Kurt von Schuschnigg

Kurt von Schuschnigg (1897-1977), Chancellor of Austria (1934-1938), born in Riva. He was elected to the Austrian parliament as a Christian Socialist in 1927 and was minister of justice (1932-1934) in the right-wing authoritarian government of Engelbert Dollfuss. As Chancellor he tried unsuccessfully to resist the growing power of the Austrian Nazis and increasing pressure from Adolf Hitler for an Anschluss (union) with Nazi Germany. His planned referendum on the Anschluss question was forestalled by Germany's invasion in March 1938. Imprisoned by the Nazis, Schuschnigg was freed at the end of World War II. He then emigrated to the United States, where he taught at St Louis University until his retirement in 1968, after which he returned to Austria.