Abstract

In 1889, when Bertha von Suttner published her ground-breaking anti-war novel Die Waffen nieder! she called attention to a decade of war and social stress throughout larger parts of Europe. In a very similar way Theodor Herzl’s booklet Der Judenstaat published nearly ten years later set focus on the misery of the Jewish population in the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, France and Russia. By stressing this ideological equity, this paper sets out to describe the intersection between the Austria peace movement headed by Bertha von Suttner and the Zionist movement founded by Theodor Herzl. As will be argued, their ideological bond does not only reflect a personal sympathy between them, but it also emphasizes the changing character of Theodor Herzl’s versatile diplomatic efforts and the conversion of bourgeoisie conservative Bertha von Suttner and her husband to loyal Philo-Zionists. The concluding remarks summarize some important features of this alliance and highlight thus the significant impact of non Jewish aid for Theodor Herzl’s political aims.