Leopold Barta

Leopold Barta was born in Graz-Karlau, the son of master baker Josef Barta and his wife Rosalia, née Holzmann. After school, he enters the Graz seminary. During this time, he joins the student fraternity Carolina Graz.

Leopold Barta is ordained a priest on 23 November 1895. He then became a cooperator (chaplain) in Irding and later in Paldau, where he founded the local cooperative Raiffeisenbank. Between 1903 and 1907, he was chaplain in Gleinstätten, then in Gnas and St. Ruprecht an der Raab.

In 1916, he moved to Vienna to become a prefect in a boys' asylum in Vienna-Laimgrube. In 1919, Leopold Barta also became an editor at the Reichspost and the Volksbund-Redner. Between 1921 and 1928, he was chaplain in Vienna-Döbling and from 1922, he was in charge of St. Anthony's Church in Vienna's 15th district.

In 1937, he left Vienna again and became parish provisor in St. Nikolai in der Sölk, remaining editor of the Reichspost until 1938. In St. Nikolai in der Sölk, he also witnessed the downfall of Austria with the invasion of the German Wehrmacht in March 1938.

On 5 April 1939, his teaching license for the entire Styrian region was revoked. From then on, he was not allowed to teach religion.

Leopold Barta remained in prison in Graz-Karlau until December 18, 1941. After his release, he lived in Flaurling near Innsbruck in 1942 and in Küb am Semmering in Lower Austria from 1943.

In December 1944, he was arrested again in Wr. Neustadt, but was soon released.

Immediately after the end of the war, he returned to Paldau, where he celebrated his golden jubilee as a priest in December 1945.

A year later, he died in Neunkirchen hospital two days after suffering a stroke.