Republikanischer Schutzbund [SEP] inception
Republikanischer Schutzbund
The Republikanischer Schutzbund (, "Republican Protection League") was an Austrian paramilitary organization established in 1923 by the Social Democratic Party (SDAPÖ) to secure power in the face of rising political radicalization after World War I.
It had a Czech section associated with the Czechoslovak Social Democratic Workers Party in the Republic of Austria.
Origins & Development.
The Republikanischer Schutzbund was one of many paramilitary forces to organize after the fall of the Austria-Hungary Empire. This one in particular was a branch of the
Bauer's wing and reinforced the differences between the opposition Christian Social Party and the Social Democrats.
On 30 January 1927, members of the conservative "Heimwehr" shot at members of the "Republikanischer Schutzbund" in Schattendorf, resulting in two deaths. In the "Schattendorfer Urteil" trial that followed, the jury found the accused not guilty in July 1927. Members of the "Republikanischer Schutzbund", the SDAPÖ, and workers were outraged by this verdict and launched demonstrations on 15 July to protest. The mob vented its