ČESKÉ ŠKOLY VE VÍDNI POD HÁKOVÝM KŘÍŽEM
CZECH SCHOOLS UNDER SWASTIKA

Summary/Abstract: An extraordinary positive development of the Czech school system in Austria ended in 1938 by annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany. Unlike many of the Austrian population, Czechs received the new political reality with fear. Parents started to put their children into German schools, which led to a major decrease in number of pupils at schools established by the School Association Komenský. Anti-Jewish legislation was put into practise in Austria and Jews – both teachers and students – were excluded from Komenský schools, soon afterwards, the teachers with Czechoslovak nationality followed. Although the Czech minority officially proclaimed loyalty to the regime, the Czechs were regarded with distrust, which was only increased by the fact that many men managed to avoid the military duty in Wehrmacht due to their Czech nationality. The exposure of Czech resistance groups in 1941 was of bigger importance; many of their members had attended the Komenský schools. The activities of the School Association Komenský was being limited after the annexation, the Association had to gradually transfer its school building to various other institutions. Since 1941, it was turned into a cultural association, in April 1942 completely disbanded. Until the end of war, only two public “schools for Czechs” remained, these were closed only after war when the renewed School Association Komenský opened its schooling facilities again.

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