Jakob Zeggl

Jakob Zeggl is a pupil at the boys' seminary in Hollabrunn. After graduating from high school there, he went to Vienna to study theology and became an alumnus of the seminary. In 1910, he became a member of the student fraternity Franco-Bavaria in Vienna. After his ordination to the priesthood in 1914, he began his pastoral work as a cooperator (chaplain) in Payerbach, Lower Austria. Further stations include Reichenau and Falkenstein, and from 1932 he is the parish priest of Poysdorf.

His courageous and upright stance leads to conflicts with the local Nazi party committees after the Anschluss. As a result, he was arrested on May 22, 1940 and transferred to the Korneuburg district court as he was accused of opposing the NSDAP and making hostile statements. After two hearings before the special court, Jakob Zeggl was acquitted on February 6, 1941 due to contradictory witness statements, but had to give up his parish at the instigation of the NS district leadership in Mistelbach. He is succeeded by Franz Romstorfer, initially as provisional vicar on June 1, 1940 and as parish administrator on December 1, 1940. After his release from prison, Jakob Zeggl was appointed parish administrator on October 1, 1941 and, due to the political situation, only became parish priest in Vienna-Breitensee on April 1, 1946.