16. Braunauer Zeitgeschichte-Tage "Peacemakers Manual"
Egon Ranshofen-Wertheimer, 1894 Braunau - 1957 New York
Braunau am Inn, Kultur im Gugg, 28.- 30. September 2007

Österreicher im Exil USA 1938-1945. Eine Dokumentation. Band 2.
Herausgeber: Dokumentationsarchiv des österreichischen Widerstandes.
Einleitungen, Auswahl und Bearbeitung: Dr. Peter Eppel .
Österreichischer Bundesverlag, Wien 1995. S. 242 – 247.

Inhalt

V: Österreichische Exilpolitik in den USA

Dokumente

3. Aus: Streng vertrauliche, der Foreign Nationalities Branch des COI von Otto von Habsburg vorgelegte Liste politisch aktiver Österreicher in den USA, 14.4.1942

NA, Records of the OSS (COI), RG 226, Entry 100, Box 8 , Au-38

Adler, Friedrich
President of the Foreign Representation of the Austrian Socialists in the United States . (…) Administrator of the Matteot-Fund. Became publicly known in 1916 for assassinating the Austrian Prime Minister Stuergkh (…) Was later on Secretary of the Second International (…). Is one of the most radical Socialists. Has always been a strong supporter of the Pan-German party line, favoring the absorption ot Austria by Germany . (…)

Alexich, Georg von
(…) Was formerly Austrian Consul in Bratislava , later Chef de Cabinet of Prince Starhemberg and finally Austrian minister in Brussels and the Hague . His tendency was always Heimwehr. (…) He is unpopular partly because of lack of courage during the occupation of Austria , partly because of his unfriendly character and his tendency to create quarrel. His personal creed is today the restauration of monarchy in Austria . (…)

Prof. Dr . (Siegfried) Altmann
Outspoken Zionist, member of the Jacob Ehrlich Society. Liberal-Democrat with monarchist tendencies. Represents his group in the Austrian National Committee. (…)

Berger, Dr. Peter
Former Second Editor of the important Austrian newspaper “Wiener Tagblatt”. Catholic with monarchist tendency. Very patriotic. (…) Representative of the Free Austrian Movement for Maryland . (…)

Coudenhove-Kalergi, Count Richard
(…) Former President ot the Pan-Europe Movement in Vienna . (…) Works with the Columbia University in postwar questions. Count Coudenhove has only recently taken part in Austrian politics. His attempt to create a united front failed because of the refusal of Deutsch. (…)

Czernin, Count Edmund
(…) Although not directly interested in Austrian politics he is known as the Washington aide of Otto of Austria.

Czernin, Count Ferdinand
(…) Czernin has three brothers, of whom two have joined the Nazi movement. Ferdinand Czernin left Austria on account of private difficulties well before the German occupation. He lived the as a farmer and hunter in East Africa, came later to the USA , where he (…) was one of the founders of the Austrian Action and has remainded (…) its President. He is member of the Board ot the Austrian National Committee. Czernin is not a very strong personality, he seems to have not a very good judgement in politics. (…)

Degenfeld, Count Henry
Son of former Secretary of War of Austria-Hungary. (…) Degenfeld has been since a very long time principle aide of Otto of Austria and is still his chief aide in New York . (…) Since two months he is personal representative of Otto of Austria in New York where he is in charge of coordinating the Austrian work in the absence of Otto of Austria, who is now most of the time in Washington . (…)

Deutsch, Julius
Deutsch was during the last World War non-commissioned book-keeping officer in the Austrian Army (…). He played a prominent role in the socialist uprising of 1934 and was accused by members of his own party (…) of having fled the battlefield long before the decision was reached (…). Deutsch lived the in Czechoslovakia and went to Spain during the Spanish Civil War, that is where he was appointed general. Put in command of Malaga he lost that place within three days before the onslaught of Italian troops. (…)
Of all the Socialists Deutsch is probably the most moderate. His pro-German leanings can be explained by his Sudeto-German origin. He depends financially on the Matteoti-Fund. It seems improbable that he will ever have the courage of breaking with his party in order to unite with an united Austrian front. (…)

