Anna Gradner (geb. Sturm)

Anna Sturm was born in Vienna as the legitimate daughter of the metal caster Georg Sturm and his wife Anna, née Appl. She attended an auxiliary school [today: special school] and then became an unskilled worker. In 1909, she marries Franz Gradner, but the marriage remains childless.

After the defeat of Austria-Hungary, the break-up of the dual monarchy and the expulsion of the House of Habsburg, Anna and Franz Gradner turn to the legitimist camp. In 1934, Anna Gradner joins the Iron Ring. While working for the Iron Ring, they met Leopold Hof, who was active in the Kaisertreuen Volkspartei.

On March 12, 1938, the staunch Austrian witnessed the demise of free and independent Austria with the invasion of the German Wehrmacht. During a visit to the Gradner couple's home in early autumn 1939, Leopold Hof tells them that he has founded the Illegal Austrian Imperial Loyal Front (IÖKF). The aim of the organization is to overthrow the National Socialist regime and re-establish the monarchy under Otto von Habsburg-Lothringen or another monarch on the territory of present-day Austria. Members are actively recruited, membership lists are kept and donations are collected. The resistance group produces flyers that are distributed in the various districts.

Franz and Anna Gradner immediately declare their membership. Franz Gradner takes on the role of secretary.

In September 1942, the Illegal Austrian Imperial Loyal Front (IÖKF) is uncovered by the Gestapo and Anna Gradner is reported at large. In a trial before the Vienna Higher Regional Court on July 4, 1944, she was sentenced to eight months in prison for 'crimes against the formation of new parties'. He began his sentence on October 21, 1944.

On April 6, 1945, Anna Gradner was released from prison and witnessed the liberation of Austria and the re-establishment of the Republic in 1945. She retired due to her age. She joins the newly founded Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the ÖVP-Kameradschaft der politisch Verfolgten und Bekenner für Österreich.