Abg.z.NR a.D. RegR Franz Binder

Franz Binder was born in Rechnitz in Burgenland as the legitimate son of the farmer Johann Binder and Maria, née Tausz. [Note: Rechnitz was still in western Hungary at the time and was called Rohonc] After attending elementary school, he completed an apprenticeship as a bricklayer and worked briefly as such before completing his military service with Field Cannon Regiment No. 13 in Ödenburg [today: Sopron], his last rank being sergeant.

After this, Franz Binder joined the Burggendarmerie in Vienna and subsequently became a police officer in the state police. From 1921 to 1922, he was a member of the administrative office for the new federal state of Burgenland and was involved in setting up the Christian Social Party Burgenland, of which he was a member of the provincial party leadership from 1921 to 1934. In 1922, he became a member of the Austrian National Council. In 1929, he became an honorary member of the student fraternity Austro-Peisonia. He marries Susanne Gajdzica, a native of Silesia.

Between 1927 and 1930, he is also the regional leader of the Burgenland Heimatschutz. He demonstratively resigned from this position in 1930 because he did not want to take the so-called Korneuburg Pledge.

After being a member of the Federal Council between December 1930 and May 1931, he then returned to the National Council and remained in this position until one day after the proclamation of the constitution of the corporative state on May 1, 1934. In 1935, he became deputy commander of the Burgenland state fire brigade. Franz Binder served in the state police until April 30, 1937 and then retired.

On March 12, 1938, the staunch Austrian and devout Catholic witnessed the demise of a free and independent Austria with the invasion of the German Wehrmacht.

On the same day as the occupation of Austria, Franz Binder was arrested by the Gestapo and remained in custody until April 23, 1938. The prison conditions were so bad that he contracted myocarditis, from which he never fully recovered. He died at the age of 62 from myocarditis, cardiac dilatation and dropsy. He does not live to see the liberation of Austria.

After the liberation of Austria, his wife Susanne Binder becomes involved in the ÖVP-Kameradschaft der politisch Verfolgten und Bekenner für Österreich. She died in Vienna in 1952.