The Heimwehr (German: [ˈhaɪmˌveːɐ̯], lit. 'Home Guard') or Heimatschutz (German: [ˈhaɪmatˌʃʊts], lit. 'Homeland Protection') was a nationalist, initially paramilitary group operating in Austria during the 1920s and 1930s that was similar in methods, organization, and ideology to the Freikorps in Germany. It was opposed to parliamentary democracy, socialism and Marxism. Some of its regional groups also opposed Nazism while others favored it. In spite of its anti-democratic stance, the Heimwehr developed a political wing called the Heimatblock ('Homeland Bloc') that was close to the conservative Christian Social Party and took part in both the cabinet of Chancellor Carl Vaugoin in 1930 and in Engelbert Dollfuss' right-wing government from 1932 to 1934. In 1936 the Heimwehr was absorbed into