Answer
As the leader of the Fatherland Front, Kurt Schuschnigg sought to consolidate power and maintain Austria's independence amidst rising political tensions in Europe. Established in 1933 as a merger of various right-wing organizations, the Fatherland Front aimed to promote national unity, combat socialist and Nazi influences, and protect Austrian sovereignty against external threats. However, despite Schuschnigg's efforts, Austria ultimately fell under German control in 1938.