Abstract (eng)
The topic of this paper is the history of the Viennese Tramway (Gemeinde Wien – städtische Straßenbahnen) between 1903, the founding year of the company, and 1938, the year of the occupation of Austria by the national socialists. The 19th century was the beginning of the history of the tramway in Vienna. The Vienna tramway network has been in operation since 1868. In 1903 the private tramway companies were municipalised. The history of the Gemeinde Wien – städtische Straßenbahnen will be chronologically explained. The accounts of the financial conditions of the years from 1903 to 1938 are the basis for this diploma. Furthermore, the foundation of the company, World War I, the global economic crisis of the late 1920s and the early 1930s, the Austrian Civil War in the year 1934 and the occupation of Austria by the national socialists will be explained in this paper. There are files of the Gemeinde Wien – städtische Stellwagenunternehmung – which was founded in 1908 and directly subordinated to the Gemeinde Wien – städtische Straßenbahnen – which reflect the situation of the company between 1914 and 1916, the years of World War I, describing the situation of the company and its employees. The last chapter of this paper will deal with the prosecution of Jewish employees shortly after the occupation of Austria by the national socialists. Within the company they were dismissed or forced to retire.