Dr. Angelus (Eduard) Steinwender OFM

Eduard Steinwender is born as the son of a miner in Maria Lankowitz in Styria. In 1913 he enters the Franciscan Order as a Gymnasiast and is consecrated to the priest in 1920. He takes the order name Angelus. In addition to his pastoral activity, he inscribes theology at the University of Graz. He received his doctorate in 1924. From 1928, Angelus Steinwender acts as head of the Franciscan Monastery in Graz, St. Pölten and then in Vienna. In 1939, his provisional order was made to the provincial of the Viennese Franciscans.

As a member of the Patriotic Front, he is a decisive opponent of National Socialism. At the time of his later arrest by the Gestapo, two proceedings were pending against him.

In autumn 1941 Eduard Pumpernig to Angelus Steinwender, as provincial of the Franciscan monastery in Vienna, and asks him who AFÖ to help you copy tickets. Angelus Steinwender does this and makes available the cloister-own drawer. He also reads papers correction and provides his typewriter.

On 6. In July 1943 Father Angelus Steinwender was arrested by the Gestapo in the Franciscan monastery of Vienna. He spends more than a year in the detention centre at the Rossau justice centre in Vienna. The trial against Angelus Steinwender and twelve other members of the AFÖ would have been on 20. July 1944, but the assassination of Adolf Hitler on the same day is crucial that the trial on the 11th August 1944 is postponed. He's being sentenced to death. Request of grace from Cardinal Theodor Innitzer remain unheard.

Until April 1945 Angelus Steinwender sits in the death cell of the Vienna court building. When the Red Army is just a few kilometers ahead of Vienna, he and 45 others will be sentenced to death at night from 4th to 5th. April 1945 sent to a death march over Stockerau and Maissau to Krems, where the group on the 9th April 1945 in the prison Stein an der Donau. Six days later, on 15. April 1945, the SS has to execut all prisoners, including Father Angelus Steinwender.

Angelus Steinwender is buried at the cemetery in Stein/Donau.