Polizeioberst Emil Kristen

Emil Kristen was born in Goldstein in Moravia [today: Branná in the Czech Republic] as the illegitimate son of Emilie Kristen. He moved to Vienna with his mother at a very early age, where he attended elementary and secondary school. He then trained as a bookbinder and gilder. In 1909, he was drafted into military service in Infantry Regiment No. 93, where he left on August 27, 1913.

On December 1, 1913, Emil Kristen began his service in the Vienna Security Guard. He was called up for military service on July 31, 1914 and took part in campaigns in Serbia and Italy. In 1915, he married Anna Jordak and subsequently became the father of four sons. In 1917, he was released from military service to serve in the security guard again.

In Vienna, Emil Kristen witnessed the defeat of Austria-Hungary, the collapse of the dual monarchy and the expulsion of the Habsburgs. In 1919 he was promoted to district inspector and in 1925 to precinct inspector. He completed his A-levels and rose to become a police officer. In 1934, he was finally promoted to police major and department inspector. In 1930, he became a senior officer at the Währing Police Directorate and deputy head of the detention center of the Vienna Security Department. From 1934, he was head of the detention center of the Vienna Security Department.

On the night of March 11 to 12, 1938, the night of the German Wehrmacht's invasion of Austria, Emil Kristen was arrested in the police prison in Roßauerlände and deported to the Dachau concentration camp

Emil Kristen is released from the concentration camp on February 6, 1940. He began working for the health insurance company 'Mittelstandshilfe' and subsequently advanced from representative to managing director.

In Vienna, Emil Kristen experienced the liberation of Austria and the re-establishment of the Republic in April and May 1945. On April 12, 1945, he enlisted in the police auxiliary service and became provisional commander of the prison in Rossauerlände. He was officially confirmed in this position on April 24, 1945.