Hans Rott (politician)

Hans Rott (born August 29, 1886 in Sangerberg , Austria-Hungary , † December 30, 1962 in Vienna ) was an Austrian politician ( CSP , VF ).

Life

Hans Rott attended elementary , civic and commercial school and in 1906 became a post office worker. In 1919 he was one of the founding members of the union of Christian post and telegraph workers , of which Rott was elected chairman in 1923. From 1925 he counted together with Leopold Kunschak to one of the most important members in the central commission of the Christian trade unions .

Also in 1919, Rott moved into the Lower Austrian state parliament as a Christian Social Member , to which, however, he only belonged for a few months, until 1920.

In October 1929, Rott was sworn in as a member of the Federal Council, an office which he held until May 1932. From 1934 to 1938 Rott sat on the Austrian Federal Economic Council.

From November 1936 until the Anschluss of Austria in March 1938, Rott was State Secretary in the cabinet of Federal Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg ; initially in the Federal Ministry for Social Administration and finally in the Federal Chancellery . As a federal politician, Rott tried to mediate between Christian and Social Democrats.

In 1938, Rott, who spoke out against National Socialism , was arrested. He was released after five months in prison. In 1939 he fled to France , where he gathered around the Ligue Autrichienne , a group of Austrians in exile. After the occupation of France by German troops, Rott fled to the USA via Spain , Portugal and Canada in 1940 . In New York City , from 1941 onwards, Rott tried in vain with his Free Austrian Movement to build an Austrian government in exile that would be accepted by the United States. In 1944 he founded the Christian Socialist Party of Austria , but a short-lived party.

In 1945, thanks to his good connections, Rott joined the Austrian Consulate General in New York. Here he was also appointed head of the Department of Organizations .

In 1960, after two decades abroad, Rott returned to Austria. He died two years later in Vienna.

Web links

• Hans Rott on the website of the Austrian Parliament