Dr. Leopold Kollmann

Leopold Kollmann starts studying classical philology at the Karl-Franzens-Universität after the academic school in Graz. Already twelve days after the Matura he will be admitted to the student association Babenberg Graz in 1934. In addition to his studies, he is secretary to the Steirische Landesgewerbeverband until 1938.

After that, he is released for political reasons and disabled during his studies. He'll be a farmer in the possession of the mother in Stainz. On 29.2.1940 he is arrested and sentenced to five years in prison because of “secret attacks on state and party”, in particular by the repeated statement, “he (hitler) will bring us war, and we will lose this war”. Leopold Kollmann is sent to the Karlau Penal Court to pay the penalty. On 29.6.1943, after 2/3 of the penalty period, he is released to Sigmaringen because of a good lead in a criminal company. It will then be deployed in the Balkans, where it will be imprisoned on 20.4.1945, from which it will only escape in May 1946.

After the war, Leopold Kollmann is the chief editor of the weekly newspaper of the Steirischer Bauernbund for 40 years.