Dr. Gottfried Lerch

After the school visit in Trieste and Bleiburg, Gottfried Lerch visits the Gymnasium in Graz and Linz, where he maturates in 1925. In the WS 1925/26, he begins studying law and state science in Vienna and also studies history, German, Latin and body exercises. In the same year he joined the Student Association Austria Vienna. From 1929, he also works as a prefect at the boarding school of the Catholic school association in Vienna XVIII. In 1932 he receives the teaching skills for Latin and gymnastics and enters school. He first teaches at the Bundesgymnasium in Vienna XVIII, then at the Bundesrealschule in Linz. He also participates in the establishment of a youth organisation of the Christian Social Party (OSS) in Upper Austria and is then also a member of the state leadership. In 1937 he is awarded his doctorate as Dr. phil.

On 15. March 1938, Gottfried Lerch founded the resistance movement “Austro-European Resistance” [AER], which originated from the Catholic Academic Turnership, which is active throughout the war (Resistence Group: Secret Group Lerch). By letter dated 16. In May 1938, the Landesschulrat informs him that “due to the change in political conditions and according to § 154 of the Teacher Service Practice, he was appointed 28. April 1938’ was provisionally suspended, ‘in order to endanger the reputation of the school and essential interests of the service by reusing it.’ The disciplinary mission confirms the suspension shortly thereafter, limits the references to two thirds and orders a disciplinary examination.

On November 4, 1938, Gottfried Lerch was arrested by the Gestapo. The transfer to KZ Dachau but is prevented by Ing. Ottokar Faber – an Illegal. He'll be on 20. March 1939 finally dismissed from the state service without further references. The prison will be on 8. May 1939 lacks evidence. He is initially unemployed, but is then taken over as an emergency service employee in October 1939 to the Upper Financial Board of Vienna, but is released as politically unacceptable in April 1940. He is then recruited for military service and serves as a translator in the Kesselring staff in Italy.

On 16. September 1945 Gottfried Lerch will be re-entered in school and will be on the 30th November 1954 in early retirement.