Franz Stoppacher

Franz Stoppacher was born the son of a master shoemaker in Anger near Weiz in Styria. After completing his compulsory schooling, he first works in agriculture and later learns the same trade as his father. He then earned his living as a laborer. In 1917, he was drafted into the First World War and was taken prisoner of war on November 3, 1918, from where he was released in 1919.

He later worked as a municipal employee and joined the Patriotic Front in the 1930s. He is critical of National Socialism. In October 1938, he married Stephanie Markus in a civil ceremony. In August 1939, shortly before the start of the war, he was called up again and deployed as an ammunition manager at the airfield in Klagenfurt. He was promoted to non-commissioned officer there.

In the night of 27 March 1942 to 28 March 1942, Wenzel Primosch met with Franz Stoppacher, who knew each other from the air force in Klagenfurt, and introduced him to the plans of the "Antifascist Freedom Movement of Austria" (AFÖ) and asked him that same night to distribute anti-Nazi leaflets together with Eduard Pumpernig, which Franz Stoppacher did immediately. That same night, they distributed 1,000 leaflets.

Franz Stoppacher was arrested by the Gestapo on July 24, 1943 for "activities hostile to the state" and charged before the People's Court. At the trial before the People's Court, Franz Stoppacher argued that he had been harassed by his "Prussian military superiors". After the Gestapo was unable to prove any further involvement in the AFÖ, he was sentenced to six years in prison for aiding and abetting high treason and was imprisoned until the end of the war.