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Figl during his second term as Landeshauptmann of Lower Austria

Leopold Figl (October 2, 1902 in Rust, Lower Austria, - May 9, 1965 in Vienna) was an Austrian politician of the ÖVP (Christian Democrats) and the first Federal Chancellor after the Second World War. He was also the youngest Federal Chancellor of Austria.

After graduation (Dipl.-Ing. of Agriculture at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna), he became vice chair of the Lower Austrian Bauernbund (Farmer's League) in 1931 and chairman in 1933.

After the authoritarian revolution of Engelbert Dollfuss, who had served as his mentor within the Farmer's League, Figl became member of the federal council of economic policy and became leader of the paramilitary organisation of Ostmärkische Sturmscharen for the state of Lower Austria.

After the "Anschluss", the Nazis deported Figl to Dachau concentration camp in 1938, from which he was released in May 1943. He then worked as an oil engineer, but in October 1944 Figl was rearrested and brought to Mauthausen concentration camp. In February 1945, he was sentenced to death for "high treason" in Vienna, but the death penalty was not carried out before the end of the war.

After the defeat of the Nazis, the Allies occupied Austria at the end of World War II. The Russian Military Commander asked Figl to manage the provision of food for the population of Vienna. On April 14, 1945, he refounded the Bauernbund and integrated it into the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), which was founded three days later. Figl was elected vice chair. On April 27 he became interim Governor of Lower Austria and vice-minister.

At the first free elections since 1934, held in December 1945, the ÖVP won an absolute majority. Leopold Figl was proposed as Chancellor; the Soviets agreed, because of his opposition to the Nazis and his managerial abilities. He was very popular, to which lots of jokes about home provide evidence, e.g. concerning "wine policy" with the USA and the "Russian bear". From 1945 until 1966 a grand coalition between his own party and the Socialists (SPÖ) was able to solve the serious economic and social problems of the devastated country. The USA's Marshall Plan was also a great help.

After internal criticism, Figl resigned as Chancellor on November 26, 1953. His successor Julius Raab was less flexible towards the SPÖ, but was Chancellor when the Austrian State Treaty, which granted full independence to the country, was signed on May 15, 1955. However, Figl was strongly involved in its achievement, as he remained in the government as foreign minister.

At the national elections of 1959 the SPÖ gained ground on the ÖVP, and the ratio of seats between the two parties in parliament was now almost 1:1. This gave the SPÖ the bargaining power to demand that Bruno Kreisky succeed him as foreign minister. Figl then became president of the National Council, but soon returned to Lower Austria, to become governor of his home state. He died 1965 in Vienna.

Chancellors of Austria

First Austrian Republic Karl Renner  • Michael Mayr  • Johann Schober  • Walter Breisky  • Johann Schober  • Ignaz Seipel  • Rudolf Ramek  • Ignaz Seipel  • Ernst Streeruwitz  • Johann Schober  • Karl Vaugoin  • Otto Ender  • Karl Buresch  • Engelbert Dollfuss  • Kurt Schuschnigg  • Arthur Seyss-Inquart Second Austrian Republic Karl Renner  • Leopold Figl  • Julius Raab  • Alfons Gorbach  • Josef Klaus  • Bruno Kreisky  • Fred Sinowatz  • Franz Vranitzky  • Viktor Klima  • Wolfgang Schüssel  • Alfred Gusenbauer