KR Dr. Erich Thanner

Erich Thanner completes his law studies with a doctorate (Dr. iuris). He is active as a youth functionary in the Patriotic Front. He is the son-in-law of Hans Karl Frhr. Zeßner von Spitzenberg.

After the Anschluss, he co-founded the legitimist resistance group "Müller-Thanner" together with Johann Müller and Franz Waschnigg, a former district leader of the VF in Tyrol. During his trips abroad to France and Belgium, he was able to establish contacts with the exile circles around Otto von Habsburg. Here he took over a courier and radio service for the "Austrian Broadcaster" operated abroad. Erich Thanner endeavored to gradually build up a network of contacts with the other resistance groups.

In the summer of 1939, the Gestapo succeeded in infiltrating his group and investigating it. He was arrested together with other members of his group on November 9, 1939. In the later so-called "Legitimist Trial", Erich Thanner was sentenced to 15 years in prison and 10 years loss of honor by the VGH on 23 November 1943. [DÖW files no. 3218 and 3299].

After the war, Erich Thanner worked as a journalist and translator as well as editor of the "Furche" from 1967-1976.