Dr. Emil Maurer (geb. Eisig Nachbar)

Emil Maurer was born as Eisig Nachbar in Kutti in Moravia [today Kúty in Slovakia] in very poor circumstances. Immediately after elementary school, he learned the watchmaking trade and moved to Vienna in 1896 at the age of 12. In 1898, he began an apprenticeship as a metal printer and in the same year joined the Ottakring local branch of the social democratic Youth Workers' Association. In 1901, he completed his apprenticeship as a metal printer. In 1911, he completed his A-levels and began studying law at the University of Vienna. In 1913, he changed his name to Emil Maurer.

Emil Maurer graduated in 1916 and served as an officer in the First World War. After the war, he was active in the council movement. He represented the left wing of the Neubau district workers' council and advocated cooperation between communist and social democratic forces. In 1918, he was elected deputy district leader of Neubau as a representative of the Volksverein Gerechtigkeit, a position he held for 13 years. Shortly afterwards, the People's Association became the district organization of the Social Democratic Workers' Party (SDAP). In 1923, he became commander of the Neubau district group in the newly founded Republikanischer Schutzbund. In the same year, Emil Maurer set up his own business as a lawyer. Between 1932 and 1934, he was district leader in Vienna-Neubau. In this role, he is the driving force behind the construction of the Jewish Association Neubau prayer house.

Although Emil Maurer does not directly participate in the socialist February Uprisings of 1934, he is interned for a short time in the Wöllersdorf detention camp during the authoritarian corporative state. He then returned to Vienna and worked as a lawyer.

Emil Maurer witnessed the downfall of a free and independent Austria on March 12, 1938, when the German Wehrmacht invaded. He was arrested by the Gestapo on March 22, 1938 and deported to the Dachau concentration camp on April 2, 1938 on the so-called 'Prominent Transport'. On September 22, 1938, he was transferred to the Buchenwald concentration camp. Emil Maurer was finally released from the concentration camp on May 24, 1939. Immediately afterwards, he went into exile in London. In 1940, he was interned as an 'enemy alien' in the Isle of Man. He becomes involved in the Austrian Labor Club. In 1942, he was a member of the delegates' conference of Austrian socialists in Great Britain and was in contact with Oskar Czernetz and Oskar Pollak.

In Great Britain, Emil Maurer experienced the liberation of Austria and the rebirth of the Republic of Austria. He returned to Austria in 1946 and reopened a law firm. In the second elections to the board of the re-established Jewish Community in 1948, he acts as list leader of the Association of Working Jews and becomes Vice President of the Jewish Community.

From February 1952 to February 1963 (resignation of mandate for health reasons), Emil Maurer is President of the Jewish Community. His term of office included the creation of the Federal Association of Jewish Communities in Austria, the revival of the magazine 'Die Gemeinde' as a monthly publication, the representation of Jewish interests in Austrian legislation (collaboration on and initiation of laws and ordinances).