Anna von Sommer (geb. Mittler)

Anna Mittler was born the legitimate daughter of Dr. Alfred Sommer and Ida, née Baiersdorf von Erdös. Her father was a Jewish Viennese councillor and her mother came from the Jewish-Austrian aristocracy. After finishing school, she married the future Major General Emil von Sommer in 1908, with whom she had two children.

Anna von Sommer managed the household. After the fall and destruction of Austria-Hungary and the expulsion of the Habsburgs, her husband became involved in legitimist organizations such as the Bund jüdischer Frontsoldaten (BJF) and the Legitimist Jewish Front Fighters (LJF). He campaigned vehemently for Austria's independence and worked closely with Otto von Habsburg.

On March 12, 1938, the von Sommer family witnessed the demise of a free and independent Austria with the invasion of the German Wehrmacht. With the occupation of Austria, German legislation was adopted and with it the 'Nuremberg Race Laws', according to which Anna von Sommer was considered a 'full Jew'. Emil von Sommer was arrested by the Gestapo for the first time on 14 September 1938.

The von Sommer family's property was 'aryanized' and Anna and Emil von Sommer had to move to Anna's mother's apartment in Vienna's 1st district. Emil von Sommer is taken into custody by the Gestapo twice more (from June 27, 1939 to December 20, 1939 and from March 5, 1941 to June 10, 1941), as he is accused of anti-state activities, including contacts with Otto von Habsburg. From September 1941, they had to wear the 'yellow Jewish star'. In 1942, the von Sommer couple had to move to the 2nd district of Vienna. From there, they were deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp on September 12, 1942. Emil von Sommer and his wife were liberated there by the Red Army on May 8, 1945.

In June, they moved back to Vienna. Anna von Sommer joins the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the ÖVP-Kameradschaft der politisch Verfolgten und Bekenner für Österreich