Karl Biedermann

Karl Biedermann (* 11. August 1890 in Miskolc, Austria-Hungary; † 8. April 1945 in Wien) was commander of the Astrian Heimwehr, Major of Wehrmacht and a member of German resistance to Nazism.

Life

After visiting cadet corps in Traiskirchen Karl Biedermann served from 1910 in the Common Army. In the World War I he served as an oficer. He was released from Bundesheer (1. republic) in 1920 with the rank of captain. His civil profession was official of the "Österreichische Postsparkasse" (Austrian post savings bank). In February 1934 Biedermann was commander of a company of the "Freiwilligen Schutzkorps", consisting of units of Heimwehr and helping troops of the Bundesheer. In this function he participated during Austrian Civil War at the conquest of Wien Karl-Marx-Hof.

After the Anschluss to Nazi Germany in March 1938 Biedermann joined the Wehrmacht. 1940 he was promoted to major. During World War II he participated in the Battle of France, the Balkan Campaign and the Eastern front. Biedermann joined the resistance group of Austrian Wehrmacht people led by Major Carl Szokoll within military districtII. In spring this group planned "Operation Radetzky", to support Red Army in the liberation of Wien and to prevent bigger destructions, to avoid the blow of bridges.

However, "Operation Radetzky" , planned for 6 April was treasured. Biedermann was arrested the night from 5 to 6 April and brought to a Drumhead court-martial and sentenced to death. On 8 April Biedermann was hanged together with two other resistance fighters, captain Alfred Huth and Rudolf Raschke in public at Floridsdorfer Spitz in Vienna. The chef of "Sicheitspolizei and SD" Rudolf Mildner took the personaly command at the hanging place.^[1]

Biedermann was buried 2. August 1945 in Vienna on Hietzingen cemetery in a honorable grave (groupe 66, rowe 19, number 5). In the same grave were buried also Alfred Huth and Rudolf Raschke.

Memorial in Wien-Floridsdorf

In the year 1995 in Wien-Floridsdorf the Karl-Biedermann-Gasse was named after him (Karl-Biedermann-Alley).

Literature

• Carl Szokoll: Die Rettung Wiens 1945. Mein Leben, mein Anteil an der Verschwörung gegen Hitler und an der Befreiung Österreichs. Amalthea-Verlag, Wien 2001 ISBN 3-85002-472-5.
• Michael Krassnitzer: Widerstand in Hietzing. Freiheitskampf 1934–1938 und 1938–1945 am Beispiel eines Wiener Bezirks. Edition Volkshochschule, Wien 2004, ISBN 3-900799-58-X.

References

1. Thomas Mang: ‚Gestapo-Leitstelle Wien – Mein Name ist Huber'. Wer trug die lokale Verantwortung für den Mord an den Juden Wiens?, Wien 2003, S. 131, ISBN 3-8258-7259-9.