Karl Renner (1870-1950)
Federal President from 1945 until 1950
Karl Renner was born in Unter-Tannowitz, Moravia (now Czech Republic). As a young legal graduate, he joined the Social Democratic movement. He became a clerk to the Austrian Parliament and in 1907 a Member of Parliament. After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he was appointed head of what was called the “State Chancellery” in October 1918, and as such was de facto Head of Government until June 1920. During that period, he also led the Austrian delegation to the peace talks at St.Ger main. From 1930 to 1933, he was Speaker of the National Assembly. In 1934, he was briefly detained.In 1938, he supported Austria’s “Anschluss” to Nazi Germany. In 1945, the Soviet occupying forces asked Renner to form a provisional government and on 20 December 1945 the Federal Assembly chose him to be the first Federal President of the reborn (“Second”) Republic; he remained President until his death on 31 December 1950.
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