Dr. Paul Weitlaner

Born in Pustertal in 1884, Paul Weitlaner moved with his family to Wörgl in the Lower Inn Valley at the turn of the century. After graduating from high school, he studied linguistics and history at the University of Innsbruck. In 1906, he was accepted into the student fraternity Vindelicia, which was still based in Hall/Tyrol at the time. After an interruption due to the war, he completed his studies in 1919 with a doctorate and a teaching degree.

After teaching in Innsbruck, he was appointed professor at the commercial academy in Linz in 1929. Here he also became politically active: he was elected to the city council and worked there as a welfare councillor.

After the Anschluss, Paul Weitlaner was arrested "because of his patriotic Austrian sentiments" and sent to Dachau concentration camp on 17 June 1938. As he was also dismissed from the teaching profession, he earned his living as an insurance agent and through casual work after his release on April 21, 1939.

After the war, Paul Weitlaner was able to return to the commercial academy in Linz and became its director until his retirement in 1949. He then returned to his adopted home of Wörgl and devoted himself to academic work.