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Verband der Unabhängigen, VdUVerband der Unabhängigen, VdU, founded in 1949 by H. Kraus and V. Reimann in Salzburg. Supported by the Austrian Socialist Party and opposed by the Austrian People's Party, because the establishment of the VdU led to the fragmentation of the non-socialist camp. The VdU wanted to represent the interests of former National Socialists, displaced persons, ex-POWs and people who were discontented with Austrian politics; it called for the elimination of the laws imposing restrictions on National Socialists. In 1949 it stood for Parliament as "Wahlpartei der Unabhängigen" (WdU), and received 12% of the votes and 16 seats. Losses in subsequent elections and internal conflicts resulted in the VdU being taking over by strongly nationalistic circles, it was later absorbed by the Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (Austrian Freedom Party), which was founded in 1955. Literature: V. Reimann, Die Dritte Kraft in Österreich, 1980.
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