 |
1911, 22. January
Born in Vienna-Margareten (5th District, Vienna), Schönbrunner Straße
122.
| Family: Father Max Kreisky, 1876-1944, General Director of the Austrian Wool Industry, AG and Textile, AG (Österreichischen Wollindustrie AG und Textil AG), censor for the Austrian National Bank, member of the Central Association for Business Employees (Zentralvereins der kaufmännischen Angestellten), emigrated in 1942, head of a textile factory in Sweden. Mother, maiden name Felix, 1885-1969. Grandfather Felix, industrialist from Mähren (today Czech Republic). Many of his forefathers were doctors. Grandfather Kreisky was a head teacher; a great-uncle, Josef Neuwirth, was representative in the Austro-Hungarian Empire Reichsrat. Bother parents were of Jewish descent. His brother Paul Kreisky, born 1909, emigrated illegally to what is now Israel. |
 |
|
|
|
Irene Kreisky (maiden name Felix)
|
1916, September
Begins his studies at the Volksschule in Vienna-Mariahilf (6th District
in Vienna)
1921 - 1929
Attends highschool
1924, 7. November
Takes part in a highschool students’ demonstration in front of the
Vienna School Superintendent’s building in response to a student’s
suicide.
1925
Becomes a member of the Union of Socialist Highchool Students (Verband
Sozialistischer Mittelschüler). This organization doesn’t appeal
to him. ("Discussion for the sake of discussion").
 |
1927 1929 |
|
Excursion to the countryside (Bruno Kreisky with Ball) |
 |
1929, Fall
Begins studying law at the University of Vienna at the suggestion of Otto
Bauer, who Kreisky met in these years: “The Party needs good lawyers.”
Originally Kreisky wanted to study medicine.
1930
Kreisky becomes chairman of a Lower Austrian regional organization (Purkersdorf,
Klosterneuburg and Tulln) of the Young Socialist Workers.
1933
Kreisky becomes chairman of the SAJ’s "Reichsbildungsausschuss"
and takes over the responsibility of the educational and cultural work
of the organization.
1934, 12. February
Kreisky and Franz Olah (a functionary of the Gewerkschaftsjugend) copy
and distribute the party committee’s appeal for resistance against
the dictatorial Austro-Fascism.
1934, 18. February
After the Social Democratic Workers’ Party is banned, the former
functionaries of the youth movement meet in the Vienna woods. The illegal
youth organization “Revolutionary Socialist Youth” is founded
under the leadership of Bruno Kreisky and his best friend Roman Felleis.
1934, 1. March
As a representative of the illegal party, Kreisky travels for the first
time to Brünn (Brno) to meet with Otto Bauer (Kreisky used the following
aliases: Rainer, Braun, Brand and Pichler).
1934, December
Keynote speaker at the second conference of the illegal Socialist Youth
movement in Mährisch-Trübau (Moravská-Toebová);
ideological discussion on communism.
1934, 30. December - 1935, 1. January
Participant in the first conference of the Revolutionary Socialists in
Brünn.
1935, Ende January
Kreisky travels to Brünn to inform Otto Bauer about the wave of arrests
in Vienna.
|
|
| 1935, 30. January Kreisky is arrested at his parents’ apartment in Vienna. At the same time Franz Jonas, Otto Probst, Stefan Wirlandner, Anton Proksch, Theodor Grill, Josef Kratky and others were also imprisoned. |
 |
|
1935 police photo of Bruno Kreisky |
1936, 16. March
Beginning of the proceedings against Kreisky and his associates before
a jury at the Vienna criminal court. Kreisky’s defense speech is
echoed in the international arena.
1936, 24. March
After being held by the police for four months and after one year detention
on remand: one year imprisonment for high treason.
1936, 3. June
Kreisky is released and is banned from all Austrian institutions of higher
education.
1936 - 1938
After his release, continues illegal activities. Meetings with the leader
of the Revolutionary Socialists Joseph Buttinger.
1938
Allowed to continue his studies.
1938, 14. March
After German troops enter Austria, the Gestapo appears in Kreisky’s
apartment while he was taking the last exam at the University of Vienna.
