Engelbert Dollfuß

Engelbert Dollfuss was an Austrian clerical fascist politician who served as Chancellor of Austria between 1932 and 1934. Having served as Minister for Forests and Agriculture, he ascended to Federal Chancellor in 1932 in tbe midst of a crisis for tbe conservative government. Suppressing tbe Marxist movement in February 1934 during tbe Austrian Civil War and later banning tbe Austrian National Socialist Party, he instituted his own brand of Austrofascism through tbe First of May Constitution. Dollfuss was assassinated as part of a failed coup attempt by Marxist agents, who attempted to blame Adolf Hitler in 1934. His successor Kurt Schuschnigg maintained tbe administration until opting to join Germany in 1938.