Hermann Wildpanner

Personalia

Born:

August 28, 1911, Graz

Died:

December 2, 1976, Vienna

Profession:

Journeyman carpenter

Memberships

Austrian Social Democratic Party, Austrian Communist Party

Curriculum Vitae

Hermann Wildpanner was born in Graz as the illegitimate son of the cook Theresia Wildpanner. No father is listed. After finishing school, he learns the carpentry trade and becomes a carpenter's assistant in various carpentry businesses.

In Styria, after the defeat of Austria-Hungary, the collapse of the Dual Monarchy and the expulsion of the Habsburgs, he joins the Socialist Workers' Youth of the Social Democratic Workers' Party (SDAP) [today: SPÖ]. In 1928, he left there and joined the Communist Youth League of the Austrian Communist Party (KPÖ). He subsequently held the position of chairman in Spittal an der Drau and district secretary in St. Pölten.

After Hermann Wildpanner took part in the February Socialist uprisings in 1934, he was arrested on February 20, 1934 and sent to the Wöllersdorf detention camp on March 28, 1934. He was released from there on September 28, 1934. Due to further illegal activities for the Austrian Communist Party (KPÖ), he was arrested again on May 7, 1936 and sentenced to 18 months in prison. He served this sentence between August 8, 1936 and January 22, 1938, also in the Wöllersdorf detention camp.

On March 12, 1938, Hermann Wildpanner, who was now living in Vienna, witnessed the demise of free and independent Austria with the invasion of the German Wehrmacht. He was arrested on the very day of Austria's occupation and deported to Dachau concentration camp on April 2, 1938 on the so-called 'Prominent Transport'. After Hitler's invasion of Poland, Dachau concentration camp was evacuated for the SS at short notice and Hermann Wildpanner was transferred to Flossenbürg concentration camp

Dear mother!
It's been four weeks since I wrote my last letter, but it's still very difficult to write because I don't have the necessary material. That's understandable, because my life is very monotonous and without any special events.
But time does not pass me by without a trace. The future belongs to those who are prepared to fight and die for it. This war will make even greater demands on everyone, so we have to grit our teeth and keep looking forward and not lose heart.
I received the card from Hans, must have been a very short vacation. Would love to be back at the Erlaufsee again. What's happened to Justi in the meantime? I haven't heard from her for a long time, please write to me.
Hope that you are all healthy and that you are doing reasonably well.
Best regards to you all,
Your Hermann

Letter from Hermann Wildpanner from Dachau concentration camp to his mother dated May 23, 1943

Hermann Wildpanner remained in Dachau concentration camp until the liberation by the US Army on April 29, 1945. After the liberation of Austria and the re-establishment of the Republic in April and May 1945, he returned to Lower Austria and worked as an employee for the Austrian Communist Party (KPÖ). He helps to build up the KPÖ Lower Austria, is a member of the provincial leadership from 1948 to 1973 and treasurer until 1972. He is also provincial secretary of the KZ-Verband - Bundesverband österreichischer AntifaschistInnen, WiderstandskämpferInnen und Opfer des Faschismus - Landesorganisation Niederösterreich. In 1956, he married Maria Koranda, née Schiel.

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