Dr. Josef Pultar

Josef Pultar was born in Brumow (Moravia) and attended grammar schools in Brno and Linz. After graduating from high school, he studied law in Vienna and joined the Norica student fraternity in 1899. After graduating, he joined the Lower Austrian provincial government and worked in parliament from 1921. In 1938, he was President of the House of Federal Legislators. He was also chairman of the Christian-German Gymnastics Association [now the Sports Union].

After the Anschluss, he was arrested following a house search on March 14, 1938. He was dismissed from the service and retired with half his pension. After spending time in the police detention center (Vienna 9) and in prison in Vienna 7, Hermanngasse, he was released on June 8, 1938. In the meantime, he was interrogated by the Gestapo on March 26, 1938 and May 4, 1938. From 1940/41, he was a member of the resistance group "Christlich-Deutsche Turnerschaft Wien".