Karl Renner (14 December 1870 – 31 December 1950) was an Austrian politician and jurist of the Social Democratic Workers' Party of Austria.
Biography[]
He was born in Moravia (then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire). Renner was always interested in politics. After the defeat in the World War and the dismemberment of the empire, the Republic of Austria emerged from the remnants of the western provinces, which brought together most of the territories with a majority of German culture. Renner was appointed the first chancellor of the republic, at the head of a coalition government with the conservative parties. Between 1920 and 1931 he was president of the Austrian Lower House. After the crushing of the party in February 1934, Renner was arrested and spent several months in prison. After his release he was banned from holding any political office. After the German annexation in March 1938, Renner was blackmailed into publishing his support for the annexation in exchange for the release of a Social Democratic colleague from concentration camps. He spent the war years in the Alpine village of Gloggnitz, without attracting the attention of the National Socialist authorities. After the Soviet occupation of Gloggnitz in the spring of 1945 Renner forms a coalition government with former democratic politicians thanks to Soviet cooperation. Shortly afterwards his government is recognized by the Western Allies. Elected president in December 1945, he served with talent until his death on December 31, 1950.