DDr. Eduard Michl

Eduard Michl graduated from the Imperial and Royal Theresian Gymnasium in Vienna and then began studying biology at the University of Vienna, graduating in 1912 with a doctorate in zoology. He worked as an assistant at the university's Institute of Biology until the First World War.

After the war, he returned as a retired lieutenant of artillery and began studying medicine in Innsbruck. In 1920, he opened and chaired the founding meeting of the first Unitas corporation (student fraternity) in Austria with the words: "As the oldest of those present, I hereby open the meeting to found a W.K.St.V. Unitas in Innsbruck." - This marked the birth of Norica.

After obtaining his doctorate in 1925, he continued his medical training at various clinics and settled as a general practitioner, first in Lower Austria and then in Vienna.

After the Anschluss, he was arrested by the Gestapo in 1940 for listening to foreign radio stations and in 1943 for setting up the resistance organization "Antifaschistische Freiheitsbewegung Österreichs" (AFÖ). In the trial before the 5th Senate of the People's Court on August 14/15, 1944, he is acquitted of the charge of preparation for high treason, for which he is remanded in custody, due to lack of evidence. On 8 May 1941, Eduard Michl's two doctorates were revoked for so-called political reasons.

On 10 April 2003, he - like many others affected - was posthumously awarded his doctorate again in a ceremonial act by the University of Vienna and the revocation was declared "void from the outset".

"Remaining true to a path once recognized as correct is also part of 'virtus', he said. He had to spend four years in the Gestapo dungeons between 1938 and 1945 because he never wanted to give in." - according to Leopold Rissinger's obituary.