1938, 15. March
Kreisky is taken into protective custody. He is held first in the Landesgericht
(Lg.) II, than in a prison at Karajangasse in the 20th district in Vienna
and later in Gefangenenhaus (Lg. I.)
1938, August
Kreisky is released on the condition that he leave the country. He submits
a request for emigration to Bolivia. The head of the Swedish Young Socialists
and later Foreign Minister Torsten Nilsson invites Kreisky to Sweden.
|
|
|
1938, 21. September |
 |
|
Bruno Kreisky in Sweden |
1939, 30. July - 2. August
Congress of the International Socialist Youth in Lille, France. Kreisky,
alias Pichler, defends Austrian Social Democracy and argues against communist
influence under the Spaniard Santiago Carrillo, who later became General
Secretary of the Spanish Communist Party.
1940
Kreisky meets with Willy Brandt for the first time in Sweden. The two
begin a lifelong friendship.
1941
Foreman of the Austrian Socialist Club in Sweden.
 |
1942, 23. April Kreisky is married to Vera Fürth, who comes from a family of industrialists. |
|
Bruno and Vera Kreisky |
1942
Kreisky pushes through the right of asylum for Austrian soldiers fleeing
to Sweden to escape German military service.
1943, Summer
Kreisky develops a declaration, afterwards the Austrian Socialists in
Sweden meet in London to discuss the reestablishment of an independent
Austria and the calling of Austrian National Congresses from all countries.
1943, 13. December
In a resolution, the Austrian Social Democrats welcome the Moscow Declaration
on an independent Austria.
1944, 28. February
A resolution written by Kreisky on the calling of an Austrian National
Congress is presented for further consideration to the Allied diplomatic
representatives by the Stockholm Emigration Group (consisting of four
socialists, two communists and the Consulate General Carl Buchberger.)
1944, 8. May
Kreisky’s son Peter is born.
1944, June
Kreisky is elected foreman of the Austrian Union in Sweden ("österreichische
Vereinigung in Schweden" (ÖVS)).
1944, 8. June
Kreisky’s father Max Kreisky dies.
1945
Ernst Lemberger arrives in Sweden as the Austrian Socialist Party’s
(SPÖ) representative. Kreisky arranges the visit as well as a meeting
with Swedish President Per Albin Hansson.
|
|
1945, 23. October
Kreisky is commissioned by the Swedish Interior and Social Ministries to establish connections with Austria for the Swedish aid society (Hilfswerk) to facilitate the transport of medicine, dried milk and groceries for thousands of Austrian children as well as equipment from the Swedish marines for the Vienna fire department.
1946, May
The French occupation powers permit Kreisky’s return to Austria. After eight years, Kreisky returns to his homeland.
1947, February
Kreisky is assigned to the Austrian consulate in Stockholm (under Consulate General Paul Winterstein).
1948, 14. April
Birth of daughter Suzanne.
1951, 2. January
Kreisky finally returns to Vienna. He works as a Legationsrat 3rd class in the economic-political section of the Chancellor’s Office for Foreign Affairs. Undertakes political work as sub-cashier in the SPÖ in Vienna-Hernals under District Chairman Franz Olah.
1951, 22. June
President Theodor Körner entrusts Kreisky with the functions of Cabinet Vice Director and political advisor.
|
1953, 2. April
Kreisky becomes State Secretary in the Chancellor’s Office for Foreign Affairs.
1955, 12. - 15. April
Member of the Austrian delegation for State Treaty negotiations in Moscow.
1956, 13. May
In the Austrian national elections, Kreisky is nominated as Oskar Helmer’s successor in Lower Austria and is elected as a representative in St. Pölten.
1956, 26. - 28. November
At a SPÖ party congress, Kreisky is elected to the party executive committee.
1957
Kreisky, Bruno Pittermann, Felix Slavik and Franz Olah, belong to the party executive and form the leadership committee of the SPÖ.
1959
Kreisky becomes deputy party chair.
1959, 16. July
Kreisky becomes Foreign Minister in Raab’s third cabinet and pushes for the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as its own department. (Until now, the agenda of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was part of the Chancellor’s office.)
