Polizeioberkommissär a.D. Dr. Gabriel Lax

Gabriel Lax was born in Bereschany [today in the Ukraine] into a Jewish family as the legitimate son of Samuel Lax, a registrar, and his wife Drese, née Förster. After primary and secondary school, he studied law and then joined the police force of the city of Warsaw as a lawyer, where he became head of the organization department.

After the defeat of Austria-Hungary, the break-up of the dual monarchy and the expulsion of the House of Habsburg, Gabriel Lax became a Polish citizen. In 1919, he resigned from the Polish police force as a police superintendent and moved to Vienna with his parents. He becomes the manager of the Viennese single people's home in the 17th district of Vienna and founds the performance theater 'Pan' in the same building where he lives. However, he does not take Austrian citizenship, but retains his Polish citizenship. He also works as a journalist on the side. In 1921, he marries Regina Pfiffer and leaves the Jewish Community in the same year. In 1924 Gabriel Lax became the father of a daughter. However, the marriage broke up in 1929. In 1933, he married Regina Bernstein; this marriage remained childless.

In July 1934, Gabriel Lax joined the Vaterländische Front in Vienna's 1st district. He becomes head of the local protection (secret service) of the district organization and creates a resident file, which is later completed in 1935 in agreement with the police. Obviously there are disagreements within the district party, as he is dismissed from his position on October 20, 1934. After that, he was no longer politically active.

On March 12, 1938, Gabriel Lax witnessed the demise of a free and independent Austria with the invasion of the German Wehrmacht. With the occupation of Austria, German legislation was adopted and with it the 'Nuremberg Race Laws', according to which he was considered a 'full Jew'. He was arrested by the Gestapo immediately after the occupation. The exact date of his arrest has not been preserved. On April 2, 1938, Gabriel Lax was deported to the Dachau concentration camp on the so-called 'Prominent Transport'. From there, he was transferred to the Buchenwald concentration camp on September 23, 1938. He was released on November 28, 1938 on the condition that he leave occupied Austria as soon as possible.

Gabriel Lax emigrated to Shanghai on January 29, 1939, where he died of a stroke on April 28, 1944.