Dr. Heinrich Pühringer

Heinrich Pühringer attended high school in his hometown of Ried, where he graduated in 1935. He then served as a one-year volunteer in the Austrian Federal Army, leaving the service with the rank of cadet corporal. He then began studying to become a high school teacher in geography and physical education in Innsbruck, with a brief interruption during which he also studied in Munich. In 1936, he joined the Austria Innsbruck fraternity.

In October 1938, he was enlisted as a non-commissioned officer in the German Wehrmacht and drafted into the Mountain Infantry in January 1940. On March 7, 1940, he successfully completed his studies. After earning his doctorate (Dr. phil.), he was hired as a teaching assistant in Schwaz, Tyrol, but was unable to take up this position because he was required to serve in the German Wehrmacht—first in the Landeck Construction Battalion in Tyrol, then, beginning April 10, 1941, in the 17th Construction Replacement Battalion. On June 4, 1941, he was transferred to the 7th GJR 136 (Mountain Infantry Regiment), which was occupying Norway, and reached the important shipping port of Kirkenes in the border triangle between Norway, Finland, and Russia. During the war against the USSR, his unit became embroiled in a bitter battle for position in Lapland.

Beginning in October 1944, the Red Army launched heavy attacks, forcing Heinrich Pühringer’s unit into a gradual retreat. On October 2, “moderate artillery fire” struck, resulting in four deaths; beginning on October 7, Heinrich Pühringer’s unit was embroiled in sustained heavy fighting. On the night of October 11, part of the battalion was ordered to the very front lines. The fighting, during which parts of the unit were scattered, lasted until the morning of October 14.

“The defendant marched as ordered, but […] turned back because he encountered other soldiers from his battalion returning aimlessly, who knew nothing of his company’s whereabouts.” (from the court ruling).

On the evening of October 12, Heinrich Pühringer reported to the division’s assembly point for stragglers in Tarnet, behind the front lines, and two days later to his company near Tarnet. Heinrich Pühringer was charged before a field court-martial “for cowardice in the face of the enemy.”

“The defendant denies having left his unit out of fear for his personal safety or out of cowardice. He claims that he tried time and time again to rejoin his company, but no one was able to tell him anything about its location.”

All of Heinrich Pühringer’s statements regarding the matter were deemed to be excuses. On November 16, 1944, a trial took place, resulting in the following verdict:

“Sergeant Heinrich Pühringer is sentenced to death and loss of military honor for cowardice under Section 85(I) of the German Criminal Code (MStGB).” From the reasoning, among other things: “3) Through his cowardly behavior, he also caused other soldiers to waver and set the worst possible example for those for whom he should actually have been a model of dedication. – 4) The defendant’s conduct is all the more shameful in that, as a student assessor and thus someone called upon to lead the youth, he must be expected to do everything in his power—especially during difficult combat operations—to show resolve toward himself and others.”

The pardon was rejected on December 3, 1944, by the Austrian lawyer and Colonel General Dr. Lothar Rendulic (1887–1971)—who had been a member of the NSDAP since 1932 (at that time illegally) and had served as commander of the 20th Mountain Army in Finland since 1940— “in the interest of maintaining military discipline. The sentence is to be carried out.”

On May 7, 1945, in St. Martin i. I., Lothar Rendulic signed the unconditional surrender of Army Group South (Ostmark) with U.S. General Walton Walker. In 1948, he was “sentenced to 20 years in prison in Nuremberg for war crimes and crimes against civilians in Yugoslavia and Norway”; he was pardoned in 1951 and released from prison.

The sentence was carried out by firing squad shortly before Christmas on December 19, 1944, in Nystad (Mosjoen County, northern Norway, south of Narvik), according to information from the Red Cross and the Wehrmacht Information Office (WASt). Heinrich Pühringer was murdered. There is no known grave for Heinrich Pühringer.