1962, 1. - 7. July
Kreisky convenes the “Conference for Economic Cooperation” (Salzburg/Vienna). The conference, attended by politicians from 36 industrial and developing nations as well as Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, concludes the “Vienna Declaration” and is the first time Kreisky presents his Marshall Plan for the Third World.
1963
In a publication of the economic publishing firm "Die Herausforderung," Kreisky develops a plan analogous to the Marshall Plan for the economic reconstruction of developing countries. In this plan, the building up of an infrastructure using aid from industrialized nations is a priority.
1963, 27. March
After the Austrian People Party’s (ÖVP) election victory in November 1962, Kreisky was supposed to leave the government according to the ÖVP’s wishes. After long negotiations in which SPÖ negotiators, particularly Franz Olah, supported Kreisky, Kreisky is re-appointed Foreign Minister.
1966, 6. March
The ÖVP receives an absolute majority in the national elections and decides to govern alone.
1966, 5, June
Kreisky becomes party chair of the SPÖ in Lower Austria.
1967, 1. February
With 32 out of 54 votes, the newly elected SPÖ party leadership nominates Kreisky as party chair at the party congress. Kreisky is
elected as Bruno Pittermann’s successor with 347 out of 497 votes.
|
|
1974, 12. - 15. February
The SPÖ’s age clause, which required giving up political activity
after the age of 66, is abandoned at the party congress.
1974, 23. June
The SPÖ’s independent candidate Dr. Rudolf Kirchschläger
is elected president after Kreisky recommends his nomination.
1975, 14. April
The International Rescue Committee (an independent U.S. aid organization
for refugees) awards Kreisky the Freedom Award for personal achievement
in aid to refugees.
1975, 5. October
Kreisky is elected to the Austrian Nationalrat under the slogan “Kreisky—who
else?” giving the SPÖ a larger majority.
1975, 28. October
Formation of Kreisky’s 3rd cabinet.
1976, January
On the occasion of his 65th birthday, Kreisky is named a honorary citizen
of the city of Vienna.
1976, October
The Bruno Kreisky Foundation for Achievements in Human Rights Work is
founded on the occasion of Kreisky’s 65th birthday. Every two years,
an international jury honors prize recipients for their meritorious work
in human rights.
1976, 26. - 28. November
The 13th Congress of International Socialism takes place in Geneva: Willy
Brandt is elected president and Kreisky is elected vice president.
1978, 5. November
In spite of Kreisky’s campaign for the peaceful use of atomic energy,
the majority of the population in a referendum votes against starting
up an atomic energy plan in Zwentendorf (Lower Austria.)
1978, 15. December
An anti-nuclear law prohibits the use of nuclear energy in Austria.
1979, 6. May
The SPÖ receives an absolute majority for the third time in the Austrian
Nationalrat with 51.3% of the vote.
|
|
| 1979, 5. June Formation of Kreisky’s 4th cabinet. |
 |
1981, 6. January
Kreisky, along with Konstantinos Karamanlis, is named “Politician
of the Year, 1980” by a committee of politicians, artists and academics
in Paris.
1981, 22. January
Changes in the government: Minister of Finance and Vice Chancellor Hannes
Androsch leaves; Minister of Health Herbert Salcher becomes Minister of
Finance, Minister of Education Fred Sinowatz becomes Vice Chancellor;
Kurt Steyrer and Hans Seidel enter the new government as Minister of Health
and State Secretary in the Ministry of Finance.
 |
Bruno Kreisky and Juan Carlos I. in the 1980s on the coast of Mallorcas |
|
|
1981, 22. - 24. May
SPÖ party conference in Graz, Styria with the motto “Austria
must stay ahead.” Kreisky is reelected with 98% of the vote.
1982, 5. May
A council of doctors gives the “green light” for Kreisky’s
candidacy in the 1983 Nationalrat elections.
1982, 21. May
Kreisky finally decides to run in the parliamentary elections under the
condition that Anton Benya, first Nationalrat president and president
of the ÖGB, remain in office and that he, Kreisky, be given a free
hand in forming the future new government.
