This book is sub-titled "Experiment in Working-Class Culture. The book deals with the Austrian Social Democratic rule of the city government of Vienna, Austria from the 1919 downfall of the Habsburg Dynasty until 1934 when the Anschluss made Austria part of Nazi Germany.

The city government of Vienna tried a number of reforms at this time to raise the standard of living of the people of the City. Some of these included public housing and public health education. These reforms were really no more "socialistic" than the New Deal legislation. However, the reforms were characterized as socialistic and thus the name of the book--Red Vienna.

Interesting to watch in the book is the sudden transformation of political scene with the rise of Hitler in Germany. Prior to 1933 when Germany was still known as the Weimer Republic, the Social Democratic Party advocated annexation with Germany. In this the Social Democrats were bitterly opposed by the conservative Austrian "nationalists of the rural areas of Austria. However, with the rise of Hitler in Germany in 1933, these "nationalists" suddenly changed their tune and suddenly became very enthusiastic about annexation with Germany. These rural nationalist were the main group that collaborated with the German Nazis in the Anschulss of 1934--ala Kurt Waldheim. Only a small core of rural nationalist group remained true to their nationalist position--ala Captain Von Trapp, whose story is told in the movie--Sound of Music.