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1. Contexts and Values
Waldheim’s life begins in the interim years (1918) of two World Wars, and for Austria
the dissolution of its empire and reduction of the state to ineffectiveness. His time of formation
to young adulthood would see a nation searching for its identity and stability amidst inter-party
rivalry, an economy in collapse with an uncoordinated coalition government reeling under
reparations debt, the rise of an indigenous Nazi party and a nationalist militia (the Heimwehr), an
end to parliamentary government (1933), an attempted coup, a civil war (1934) between
Christian Socialists and Social Democrats, growing fascist penetration efforts by both Mussolini
and Hitler, the assassination of its Chancellor (Engelbert Dollfuss), the debilitating national
debate over Anschluss (the annexation of Austria by Germany), and Germany’s invasion in 1938.
The city of Vienna would often become a pre-war testing ground for German policies against
Jews and other minorities with little resistance
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.
On account of the father’s (Walter) political associations with the Christian Social Party
(CSP), the fortunes of family life paralleled the national storms. Walter Waldheim was a teacher
before being promoted to School Administrator and ultimately Superintendent of Schools in
Tulln, the community where Kurt and his siblings grew up. The family was Roman Catholic
(staunchly so as described by some
8
), and Waldheim describes his attendance at Catholic Mass
even during the war years
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. The father’s involvements with the CSP, the more conservative
party of its day and aligned with the Roman Catholic Church, included meetings and public
speaking engagements. Walter politically supported Austrian nationalism and independence,
anti-Nazism, and resistance to plans for Anschluss, positions that would later lead to his arrest by
the Gestapo followed by the loss of his position and pension. Although supporting his father’s
political positions and participating in some meetings, Waldheim did not join any party.
Convention