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From a Crown Land to a Federal Land |
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After the abdication of Emperor Karl, the German Austrian Republic was proclaimed on 12 November 1918 and since the federal constitutional law was passed in 1920, Austria has been organised according to republican, democratic, parliamentary and federalist principles. Women were allowed to vote for the first time on 6 April 1919 in Salzburg Land in the elections for the regional parliament according to the notion of the universal and equal right to vote. The constitution of Salzburg Land was concluded on 16 February 1921 and the coat of arms of the archdiocese as well as the former white and red colours of state were adopted. Under President Franz Rehrl (1922 to 1938) Salzburg started to overcome the collapse of the Danube Monarchy economic area but by 1933 the unemployment rate had risen to 32 per cent. At that time Rehrl was totally committed to promoting tourism. In 1920 the first performance of “Jedermann” (Everyman), the mystery play adapted by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, marked the beginning of the Salzburg Festival which still guarantees a flourishing economy in the city and land. The construction of sightseeing roads such as the Gaisberg in 1929 (Gaisbergstraße) or the Großglockner High Alpine Road (Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße) in 1935 also created work for many people. |
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