The Fighting on 12 February 1934

At 3.30 a.m. on 12 February 1934, a telephone girl in Linz overheard a curious conversation. A Mr Alois Jalkotzy from the 13th district of Vienna (telephone number R31–9–44) called a number in Linz and gave the following message: ‘Uncle Otto’s and Auntie’s condition will be decided tomorrow. The latter says wait. Don’t do anything for the time being.’ ¹ The girl recognised the voice at the other end of the line as being that of Richard Bernaschek, the party secretary of Upper Austria and leader of the local Schutzbund, a man well known for his militant views. ² It did not need much imagination to work out that ‘Uncle Otto’ was Otto Bauer, and that ‘Auntie’ was the Social Democratic Party. The girl, who obviously had little sympathy for the Social Democrats, and a strong sense of her obligations as a civil servant, decided to inform the police.