Dipl. Ing. Dr. Karl Gruber (1909–1995)

Photo Dipl. Ing. Dr. Karl Gruber. Held in: https://www.parlament.gv.at/person/530 (Stand: September 6, 2025)

Full Name: Karl Gruber
Born: 3 May 1909 in Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria-Hungary
Died: 1 February 1995 in Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria (aged 85)
Profession: Electrical Engineer, Diplomat, Politician (ÖVP - Austrian People's Party)
Role in the Resistance: Leading figure of the Tyrolean resistance movement
Known as: "Liberator of Innsbruck", Negotiator of the Gruber-De Gasperi Agreement

Summary of his life and work:

Karl Gruber was an Austrian engineer, resistance fighter, politician, and diplomat. He played a key role in the liberation of Tyrol and in the reconstruction of Austria after 1945.

• Resistance: As an engineer at the Tiroler Elektrizitätswerke (TIWAG), he was able to travel extensively and build a far-reaching resistance network. He was the central leadership figure of the Austrian Freedom Movement (O5) in Tyrol.

• Liberation of Innsbruck: On 3 May 1945, Gruber took the initiative and, at great personal risk, negotiated with the German city commander of Innsbruck, Major Karl Pitzer, for the peaceful surrender of the city to the Allies. This courageous act prevented the destruction of Innsbruck and earned him the nickname "Liberator of Innsbruck."

• Politician: After the war, he became the first Governor (Landeshauptmann) of Tyrol (1945–1946) in the Second Austrian Republic.

• Foreign Minister: From 1945 to 1953, he served as Austrian Foreign Minister. In this role, he negotiated the important Gruber-De Gasperi Agreement in 1946, which defined the rights of the German-speaking minority in South Tyrol and still forms the basis for South Tyrol policy today.

• Diplomat: After his tenure as Foreign Minister, he had a long career as an Austrian ambassador, including postings to the United States (1954–1957), Spain, and Turkey.
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In contrast to Dollfuß, Karl Gruber is revered across the political spectrum as a hero of the resistance and as one of the architects of modern, democratic Austria. See Blog (Walder Anton Parts 1 and 2, as well as Blog Anton Haller Resistance Movement Hall in Tirol)