Johannes Schober

Johann Schober (November 14, 1874, Perg – August 19, 1932, Baden bei Wien) was an Austrian police officer who served three times as Chancellor of Austria (his initial term being interrupted by two days in office for Walter Breisky).

Schober served with the Austrian police becoming President in 1918 immediately prior to the fall of the Habsburg Monarchy. Schober maintained loyalty to Austria after the break up of Austria-Hungary but also ensured a safe passage for the royal family out of the country, winning praise for his moderation and his role in a smooth transfer of power into the bargain.^[1]

Largely considered a safe pair of hands by the Allies, he was chosen to head a coalition government in 1921 with the support of the Christian Social Party and the Pan-Germans.^[1] Combining his head of government role with that of Foreign Minister of Austria, he concluded the Treaty of Lány with Czechoslovakia, although this brought about the downfall of his government as the Pan-Germans saw agreements with Czechoslovakia as a bar to a future union with Germany.^[1]

Schrober gained international recognition for his work in police administration, becoming known as the "Father of Interpol". In his role as President of the Police in Vienna, Schrober convened, in 1923, the second International Criminal Police Congress in his home city, attracting representative from nineteen different countries to the event. At the meeting it was agreed that the participants should set up a body to be known as the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC), draw up a ten article constitution for the body and continue working towards the aims set down at the first congress that had been held in Monaco in 1914. Austira had offered to both host and finance the event and so Vienna was chosen as the congress site, whilst Austria's police enjoyed a strong reputation for their work on keeping records on international criminals at that time. Schorber was chosen as President of the Executive Committee whilst his countryman Dr Oskar Dressler, a noted lawyer and at the time the Austrian Federal Police chief, became Secretary to the International Police Congress.^[2]

With his governing coalition ended Schober returned to his role as President of police, although his reputation for moderation was hit hard in July 1927 when his orders resulted in the deaths of almost 100 labour protestors in Vienna.^[1] The noted satirist Karl Kraus was so incensed by the police actions that he started a poster campaign calling for Schober's resignation.^[3]

Schober returned as Chancellor-Foreign Minister from September 1929 to September 1930 and then Vice-Chancellor-Foreign Minister from December 1930 to January 1932, successively serving Carl Vaugoin, Otto Ender and Karl Buresch. In March 1931 he agreed a Customs union with Germany, although pressure from France and Czechoslovakia saw the plan vetoed.^[1]

• Johann Schober, Haager Konferenz Video on YouTube