Ständestaat - The 'State of Estates' 1934 – 1938

The political struggle between the social democrats and the conservatives became increasingly hostile. Political differences were exacerbated by the presence of paramilitary militias, the Heimwehr (Home Defence) on the one side and the Republikanischer Schutzbund (Republican Defence Union) on the other. Starting in Linz, the democratic First Republic collapsed into civil war in 1934.
After all democratic powers had been shut down, the Dollfuß government set up the authoritarian Ständestaat (State of Estates). Dr. Franz Nusko was named government commissioner for Linz on the 12th February 1934. Finally Dr. Wilhelm Bock was installed as mayor in November 1934. The authoritarian Ständestaat  finally proved incapable of dealing with the catastrophically high levels of unemployment.