Eisler, Armand
Formerly a party lawyer of the Austrian Socialist Party with verly little prominence. (…) Specially disagreed with leadership on the German question where he always followed pro-Austrian lines. Is today leader of a small dissident socialistic group in New York City . (…)

Engel-Janosi, Friedrich
Professor. Noted Austrian historian. (…) Participated in the so-called Free Austrian National Council of Dr. Ploechl. Resigned from that group when he learned that it was built against the will of Otto of Austria. (…)

Engelsberg, Dr. Robert (richtig: Rudolf)
Formerly director ot the saltmines and financial adviser of the Government. Engelsberg is a very prominent Austrian Catholic with monarchist tendency (…) on the Pacific Coast . Has organized there the Free Austrian Movement (…).

Fischer, Father Cyril
Austrian Franciscan monk. Anti-Nazi fighter and author of many publications against Nazism. (…)

Friebeisz, Baron Hanno
Left Austria after having voted “No” at the so-called Hitler plebiscite. (…) Was one of the founders of the Austrian Action which organization he left when Count Czernin had made attempts to change the nonparty character of that organization. Is Vice-President of Free Austrian Movement and member of the Austrian National Committee. (…)

Friediger, Charles B.
Was member of the catholic Ostmaerkische Sturmscharen. Fled to Czechoslovakia where he was put in charge by Otto of Austria of certain underground contacts with the country. (…) Is collaborator in the catholic agency of Father Morlion. Is one of the founders of the Young Conservative Austrians. Is representative of his group in the Austrian National Committee. Friediger has never been very successful in his activities in the emigration. Perhaps because of his lack of political knowledge and training. But he has great personal courage and devotion to the cause.
He can be valuable for underground activities so long as he will have a capbable leader he likes. Is of monarchist tendency. (…)

Fuchs, Dr. Martin
Played a great role in the Austrian emigration politics in Paris . Earlier a close collaborator of Otto of Austria, Fuchs later changed to the other side. (…) Founded the group of Young Conservatives which he represents on the Board of the Austrian National Committee. (…) Fuchs is clever but lacks judgement. (…)

Gassner, Father Jerome
Benedictine monk. (…) Has participated in emigration politics by being a member of the ill-fated Free Austrian National Council of Dr. Ploechl. He is the last member besides Dr. Ploechl himself, who seems still to support that formula. Was for a certain time in charge of organizing the Free Austrian Movement in the Middle West , but hast relieved from hist duty. Gassner is an extremely nervous peson, with a certain lack of judgement. His views are often radical and that is why he is unpopular with the Austrians. (…)

Harand, Frank
(…) Harand has not the deep political judgement although his feelings are always rather violent. His habit of drinking too much and of inconsiderate statements while under the influence of alcohol have completely isolated him.

Harand, Irene
Wife of Captain Harand. Was well known in Austria as one of the most violent non-Jewish defenders of the Jewish race. She even overdid the thing to an extent, that her action was of certain harm to the Jewish cause. After coming to USA in 1938 she continued to play a role in the emigration politics being now a member of the Austrian Action. Mrs. Harand is extremely nervous. Lately she has spent several months in an asylum. It may be therefore assumed, that her political opinions are somewhat irrational and changing. (…)

Hildebrand, Dietrich v.
(…) Was always an outright catholic fighter against Nazism and Fascism. (…) Hildebrand is today Vice-President of the Free Austrian Movement and member of the Board of the Austrian National Committee. As such he played an important role in keeping up the good understanding between the different groups. Hildebrand is considered to be one of the closest collaborators of Otto of Austria. Undoubtedly he is one of the most valuable elements of the Austrian emigration.

