Univ.-Prof. DDr. Richard Kerschagl

Richard Kerschagl was born the son of a middle school principal from an old Carinthian farming family and graduated from the Schottengymnasium in Vienna. After graduating from high school in 1914, he began studying at the Faculty of Law at the University of Vienna (Dr. iur. 1919). He interrupted his studies when he was called up for military service during the First World War (last rank: lieutenant in the reserves), but was able to continue his studies for a time due to study leave.

In 1918/19, Richard Kerschagl took part in the border battles in Carinthia. In 1919, he joined the dissolving Austro-Hungarian Bank as a currency expert and was involved in the dissolution of the crown currency area. At the same time, he studied the new subject of political science at the Faculty of Law at the University of Vienna (Dr. rer. pol. 1922) and joined the newly founded Austrian National Bank in 1923.

In parallel, Richard Kerschagl began an academic career. In 1921 he became a lecturer at the University of World Trade, and in 1929 a lecturer at the Consular Academy. In 1930, he was awarded the title of associate professor. In 1933, he set up the Seminar for Monetary Research at the University of World Trade and became head of the Institute for Economic Policy at the Consular Academy.

After the establishment of the "corporative state", he was appointed a member of the State Council, of which he was a member until March 12, 1938. In 1937, he was appointed full professor at the University of World Trade.

After the Anschluss, Richard Kerschagl was arrested on March 13, 1938. After his release on July 29, 1938, he was banned from the Gau and dismissed on August 27, 1938. In March 1940, this was retroactively converted into a retirement with a quarter reduction in salary.

Richard Kerschagl first worked as a legal advisor to Shantung Handels AG, then in Berlin and until 1944 as head of a bank in occupied Poland. He then managed to return to Carinthia, where he was active in the resistance.