Hofrat Dr. Robert Georg Winterstein

Robert Georg Winterstein was born in Jitschin in Bohemia [today: Jičín in the Czech Republic] as the legitimate son of the k.u.k. staff doctor Philipp Winterstein and Emilie, née Singer. In the Jewish middle-class family, Robert Winterstein had an older brother, Maximilian Winterstein, and a younger brother, Paul Winterstein. After elementary school, he attended the German-language grammar school in Olmütz, where he graduated in 1892. In the same year, he moved to Vienna and enrolled in law at the University of Vienna. In 1893 he converted to the Catholic faith. He was awarded a doctorate in law in 1897.

One year later, in 1898, he passed his examination as a candidate judge and became a legal trainee at the Commercial Court in Vienna. In 1906, he moved to the public prosecutor's office, became a public prosecutor in 1913 and was promoted to first public prosecutor in 1919. In 1921, he was awarded the title Hofrat. On May 31, 1927, he was finally promoted to attorney general.

When the Socialists set fire to the Palace of Justice on July 15, 1927 as part of the July Revolt following the Schattendorf verdict, Robert Winterstein was just able to escape to safety.

On March 24, 1932, the then Minister of Justice Kurt von Schuschnigg appointed him Procurator General. After the suppression of the National Socialist coup attempt on July 25, 1934, during which Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss was murdered, Robert Winterstein was commissioned by the Council of Ministers to investigate the 'incidents at Ballhausplatz'. This leads to the discovery of the assassins Otto Planeta and Franz Holweber and their execution. In the same year, he became a member of the Austrian State Council.

Robert Waldstein was appointed Federal Minister of Justice by Federal President Wilhelm Miklas on October 17, 1935, but resigned from this position on May 14, 1936 to take up the office of Deputy Chairman of the State Council. At the same time, he returns to the function of Procurator General. In these functions, the patriotic Austrian fought against National Socialism.

On March 12, 1938, Robert Winterstein witnessed the demise of a free and independent Austria with the invasion of the German Wehrmacht. With the occupation of Austria, German legislation is adopted and with it the 'Nuremberg Race Laws', according to which Robert Winterstein is considered a 'full Jew'.

On the night of March 14, 1938, a horde of SA, SS and Gestapo forced their way into the house

On May 31, 1938, he was forced to retire and deported to the Buchenwald concentration camp