Karl Werkmann from Hohensalzburg

Hauptmann Karl Martin Freiherr Werkmann von Hohensalzburg

Karl Martin Werkmann is born in Salzburg as the second son of the insurance salesman August Werkmann and Louise, née Zügner. His brothers are August and Theobald Werkmann. After elementary school and grammar school, he studied and eventually obtained a doctorate. He marries Else Rutzen.

During the First World War, Karl Werkmann holds the rank of k.u.k. During the First World War, Karl Werkmann held the rank of Imperial and Royal Captain of the Reserve in the Imperial Rifle Regiment No. 1 and was assigned to the Emperor's Adjutant General's Office, was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class and acted as head of the Imperial Press Service before Emperor Charles I of Austria appointed him his private secretary. Karl Werkmann is elevated to the rank of Austrian baron with the title 'von Hohensalzburg' in a handwritten letter from Emperor Karl I dated November 11, 1918. On the same day, Emperor Karl I renounced his share in the affairs of government.

After Emperor Karl I renounced his reign, Karl Freiherr Werkmann von Hohensalzburg accompanied the imperial family on their expulsion from Austria to Switzerland in March 1919. A small court in exile formed around Emperor Karl and Empress Zita, consisting of the former court bishop Seydl, the adjutants Vladimir Count Ledochowski and Emmerich Zeno Schonta von Seedank and the secretary Karl Freiherr Werkmann von Hohensalzburg.

After the Emperor's death in exile on Madeira in 1922, Karl Freiherr Werkmann von Hohensalzburg returned to Austria. He became a writer and, together with his wife, translated political, autobiographical and fictional works from English and French into German. He also played a leading role in the legitimist movement that had formed in the winter of 1918/19. He publishes the magazine 'Staatswehr', and the 'Partei aller schwarzgelben Legitimisten' (SGL) is founded, which took part in the 1923 National Council elections under the name 'Kaisertreue Volkspartei'. He plays a leading role in the 'Reichsbund der Österreicher' and is a member of the student fraternity Corps der Wikinger Wien. Karl Freiherr Werkmann von Hohensalzburg maintains contact with Empress Zita and is a publicist for Otto von Habsburg.

On March 12, 1938, he witnessed the downfall of a free and independent Austria when the German Wehrmacht invaded and occupied Austria. Karl Freiherr Werkmann von Hohensalzburg was arrested by the Gestapo on March 14, 1938 and transported on the so-called 'Prominent Transport' to prison on April 2, 1938. On April 2, 1938, he was deported to the Dachau concentration camp. He was released from there on November 16, 1938.