Austro-Fascism: First problems arise for Engleitner

bike, 1930s
A bike like the one that Leopold Engleitner used on his preaching journeys in the 1930s.

In 1932 Engleitner lost his job. Only a short time later, he was told that since the Austrian state did not want to support sects in any way, he was no longer entitled to unemployment benefits. This was in direct violation of the Treaty of Saint Germain, which stipulated in Section V, Articles 62 and 63 that Austria was obligated to guarantee all inhabitants of Austria the right to the free exercise of any religion.


Although he was limited financially, Engleitner took up an extensive preaching activity in a wide area of Upper Austria, Salzburg and Styria. During the period of Austrian fascism from 1934 to 1938, Engleitner was thrown into prison four times because of these activities.

Time spent in prison from 1934 to 1938 :

Time Place
Spring 1934 (48 hours custody) Bad Ischl prison
Winter 1934/35 (48 hours custody) Bad Ischl prison
January 5, 1936 to March 30, 1936 Imprisonment in St. Gilgen and Salzburg
September 19, 1937 to October 14, 1937 Detained in the Bad Aussee prison