 Photo Dr. jur. Troll, Alfons. In: Wopfner, Helmut (Hrsg.): Unsere Sternkorona Hall in Tirol. Mitgliederverzeichnis 1888 – 1998. Thaur 1998, p. 71. Anyone who wants to understand the recent history of Vorarlberg cannot overlook Dr. Alfons Troll. His biography reflects the fractures and upheavals of the 20th century – from the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy through the First Republic, the dictatorship of the Corporate State, the Nazi regime, and into the re-established Austria. Formative Years and Academic Roots Alfons Troll was born on November 9, 1889, in Schwarzach, Vorarlberg. His education at prestigious schools—the Jesuit college Stella Matutina in Feldkirch and the Franciscan Gymnasium in Hall in Tirol—laid the foundation for his intellectual career. His affinity for student traditions emerged early: in 1908, he became a member of the student association Sternkorona in Hall. His law studies took him to the universities of Innsbruck and Vienna. In Innsbruck, he joined the Catholic student association CV-Raeto-Bavaria, a network that would prove formative for his subsequent career path. Political Career and an Abrupt End During the era of Austrofascism, Troll became politically active in the Vaterländische Front (Fatherland Front). The peak of this era was his tenure as Landesstatthalter (Provincial Governor) of Vorarlberg from 1934 to 1938. As the right hand of the Landeshauptmann (Governor), he was one of the most influential political figures in the region. However, this career ended abruptly with the "Anschluss"—the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938. Like many politicians critical of the regime, Alfons Troll was arrested and imprisoned by the new powers. He was forced to resign from all his offices. Years of Silence and Resilience The period after his release from detention was marked by a struggle for daily survival. Since he received no pension from his previous position, he was forced to work as an agricultural laborerand bookkeeper for a relative. These years of withdrawal and professional demotion must have represented an immense personal caesura for the former Provincial Governor. A New Beginning and Judicial Work after 1945 With the end of the Second World War and the rebirth of Austria, Alfons Troll was offered a chance for a new start. His legal expertise and his uncompromised stance during the Nazi period made him a valuable asset for building a democratic judiciary. He first became the director and presiding judge of the Bezirksgericht (District Court) in Bregenz. In recognition of his abilities and merits, he was finally appointed President of the Landesgericht (Regional Court) in Feldkirch in 1951, a position he held until his retirement in 1955. In this role, he significantly shaped the judiciary in Vorarlberg during the crucial early years of the Second Austrian Republic. In 1955, he was awarded the Große Silberne Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich (Great Silver Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria). A Life of Service to Vorarlberg Dr. Alfons Troll died on November 30, 1964, in Bregenz. His life was a companion to turbulent Austrian history. From student to politician and finally to judge, he went through several life phases that were violently altered by external circumstances. His fate stands as an example of both the ruptures and the possibilities of new beginnings that history holds for the individual. He remains a remarkable personality in the history of Vorarlberg. Categories: #VorarlbergHistory #Judiciary #AustrianHistory #Biography #CorporateState
Tags: Alfons Troll, Provincial Governor, Regional Court Feldkirch, Vaterländische Front, Sternkorona, CV Raeto-Bavaria
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