Franz Spuller (geb. Scheuchenegger)

Franz Scheuchenegger was born in Vienna as the legitimate son of the letter carrier of the same name Franz Scheuchenegger and Theresia, née Knie. After elementary school, he attended a grammar school in Vienna, where he graduated. He is then unemployed. In 1931, shortly before his 22nd birthday, he was adopted by Oskar Spuller, a federal railway official, and took his name.

On June 21, 1933, he joined the Austrian tax authorities. He subsequently becomes involved in the Christian trade union, marries and becomes the father of a daughter.

Franz Spuller was made uk [note: unavailable] as a tax official and was therefore not drafted into the Wehrmacht. He did not comply with an urgent request to apply for membership again in September 1943, even under threat of consequences.

At this time, Franz Spuller had already joined the Free Austria Group (FÖ) around the writer Karl Gruber. The aim of this non-partisan group, which is more in line with the Christian Social camp, is to liberate Austria from National Socialist occupation and re-establish its independence.

The group met in premises at Stuckgasse 6 in Vienna's 7th district. It was finally uncovered in early fall 1944 and Franz Spuller was arrested by the Gestapo on September 29, 1944. He was released from the financial administration on October 14, 1944. After the preliminary investigations, he was handed over to the People's Court for prosecution for 'preparation for high treason'. Only the defeat of the Third Reich saved him from a trial and the death penalty.

Franz Spuller was released on April 6, 1945. In May 1945, he witnessed the liberation of Austria, was subsequently rehabilitated and returned to work in the Austrian tax administration.