Vienna Revolution 1848: Tragedy of the failed awakening!

Vienna Revolution 1848: Tragedy of the failed awakening!

The Historical Salon N°2 will take place on July 12, 2025 in the Sonnwendviertel in Vienna-Favoriten. Peter Lachnit and Wolfgang Maderthaner will speak this evening on the topic “Defile of the National Guard Am Hof”. This event is not only intended to bring the events of that time to life, but also to raise the question: Why did the revolution of 1848 ultimately fail? The bloody revenge of the Habsburgs and the discord between citizens and workers are seen as the main reasons. [Falter] reports that the counter-revolution won and thus the revolutionary experiment in Vienna ended in blood.

The “March Revolution,” which began in Vienna on March 13, 1848, was a turning point in the city's history. Citizens, students and workers loudly demanded improved living conditions, freedom of the press and a constitution. These unrest had its roots in a tense economic situation - failed harvests and rising food prices had triggered a wave of mass unemployment, as [HistoryWiki] explains. The impetus for the revolution came from Adolf Fischhof's impassioned speech, which was a reaction to the repeated oppression of the Habsburg regime. On March 15, 1848, the achievements of the revolution were announced.

The course of events

The period from March 13th to 16th, 1848 was marked by violent clashes on the streets of Vienna. Violence erupted as the military attempted to use gunfire to end protests, killing five people. These acts of violence aroused popular anger and led to looting and riots. It was the Civil Guard who refused to shoot at the demonstrators, further escalating the situation. From March 16, 1848, the bourgeois National Guard took control of Vienna, as [parlament.gv.at] notes.

Despite the initial successes, such as the abdication of State Chancellor Metternich and the formation of important military institutions, discontent soon set in. The demands for more rights and freedoms spread by Adolfs Fischhof led to the abolition of press censorship by Emperor Ferdinand I, but the political reality remained unsatisfactory. The first version of the Pillersdorsche constitution met with great rejection and was not accepted. This fueled more radical demands and contributed to the revolution ultimately failing to produce the hoped-for results.

Consequences and outlook

The March Revolution had far-reaching consequences. The call for a renewal of the political system grew among the bourgeoisie, while there was deep unease about social injustices among workers and craftsmen. The revolution did not remain isolated; it brought waves of new uprisings across Europe. Citizens formulated petitions and demands for a restructuring of the state. It was a time of buzz that presented this metropolis with many challenges that still have an impact.

The in-depth examination of these historical events at the Historical Salon N°2 will therefore be an important piece of the puzzle in order to understand how these events shaped Vienna and what lessons can be learned from them. It remains to be hoped that such events will continue to provide education and reflection today.