisoner to several German concentration camps throughout World War II
. Olah was finally freed shortly before the end of World War II.
Olah was elected as a member of the Austrian Parliament
in 1948. He served as second president (Zweite Präsident) of its lower house, the National Council
, from 1959 until 1961. He next served as the Austrian Interior Minister
from 1963 until 1964.
Olah opposed a series of strikes by Communists in the Soviet occupied portions of Austria in 1950. He considered the strikes to be a violent threat to Austria's political system.
Olah resigned from the Social Democratic Party
(SPÖ) in 1964. He was also caught in a financial scandal during this time period.
He founded the now defunct Democratic Progressive Party (Demokratische Fortschrittliche Partei) in 1965. The party garnered more than 3% of the vote in the 1966 Austrian legislative election
, but failed to win any seats in Parliament. In 1969, the Democratic Progressive Party won three seats on the Vienna city council
.
Franz Olah died on September 4, 2009, at provincial hospital in Baden bei Wien
, Austria, at the age of 99. He had been hospitalized in the days preceding his death.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as the country's Interior Minister
Federal Ministry for the Interior (Austria)
The Federal Ministry for the Interior is a ministry of the Austrian federal government.It has offices in the Palais Modena. The current head of the ministry is minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner....
from 1963 until 1964 as a member of the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party of Austria
The Social Democratic Party of Austria is one of the oldest political parties in Austria. The SPÖ is one of the two major parties in Austria, and has ties to trade unions and the Austrian Chamber of Labour. The SPÖ is among the few mainstream European social-democratic parties that have preserved...
(SPÖ).
Olah was born on March 13, 1910, in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. He attended school in Budapest for three years. Olah returned to his native Vienna from Budapest where he learned to build piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
s. He also began developing ties with Austrian trade unions and the Social Democratic Party of Austria
Social Democratic Party of Austria
The Social Democratic Party of Austria is one of the oldest political parties in Austria. The SPÖ is one of the two major parties in Austria, and has ties to trade unions and the Austrian Chamber of Labour. The SPÖ is among the few mainstream European social-democratic parties that have preserved...
during this period of his life.
Olah found himself in trouble with the police during the 1930s. In 1938, Austria lost its independence and was annexed by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
during the Anschluss
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
, which brought the rule of Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
and the Nazis. Olah was arrested by the Nazis following the Anschluss and deported on the very first train to transport Austrian prisoners to the Dachau concentration camp in 1938. He was transferred as a prisoner to several German concentration camps throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Olah was finally freed shortly before the end of World War II.
Olah was elected as a member of the Austrian Parliament
Parliament of Austria
In the Parliament of Austria is vested the legislative power of the Republic of Austria. The institution consists of two chambers,* the National Council and* the Federal Council ....
in 1948. He served as second president (Zweite Präsident) of its lower house, the National Council
National Council of Austria
The National Council is one of the two houses of the Austrian parliament. According to the constitution, the National Council and the complementary Federal Council are peers...
, from 1959 until 1961. He next served as the Austrian Interior Minister
Federal Ministry for the Interior (Austria)
The Federal Ministry for the Interior is a ministry of the Austrian federal government.It has offices in the Palais Modena. The current head of the ministry is minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner....
from 1963 until 1964.
Olah opposed a series of strikes by Communists in the Soviet occupied portions of Austria in 1950. He considered the strikes to be a violent threat to Austria's political system.
Olah resigned from the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party of Austria
The Social Democratic Party of Austria is one of the oldest political parties in Austria. The SPÖ is one of the two major parties in Austria, and has ties to trade unions and the Austrian Chamber of Labour. The SPÖ is among the few mainstream European social-democratic parties that have preserved...
(SPÖ) in 1964. He was also caught in a financial scandal during this time period.
He founded the now defunct Democratic Progressive Party (Demokratische Fortschrittliche Partei) in 1965. The party garnered more than 3% of the vote in the 1966 Austrian legislative election
Austrian legislative election, 1966
Parliamentary elections were held in Austria on 6 March 1966. The result was a victory for the Austrian People's Party, which won 85 of the 165 seats, allowing them to govern alone. Voter turnout was 93.8%.-Results:...
, but failed to win any seats in Parliament. In 1969, the Democratic Progressive Party won three seats on the Vienna city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
.
Franz Olah died on September 4, 2009, at provincial hospital in Baden bei Wien
Baden bei Wien
-Points of interest:The town offers several parks and a picturesque surrounding, of which the most frequented is the Helenental valley. Not far from Baden, the valley is crossed by a widespread aqueduct of the Vienna waterworks...
, Austria, at the age of 99. He had been hospitalized in the days preceding his death.