Militia will be dissolved over my dead body ' Starhemberg tells troops . Talks of rooting out weeds . Thousands of militiamen and hemwehrmen taking part in Austria ' s first militia parade heard a fighting speech by Vice Chancellor Prince Starhemberg at Norn on the Danube . Prince Starhemberg , who was breaking a long silence , declared that the militia would be dissolved only over his dead body . He assured Chancellor Schuschnigg of the loyal support of the Heimwehr in ' rooting out weeds ' in the patriotic brotherhood , and undertook ' to defend him against certain persons in the immediate entourage . Photo shows , Prince Starhemberg kneeling in prayer at the ceremony . 28 April 1936