1982, 13. June
Kreisky receives the peace prize from the newspaper “Arbeitet”
(one of the strongest social democratic newspapers in Sweden) in Malmö,
Sweden. In his acceptance speech, he appeals to the youth of Israel to
enter into peace.
1982, 27. - 29. October
At a SPÖ party congress at the Vienna Stadthalle, Kreisky characterizes
the developments in Austria in the 1970s as a “true revolution without
tears.”
1982, 29. October
Kreisky is reelected as leader of the SPÖ, a position he has held
for 15 years, with 484 out of 489 votes.
1982, 14. December
During a press conference after a Council of Ministers meeting, Kreisky
reaffirms that he would not serve as chancellor in a coalition government
that would be formed after the 1983 national elections.
1982, 28. December
Through Kreisky’s intervention, representatives from Israel and the
PLO meet in Vienna to negotiate the exchange of prisoners.
1983, 19. March
After an election event in Graz, Kreisky declares that he could see a
SPÖ minority government under his chancellorship if the party did
not receive an absolute majority.
|
|
1983, 20. April
After doubts about his health (Kreisky was a dialysis patient) a medical experts’ report affirms that “since summer 1982” his health has “improved significantly” and that he is in a position to carry out his professional duties “without restrictions.”
1983, 24. April
The SPÖ loses five seats in Parliament in the national elections and, as a result, its absolute majority. Kreisky gives up trying to build a government and suggests Fred Sinowatz as his successor. In the fall, he gives up the leadership of the SPÖ.
1983, 28. October
Kreisky is named honorary chairman of the SPÖ.
1983, 21. November
Kreisky receives the Nehru Prize for International Understanding, which he accepts in person in New Dehli on 11.1.1985.
1984
The Bruno Kreisky Archives Foundation is founded in 1984 by Kreisky’s friend Karl Kahane with the goal of the comprehensive protection, indexing and analysis of the written documents as well as of pictorial and audiovisual sources from Kreisky’s time as a politician, diplomat and statesman since the 1930s. The Archive’s collection is expanded further through documents on Kreisky from foreign archives as well as additional donations.
1984, 24. April
Kreisky undergoes a kidney transplant at the Hannover Medical School.
1987, 15.January
Kreisky resigns from his position of honorary chair of the SPÖ as well as from all other remaining public functions, including the presidency of the Renner-Institute and the Institute for International Politics. Strong differences between Kreisky and the SPÖ-leadership over the coalition agreement with the ÖVP (loss of the Foreign Ministry) are seen as the reason.
1987, 3. November
Kreisky receives the "Donauland-Sachbuchpreis" for the successful first volume of his memoirs (over 70,000 copies sold.)
1988, 14. March
Kreisky receives the University of Vienna’s Golden Doctorate.
1988, 17. August
Presentation of the Swedish edition of the first volume of his memoirs in conjunction with the Scandinavian Book Conference in Göteborg.
1988, 28. October
President a. D. Rudolf Kirchschläger presents the second volume of Kreisky’s memoirs entitled "Im Strom der Politik" (Siedler/Kremayr & Scheriau).
1988, 5. December
Bruno Kreisky’s wife Vera dies unexpectedly in Vienna.
1989, 10. April
Presentation at the Vienna Arbeiterkammer of the Kreisky Commission’s report “Twenty Million Seek Employment.
1989, 21. June
Bruno Kreisky receives the KF-Hanson-Medal in Saltsjöbaden (Sweden).
1989, 22. June
Kreisky resigns his position of vice president at the closing session of the International Socialist Congress.
1989, 7. December
Bruno Kreisky receives the Martin Luther King Foundation’s peace prices at the UNO-City in Vienna.
|
|
 |
1990, 29. July |
1991, May
The Bruno Kreisky Forum
for International Dialog is founded by friends and family of the deceased
former chancellor. The purpose of this dialog center, located in Kreisky’s
former residence in Armbrustergasse in the 19th district in Vienna, is
the creation of a permanent meeting center where Kreisky’s international
activities can be discussed and the memory of the important statesman
preserved.
|
|