| Franz Langoth | |
|---|---|
| Born | Franz Langoth August 20, 1877 Linz |
| Died | April 17, 1953 (aged 75) |
| Citizenship | Austrian, German (1938-1945) |
| Known for | Politician and administrator |
| Notable works | Kampf um Österreich (1951) |
| Title | Mayor of Linz |
| Term | 1944-1945 |
| Predecessor | Leopold Sturma |
| Successor | Ernst Koref |
| Political party | Greater German People's Party, Nazi Party |
Franz Langoth (20 August 1877-17 April 1953) was an Austrian nationalist politician who later became a leading figure in the country's Nazi movement.
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A native of Linz, Langoth began his political career as a nationalist member of the Landtag of Upper Austria in 1909.[1] He became leader of the Greater German People's Party after the First World War, leading the party on a strongly anti-Semitic and racist course.[1] However whilst the party initially enjoyed a following it soon lost out to the Nazi Party and Langoth joined this group in 1933.[1] Under the Ständestaat Langoth established the Hilfswerk Langoth which provided welfare payments to Nazi activists and played an important role in ensuring the continuation of the Nazi movement.[2] Although the Nazi Party was banned in Austria after the attempted putsch of 1934 Kurt Schuschnigg allowed Langoth's group to be active due to his high standing.[3]
Langoth was a strong supporter of the Anschluss and he argued that "the election on 10 April 1938 in Austria had been an example of a true, democratic plebiscite and would be recorded as a pure and clean vote in future history".[4] Following the Anschluss Langoth became head of the Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt for Austria and the Upper Danube. He also served as a judge in the Volksgerichtshof where he passed 41 death sentences and obtained the rank of Brigadeführer in the Schutzstaffel.[5] Towards the end of the Second World War he also served as Mayor of Linz and as the Allies advanced Langoth sought out the Austrian resistance and negotiated with them the transfer of Linz to their administration.[6]
Langoth was arrested by the United States forces and interned at Glasenbach until 1947, although he surprisingly faced no charges under the Denazification process and was amnestied in 1950.[7] He became an advisor to the founders of the Federation of Independents and was an honourary member of the party.[8] His 1951 autobiography Kampf um Österreich was characterised by its continuing support for Nazism.[8]
In the post-war era Langoth was for some time considered a 'good' Nazi who bore no responsibility for the excesses of the regime, to the extent that in 1972 a street in Linz was renamed Langothstraße. The name continued in use until 1986 when the street was restored to its original name of Kaisergasse.[9]