Austrian Labor Party Österreichische Arbeiterpartei

On the initiative of insurance employee Franz Matzner and retired lieutenant colonel Karl Melzer, Viennese teacher Karl Polly founded the 'Austrian Workers' Party' on January 29, 1940. The aim was to organize the Austrian working class in the spirit of an Austrian social people's monarchy under Otto von Habsburg.

1. People's social monarchy on a democratic basis
2. Parliament with parties, rejection of state-denying parties (Communists, National Socialists)
3. Foundation of an Austrian workers' party, free of confessional and doctrinal education
4. Labor leaders only from working-class circles
5. Family wage
6. Pension with additional secondary settlement
7. Fair prices for farmers, elimination of harmful intermediate trade
8. General trade union, free of party formation
9. General employers' associations, also without party formation
10. Economic and wage policy issues are discussed between employers and trade union, mixed commission with equal voting rights, in case of disagreement state arbitration
11. Important economic and wage policy decisions come before parliament, trade union representation in parliament
12. Expansion of social rights (working time, (working hours, vacations, ban on child labor, free choice of workplace)
13. Youth education at school in the political sense (no party politics), sports education, only state youth associations
14. Religious education of young people at school by religious teachers and in religious associations
15. Freedom of religious confession
16. General and secret suffrage, voting age 24 years
17. Political leader and member of parliament can only be,
18. No military associations, uniform for military and police
19. Freedom of the press, criticism with counter-proposals and naming of names, no attacks on the state and religion, elimination of private press feuds
20. Free development of the cultural life of the working class in its own cultural associations, which have no party-political ties

The group had around 30 members. Disguised as bridge and chess evenings, the members met and discussed the political dimensions of their program. Karl Polly wrote the pamphlet 'The People's Social Monarchy on a Democratic Basis' as well as reports on the daily political situation.

In addition, they produced the leaflet 'What does the Führer give?

What is the Führer giving his people for their birthday?

Unfortunately, it's our dearly beloved Führer's birthday again.

His delighted people were allowed to give him a present. - Metal!

Since war - according to his word - already brings victory this year (Into the new year to victory!)

Why still metal??

What have we already had to give as a gift? 

Old newspapers (we preferred to give the nine as gifts)

Bones (including our own).

Rags and rags (the biggest could be given by the party).

Children (cannon fodder for the future)

Metal (To be able to shoot "his" children one day)

Money (because the wages are too high)

And what does he give us?

Does his peaceableness give us peace?

Does he give us the so often quoted freedom?

Does he give us the much talked about social rights?

Is he even giving us the "incredible" prosperity of the worker?

No, none of that!

What he gives us are:

War and murder and death,

Concentration camps,

Dissolution of businesses,

Closure of factories,

Starvation wages and slave labor.

The right to live (but how!)

The right to die (but for what!)

The right to sacrifice (but for what!)

Women, where are your men!!!

Mothers, where are your sons!!!

Down with the war!!!

Party comrades to the front!

Karl Polly established contacts with Hungarian legitimists. However, the group was betrayed and its members arrested by the Gestapo.

Members of the group included: