Maria Demel

Maria Demel was born in Neu Tetschein in Moravia [today: Nový Jičín in the Czech Republic]. She moved to Vienna with her parents as a child and attended elementary and secondary school there before learning the tailoring trade. After briefly working as a seamstress, she completed a shorthand typist course and worked for various lawyers until 1920. During this time, she joins the Christian Social Party (CSP).

From 1920, she works as an employee at Schenker & Co. In 1929, she joins the Reichsbund der Österreicher in 1929, the Österreichische Volksbewegung in 1939 and finally the Vaterländische Front in 1933.

On 12 March 1938, Maria Demel witnessed the demise of a free and independent Austria with the invasion of the German Wehrmacht. In July 1938, the devout Catholic and staunch Austrian patriot was informed by her acquaintance from the Austrian People's Movement, Ludwig Kitzinger, that a resistance group had formed around Josef Eder, whom she also knew from the Austrian People's Movement. She willingly joins the Austrian Freedom Movement - Eder Group.

In a trial before the People's Court on November 18, 1943, she is sentenced to one year in prison for "preparation for high treason", with credit for the time spent on remand. The sentence is deemed to have already been served due to the length of the pre-trial detention.

In Vienna, Maria Demel witnesses the liberation of Austria and the re-establishment of the Republic in April and May 1945. She joins the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the ÖVP-Kameradschaft der politisch Verfolgten und Bekenner für Österreich.