Dr. Josef Krainer sen.

Josef Krainer Sr. came from a Styrian farming family and first worked as a farmer and then as a forestry worker. He became politically active at a very early age. He joined the Christian Social Party at the age of 18. In 1927, he moved from Kobenz to Graz and from 1927-1936 became chairman of the Styrian Association of Agricultural and Forestry Employees' and Workers' Organizations.

In 1934, he became a member of the Styrian Parliament and in 1936, he was elected President of the Styrian Chamber of Labour. He also became Deputy Mayor of Graz.

After the Anschluss, he was arrested by the Gestapo at Mariengasse 14 in the early hours of March 12, 1938 in the presence of Gauleiter Sigfried Uiberreither and taken to the Graz police prison in Paulustorgasse. Josef Krainer Sr. was released after three weeks. Because of his contacts with resistance fighters, the police later searched for him again. He was able to remain in hiding with farmers until the end of the war.