Dr. Wunibald Lexer

Wunibald Lexer was born as the second son of the Carinthian gendarmerie post commander, Georg Lexer. After attending elementary school in Greifenburg, he transferred to grammar school in Klagenfurt. During this time, he joins the Marian Congregation. The Lexer family experienced the occupation of Austria at first hand due to the tragic fate of his father.

His father Georg was involved in bloody battles as a gendarme during the National Socialist coup attempt near Klagenfurt in July 1934. There are also casualties among the National Socialists and troops loyal to the government.

In February 1938, he falls ill with severe pneumonia. Discharged into home care, the gendarmerie post commander Georg Lexer was arrested on the night of March 11-12, although feverish and bedridden, by his own subordinate gendarmes, who were already wearing swastika armbands when they arrested him, and taken to the Klagenfurt provincial court prison. In proceedings before the National Socialist People's Court, he is accused of having committed the murder of a National Socialist during the battles in July 1934. The proceedings before the People's Court were dropped on the grounds that "in a war, shooting is inevitable" (statement by the presiding judge). Georg Lexer is not released, however, but is taken over by the Gestapo and sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp in September 1938, where he is murdered on August 3, 1941.

Wunibald Lexer and his brother Georg, who is a year older, are harassed by many, and they now have to work alongside school, as the family no longer has any financial means after their father's arrest. Wunibald becomes a sacristan in the Priesterhaus church.

Around Easter time in 1941, Wunibald's brother Georg Lexer meets Eduard Pumpernig, a lance corporal in the Luftwaffe and opponent of the Nazi regime. Through him, he and his brother Georg came into contact with the Antifascist Freedom Movement of Austria (AFÖ). There were many conspiratorial meetings and drawings of Wehrmacht installations were also made.

He was not aware of his brother's action together with Eduard Pumpernig on the night of July 11, 1941 to July 12, 1941, but was very enthusiastic afterwards. However, he took part in other scattering and smearing operations.

During a trip to the Gailtal valley to explore escape routes to Italy, Eduard Pumpernig and Georg Lexer broke up. Georg informs his mother and brother, but the former does not believe him enough.

In order to be able to study, Wunibald and Georg volunteer for military service in 1941. Wunibald Lexer signs up for the military academy in Wiener Neustadt - even before he finishes school.

While still a student, Wunibald helps his uncle on the farm near Görtschitztal before beginning his studies in veterinary medicine in 1942.

After the Anti-Fascist Freedom Movement of Austria (AFÖ) is exposed, Wunibald Lexer's apartment is searched by the Gestapo and a notebook is found containing several entries relating to the AFÖ. Due to his call-up to the front in Finland, no further immediate investigations take place. At the turn of 1945, Wunibald is interrogated by the Gestapo, as his brother is to be tried for high treason. However, he is not listed as a co-defendant, but is expelled from the university for political unreliability.

In the meantime, he is transferred to Innsbruck, where he experiences the end of the war.