|
Dr. Viktor Schumacher was a dedicated physician and an influential political figure in Hall, Tyrol. After his studies and service in World War I, he took over his father's medical practice and devoted himself to charitable work, particularly in combating poverty. During the Nazi occupation of Austria, he played a key role in the resistance movement in Hall, was arrested multiple times, yet continued his medical and political efforts despite persecution. His life exemplifies courage, humanity, and unwavering defiance against oppression.  Photograph: Dr. med. Viktor Schumacher (1952). In: Private archive Schumacher Hall in Tirol. Dr. med. Viktor Schumacher 1914 - 1945 in Solbad Hall Dr. med. Viktor Schumacher was a physician and political figure in the town of Hall in Tirol. He studied at the Franciscan Gymnasium in Hall and was a member of several student fraternities, including K.ö.St.V. Frundsberg Schwaz, Sternkorona-MKV Hall, and ÖCV/A.V. Austria Innsbruck. In 1914, he was drafted into the Kaiserjäger Regiment in Hall and was captured as a prisoner of war by Italian forces in 1918. He returned to Hall in February 1919, resumed his studies, and eventually became a doctor, taking over his father's medical practice in Hall. Dr. Schumacher entered politics in 1929 and was actively involved in charitable work, particularly in combating poverty. During the Nazi occupation of Austria, he played a key role in the Hall resistance movement. As early as March 12, 1938, he helped protect membership lists of the Vaterländische Front(Patriotic Front) from the Nazis. That same day, he was taken into "protective custody" (Schutzhaft) and detained in the Hall courthouse prison until March 24, 1938. In October 1944, Dr. Schumacher was arrested again. Despite imprisonment, Gestapo surveillance, and the loss of his official positions, he continued his work as a physician and remained committed to resistance efforts. The Arrest of Dr. med. Viktor Schumacher (May 2–3, 1945, Solbad Hall) Background: The Resistance's Final Plan On May 2, 1945, as U.S. forces advanced toward Innsbruck, Dr. Viktor Schumacher--military leader of the armed uprising for the Hall Resistance Movement—met with fellow insurgents at Anton Haller’s apartment in Solbad Hall (now Hall in Tirol). Their goal: to coordinate a last-ditch uprising against the crumbling Nazi regime.
The Betrayal Late on May 2, Schumacher and Anton Demanega phoned Innsbruck’s resistance leaders from Schumacher’s medical office. At 1:00 AM on May 3, a local switchboard operator (E.A.) overheard Schumacher say: "Then we strike now." She immediately:
The Arrest
"The firing squad will be ready in two hours." Aftermath
(Sources: Tyrolean police archives, resistance memoirs, DÖW documentation.) Dr. med. Viktor Schumacher's Account of the Final Days of the Collapse Dr. Schumacher himself reported on the final days of the Nazi regime's collapse, noting that U.S. forces approached Innsbruck from the north and west. On May 2, 1945, he met with resistance fighters at Anton Haller’s apartment. During the meeting, they held a situational briefing to plan the uprising against Nazi rule. Discussions continued into the evening, with Toni Walder, Toni Haller, and Toni Dosch participating again, along with the acting mayor, Engineer Jud. The resistance planned for Engineer Walter Jud to approach the advancing U.S. troops with a white flag, ensuring the city could be taken without bloodshed. To coordinate this, they contacted Captain Johann Baumgartner, the military commander of Solbad Hall, who had secretly supported the resistance for years. The Night of May 2–3, 1945: The Resistance’s Final Moves Hourly strategy meetings took place in Anton Haller’s apartment. When no confirmation of the uprising arrived from Innsbruck, Haller and Walder drove to Café München in Innsbruck at 8:00 PM, where the Austrian resistance command under Dr. Karl Gruber was meeting. The code word was: "Palermo. After being taken to Gruber’s Telefunken office, they agreed that the uprising would be signaled via radio broadcast. However, no message came. Meanwhile, another strategy session was held at Haller’s home, joined by Albrecht and Stecher from the Innsbruck resistance. They insisted that the Volders Bridge had to be held at all costs. Discussions continued hourly until 2:00 AM, followed by a final meeting to prepare for the armed revolt. The Betrayal and Arrest of Dr. Schumacher After the meeting, Dr. Schumacher (responsible for planning the armed uprising) and Anton Demanega went to his medical practice to phone the Innsbruck resistance. At 1:00 AM on May 3, 1945, the switchboard operator E.A. at the Solbad Hall post office overheard the words: "Then we strike now." She immediately reported the call to Gauleiter Franz Hofer (1902-1975), identifying Line 111 as Dr. Schumacher’s connection. She also warned Captain Baumgartner, who was part of the resistance, that Hofer was sending SS officers to arrest Schumacher. Baumgartner managed to warn Anton Haller, Heinz Ehrenreich Thöni, Toni Dosch, Anton Demanega, and Toni Walder—but it was too late for Dr. Schumacher. SS officers were already waiting outside his home at Bruckergasse 1. Interrogation and Death Threat Schumacher was taken to the Gauhaus in Innsbruck, where SS officers interrogated him until dawn. He refused to reveal any details about the Hall resistance. In retaliation, he was threatened with a summary court-martial at 7:00 AM: "The firing squad will be ready in two hours." The Collapse of the Nazi Regime on May 3, 1945 Events unfolded rapidly, and by the next morning, the city of Innsbruck was already in the hands of the Austrian resistance. Dr. Viktor Schumacher, however, was still being held in the Gestapo interrogation room, though no further questioning took place. A Miraculous Escape
A Dangerous Journey Back to Hall
Spreading the News of His Survival
The Moment of Liberation *"Finally, around 4 or 5 PM, the radio broadcast announced: ‘Austrians! The city of Innsbruck is free!’ That was my signal—I had to return to Hall. Due to the uncertainty on the main road, I was advised to take the back routes through the villages. Luis Steinegger accompanied me as far as Mühlau. From there, I saw the red-and-white flag already flying on the church tower in Arzl. I continued on—every village had the red-and-white flag raised. By 7:30 PM, people were heading to May devotions when I reached Hall. I went into the city, met up with the resistance fighters, and together we marched to the town hall. American tanks had not yet entered Hall, but they were reportedly heading toward Lachhof to confront the Gauleiter."* (Source: Dr. Viktor Schumacher, unpublished manuscript titled "1945," pp. 3–4. Private Archive Schumacher, Hall in Tirol. Key Details:
May 4, 1945 – The Handover of Solbad Hall to U.S. Forces "The next morning around 8 AM, I went to the town hall with Haller and, I believe, Dr. Verdross. We went through all the offices of the municipal administration and utilities, instructing everyone to continue their work. I dismissed the most dangerous Nazis, who had already stopped showing up for duty. The resistance movement had appointed me as provisional mayor until the Americans arrived to formalize the transition—but they confirmed me in the role immediately and officially appointed me as mayor." (Source: Dr. Viktor Schumacher, unpublished manuscript titled "1945," p. 4. Private Archive Schumacher, Hall in Tyrol.) The Peaceful Transfer of Power On the morning of May 4, 1945, Dr. Viktor Schumacher—alongside Dr. Verdross and Anton Haller—officially surrendered the town of Solbad Hall to 1st Lieutenant Arthur G. Weeks of the U.S. Military Government, without resistance.
Schumacher’s Legacy as Mayor
0 Comments
|
Author
|
RSS Feed