Hoor, Dr. Ernst
(…) Was sent on a mission to the USA in 1939 and came again to this country after escaping from North Africa in 1941. Works now at Yale University . Is valuable as excellent jurist and expert on Danubian questions. Is member of the Austrian National Committee representing the Austrian Action. (…)

Kallir, Dr. Otto
Formerly one of the best artdealers in Vienna , (…) became later President of the Austrian-American League in New York . (…) There were many attacks on Dr. Kallir. It seems to be these attacks were not justified. Kallir is honest but had a very unsuccessful hand in politics. (…)

Koganowsky, Maximilian
Secretary of Otto of Austria (…)

Mayer-Morell (Franz)
Was formerly official of the Patriotic Front and publisher of the newspaper “Wiener Stadtstimmen”. (…) His political tendency is catholic. Is today Secretary of the Austrian National Committee. (…)

Oesterreicher, Dr. Johannes
Catholic priest. Was outstanding in Vienna for his work in Pauluswerk which aimed at the conversion of Jews. Is today in a parish in New York and looks after the spiritual welfare of the Austrians in New York City . (…)

Piekarsky, (Max)
Representative of the Austrian Zionists in the Austrian National Committee. (…)

Ploechl, Dr. Willibald
Former member of the monarchist movement in Austria (…). Was appointed reprensentative of the Free Austrian Movement in the USA . He used this position to declare himself Chancellor of a Free Austrian National Council. This attempt was condemned by all the Austrian political emigration, including Minister Hans Rott and Otto of Austria. Refused on October 16 th to resign his self-assumed position and was therefore excluded from the FAM. The character of his whole attempt was of extreme right character. Today Ploechl is completely isolated and has even socially no longer any contacts with Austrians. By his whole attitude and by the lack of loyalty which he showed at that occasion, he is today completely ostracized and undoubtedly the most unpopular of all the Austrians in the USA . (…)

Ranshofen-Wertheimer, Egon
(…) Has been elected to the Austrian National Committee and has been appointed permanent delegate in Washington . Ranshofen is undoubtedly a great expert on international law, diplomacy and League of Nations as well as on social questions. (…)

Rott, Hans
(…) Became Secretary of Labor in 1936 and was Minister of Labor at the invasion of Austria by Germany . (…) Went after the collapse of France to Canada , founded there the Free Austrian Movement. Came in October 1941 to the USA and is one of the presidents of the Austrian National Committee. Rott is collaborator of Otto of Austria. His tendency is democratic and catholic. (…)

Schuschnigg, Walter von
Is the cousin of the last Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg. Was Austrian Consul in Brazi (…). After the collapse of France he was appointed in Lisbon by Otto of Austria as special in charge of the refugee affairs. As such he helped all refugees without distinction of party or creed. (…)

Trauttmansdorff, Count Francis
Was formerly member of the catholic association Ostmaerkische Sturmscharen (…). In 1937 he became an aide and secretary to Otto of Austria whom he accompanied on the latter´s first trip to the United States . (…) Is member of the Austrian National Committee, reprensenting there the Young Conservatives. (…)

Werfel, Franz
Noted Austrian poet and writer. (…) He always been very active on behalf on Austria´s independence and is member of the Advisory Board of the Austrian National Committee. (…)

Winter, Dr. Ernst
Was first a monarchist with very radical views. Always very close to the Socialist Party. (…) Was first President of the organization Austrian Center (richtig: Austro-American Center ), became increasingly radical and approached more and more the Communist Party. His communist leanings brought a complete disintegration of the Austrian Center (richtig: Austro-American Center ). (…) Became again active in Austrian politics in 1941, when he tried vainly to coordinate all the non-monarchist groups in the united republican front. (…) Immediately after Pearl Harbor (…), Winter (…), in a letter sent to all the Austrian organizations (…) stated that he hat realized, that just becoming American, he could no longer participate in the politics of his homeland. (…)

Zernatto, Guido
(…) With Minister Rott President of the Austrian National Committee. (…) He was member of the last Schuschnigg-Cabinet (…). It is only since a few months that Zernatto entered actively Austrian politics by becoming the head of a group essentially composed of splinters of Austrian Center (richtig: Austro-American Center), Austrian Action and Young Conservatives. It was in this quality that he hat a leading part in the negotiations which ended in the creation of the Austrian National Committee.

Deutsche Zusammenfassung: Die vorliegende Liste enthält kurze biographische Hinweise auf das politische Denken sowie Handeln von insgesamt 86 Österreichern und einer Österreicherin (Irene Harand), die in den USA politisch aktiv waren. In vielen Fällen wird hiebei erwähnt, für welche österreichische Exilorganisation der Betreffende tätig war bzw. ist und ob er für Otto Habsburg arbeitete.