Josef Pöschl: A Quiet Hero in the Resistance Against the Nazi Dictatorship

Photo: Josef Pöschl, in:  Wopfner ,Helmut (Hrsg.): Unsere Sternkorona Hall in Tirol. Mitgliederverzeichnis 1888 – 1998. Thaur 1998, p.101.

During the darkest period of Austria's history, courageous individuals stood up to the Nazi regime. One of them was Josef Pöschl, a postal official from Innsbruck, whose story is one of civil courage and unwavering faith.

Historical Context:

Following the annexation of Austria in 1938, the country became part of the German Reich. The Nazi regime attempted to bring all areas of life into line ("Gleichschaltung"). Resistance often formed in secret, driven by various motives – political conviction, religious faith, or humanitarian principles.

A Man of Faith and Duty:

Josef Pöschl, a graduate of the Franziskanergymnasium in Hall in Tirol, was deeply rooted in his Catholic faith and his monarchist convictions. These beliefs led him to fundamentally reject the Nazi regime. He demonstrated his stance early on by being active in his parish in Innsbruck-Amras, where he even served as a "Pfarrkirchenrat" during the Nazi era – a sign of quiet resistance.

Active Resistance in the "Gruppe Post":

In 1943, Pöschl joined the "Gruppe Post" (Postal Resistance Group). This unique group, later led by Engineer Carl Hirnschrott, used their professional positions in the telecommunications service for organized resistance. Their actions were of strategic importance:

• They set up a wiretapping service to monitor Nazi authorities.
• They maintained secret telephone lines to Garmisch to establish contact with the advancing American troops.
• Their most crucial contribution was preventing the destruction of vital telecommunications facilities by the German Wehrmacht and SS units in the final days of the war.

Josef Pöschl was a key figure in these efforts. As an expert in managing and monitoring long-distance calls, he was directly involved in these risky operations, playing a significant part in preserving infrastructure for the post-war period.

From Resistance Fighter to Post Office Director:

After the liberation in 1945, Josef Pöschl continued his service with the postal service. His brave commitment during the war and his professional competence led him to the position of Post Office Director, from which he eventually retired.
The story of Josef Pöschl reminds us that resistance had many faces. It was not always loud and spectacular; often, it was quiet, clever, and sustained by an inner moral fortitude that did not yield even to a totalitarian system.