ID# 1916:
"Eugenics in Austria," Eugenics Review (vol. 26:4), highlighting the moderating influence of Catholicism on eugenic programs
Date:
1935
Pages: (1|2|3)
Source:
Cold Spring Harbor, ERO, Eugenical News, 26

&quote;Eugenics in Austria,&quote; Eugenics Review (vol. 26:4), highlighting the moderating influence of Catholicism on eugenic programs

Eugenics in Austria 261 11. Establishment of compensation funds for workers and employees within the corporative organizations. In connection with that meeting and to perpetuate its ideas a Union for the Protection of the Family ([italics]Verband "Familienschutz"[end italic]) was founded. There is also a plan to establish a "family museum"; but up to now only a Gregor Mendel memorial exhibition has been arranged at the natural history museum (1889-1934). 4. The Problem of Race Austria, like Central Europe in general, is a country of very mixed race. The bulk of the population is composed of brachycephalic types, the dinaric and the alpine race. The nordic admixture was estimated by H. F. K. Guenther at 30 to 35 per cent. (But that was before political relations between Germany and Austria had become so strained; to-day the estimate would probably be much lower!) The Mediterranean race forms only a very small element in the population. Race mixture is especially marked in Vienna, where there are more than 200,000 Jews, and about the third part of the remaining population is of Slav -- especially Czech - origin. The extreme "race theory," which is the foundation of the Nazi doctrine, is against the principles of the Roman Catholic Church. There are no laws in Austria tending towards a racial separation of "Aryans" and Jews. As Austria has no colonies, colour problems are of no importance. 5. Nazis and Marxists The attitude of the Austrian Nazis towards the problems of eugenics is of course exactly the same as that of their German comrades. They believe in the innate superiority of the nordic race and the inevitable bad results of race crossing. They approve of the racial policy of the Third Realm. The "nordic" type of eugenics is also advocated byt the Viennese Society for Race Culture ([italics]Weiner Gesellschaft f[umlaut over 'u']r Rassenpflege[end italics]). The Austrian Marxists have never been much interested in eugenical problems, environment and education occupying a far more prominent place in their philosophy of life. As a result of the desperate economic conditions, neo-malthusian ideas are very widely spread among the working classes. Before the events of February 1934 there were birth-control centers[sic] organized by the social-democrats in all the twenty-one districts of Vienna. These were all immediately dissolved by the government. In this connection it may be added, however, that "safe period calendars" can be seen in the window of every other bookshop in Vienna. They are sold freely, "safe period" intercourse being a method of birth-control approved by the Church. Unfortunately, it is not regarded as a safe method by the majority of gynaecologists. 6. Applied Eugenics Among the laws and administrative decrees of the "New Austria" only two are of eugenic importance: 1. The so-called "Law against Double Earning" ([italics]Doppelverdienergesetz[end italics]). One of its clauses decrees that female public servants must lose their position on marriage. The idea was, of course, to bring women back to their natural functions as housewives and mothers. The real result, however, has been that numerous young teachers and other qualified workers must remain unmarried, as the incomes now prevailing among men are simply not sufficient for maintaining a family. Even the catholic meeting mentioned above has raised objections against this truly dysgenic measure. 2. The marriage consultation centre[sic] of the Community of Vienna has been closed by the new administration. It was founded by Professor Tandler in 1922 as the first of its kind in Europe, and was the only one of any importance in Austria. In the twelve years of its existence it was consulted by nearly 5,000 persons. Eugenics Review, Vol. XXVI, No. 4. [end]

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