The Influence of Politics on the Development of Turnen , Mountaineering and Skiing in Western Austria.

Physical culture, sports and politics had a strong interrelation between 1848 and 1945. Political identities – in other words, political values and principles – of all political parties from the right to the left wing characterised the activities of sports clubs. The Turnvereine (gymnastics clubs), alpine clubs and ski clubs, which are presented in this paper, are only three examples of many. This paper is a local case study and focuses on these interrelations in western Austria, more precisely in Vorarlberg and the western parts of the Tyrol, especially the Arlberg region. The three types of sports are covered in chronological order of the foundation of their clubs: turnen (gymnastics), mountaineering and skiing. The description of the political influences on turnen and mountaineering during the nineteenth century helps to understand the development of skiing in the inter-war period and in the 1940s. The main focus is on skiing. Besides the political influences on skiing, this paper also describes the fates of the famous ski pioneer Hannes Schneider and his Jewish friend Rudolf Gomperz. This helps to examine the interweaving of sports and politics in western Austria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]