ABSTRACT
Once it became clear that the government was firmly in control of the situation, it also became obvious that the victory over the Social Democrats was not the universal panacea that Dollfuss had hoped. Schuschnigg as Minister of Justice argued strongly against showing any mercy to those who had been condemned to death by the courts martial, insisting that it was necessary to act swiftly and harshly against the ‘bestial’ Social Democrats who were thought to be responsible for such dreadful crimes as hacking wounded men to pieces in Styria. But on the other hand, even Schuschnigg had to admit that Austria could not ignore international public opinion, particularly the strong reactions in Britain and Switzerland, and agreed that martial law should be lifted as soon as possible and that some mercy would have to be shown. Thus from the very outset the government was painfully aware of the restraints placed on its anti-socialist policies. 1
