The Paneuropean-Movement in the interwar-period

With the end of World War I Europe lost his hegemony in the world in favor of the United States of America and Russia. Many european intellectuals interpreted this situation as the political, economic and cultural fall of the old continent. One of them was the "old-Austrian" Count Richard Nicolas Coudenhove-Kalergi (1894-1972), who created "Paneurope" - an idea to unite the european democratic states. His idea counted to the few (pacifistic-) ideas who were discussed by very important european statesmen. Coudenhoves merit was well enough that he was the first man in the history of the idea of the "United States of Europe" who tried to realize this idea. He also recognized - more than the other intellectuals - that he need the support of the politicans, but also of the economic leaders, famous intellectuals and artists. The programm of "Paneurope" was written down in the same name bestseller of the year 1923. ,,Paneurope" contents first the political union of the european democratic states but without Great Britain because of it`s membership in the Commonwealth. Also Russia was not allowed to become a member of "Paneurope" till it`s internal political situation would change. The economic union would follow after the political. Coudenhove was convinced of the United Europe because of three points: 1) protection against a further war 2) protection against the world revolution of the communism 3) protection against the economic fall of Europe because of the growing economic America. At the end of the year 1924 Coudenhove founded the central bureau of his movement in the rooms of the Vienna Hofburg - supported by the Austrian chancellor Ignaz Seipel. Till Hiders entry the bureau had it`s place on this address. The first period of the movement belonged from 1922/23 till 1933. This time was characterized of the beginning and the first successes of the movement. She had it`s highlight in publishing the "Memorandum of the European Union", initiated by the French foreign minister Aristide Briand. Coudenhove tried till 1933 to realize the political union of Europe. His effort was stopped by Hitler becoming chancellor of the Reich in January 1933. After this the second period started till 1938. Coudenhove wanted to realize an economic united (Danube-) Europe. He was well supported by the Austrian chancellor Engelbert Dollfuß. The struggle against Nationalsocialism united the two men. After DolIfuß death "Paneurope" was supported by the new chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg. After Hitlers marching in - March 1938 - Coudenhove and his family must flee to Switzerland. The central bureau was occupied by Hitlers men. This was the end of Coudenhoves "Paneurope" in Austria and finally in Europe. The aim of this project is a systematical presentation of the "Paneuropean movement" in the interwar period under consideration of the not as yet researched documents of the Moskower Archives. In a next step the proposer will try to consider the European policy of the Austrian government. Last but not least -after the empirical presentation - will follow the theoretical about the question "European identity".