The Final Years of Josef Neckermann, Mayor of Celje, in the Graz Regional Assembly

Abstract

The author analyses the regional parliamentary appearances of the Lower Styrian MP and mayor of Celje Josef Neckermann in the late 1880s and early 1890s, when national conflicts were already escalating and becoming part of the everyday life of Celje (and Lower Styria). In the second half of the 1880s, the Slovenes became increasingly self-confident; from the mid-1880s onwards, (Slovene) craftsmen and merchants were invited to the city (narrowing the “Lebensraum” of the Germans in Celje). In the early 1890s, the Slovenes completely conquered the countryside, and the Lower Styrian Germans, who were increasingly frightened and insisted that a complete “Sloveneisation” of Lower Styria was taking place, were confined to the towns and some squares. After the Slovene side acquired the Celje District Representation and the Celje District Municipality in 1889, it built on these successes to try to penetrate the city itself but failed. It therefore concentrated on institutions in the immediate vicinity of Celje, but nevertheless managed to open the South Styrian Savings Bank in Celje at the end of July 1889. However, the Slovenian acquisitions were not warmly welcomed by the municipality of Celje.