Martin Berger (1885 – 1953) - The Postal Official Who Defied the Nazis

Photo: Martin Berger, from: Helmut Wopfner (ed.), Unsere Sternkorona Hall in Tirol. Mitgliederverzeichnis 1888 – 1998, Thaur 1998, p. 57.

In the dark years of the Nazi regime, courage often appeared in the most unassuming places. One such story is that of Martin Berger, a postal accountant from Hall in Tirol, whose quiet defiance and strategic role in the resistance made him a vital figure in Austria's fight for freedom.

Early Life and Formative Years

Martin Berger was born on October 14, 1885, in Höhnhart, Upper Austria. He received his education at the Franciscan Gymnasium in Hall in Tirol, where he joined the student fraternity Sternkorona on May 10, 1905. This early affiliation with a Catholic student organization would shape his lifelong worldview. He initially pursued law at the University of Innsbruck but left his studies to build a career in the accounting department of the postal service—a position that would later become a cover for his clandestine activities.

A Resistor from the Start

Even before the Anschluss in 1938, Martin Berger was among those in Hall who openly expressed their opposition to the rising tide of National Socialism. His commitment to his ideals was immediate and action-oriented.
As early as March 1938, he became a founding member of one of the first Catholic resistance circles in Hall. This group, which included his stepson Dr. Walter Krajnc, Dr. Matthias Pahle, and the brothers Peter and Michael Zwetkoff, held its secret meetings in the upper sacristy of the St. Nikolaus parish church. (see blog post Dr. Walter Krajnc, Dr. Matthias Pahle and the brothers Peter and Michael Zwetkoff)

The "Post" Resistance Network

Berger's most significant contributions came through his involvement with the Innsbruck-based resistance circle aptly named "Post." From 1943 onward, under the leadership of TTI Haberditzl, this group became a nerve center for opposition activities.

​The "Post" group specialized in:

• Collaborating with other resistance cells.
• Gathering crucial intelligence.
• Providing support to imprisoned comrades.

When many of its members were conscripted into the Wehrmacht between 1943 and 1944, technicians from the telephone and telegraph office stepped in to keep the network operational. As the war drew to a close, their mission became critically technical: to maintain and protect communication infrastructurefrom being destroyed by the retreating German army, thereby aiding the advancing American forces.
(See blog post Anton Walder I)

A Key Role in the Final Days

In the war's chaotic final phase, Martin Berger's actions were directly instrumental to the liberation effort. He took on the dangerous task of smuggling Austrian soldiers and deserters into mountain camps around Innsbruck, where they could organize for a final stand. He also joined the renowned resistance group led by Anton Haller and Dr. Viktor Schumacher in Hall, ensuring a coordinated effort across the region. (see blog post resistance group Anton Haller)

Post-War Life and Legacy

After the collapse of the Nazi regime, Martin Berger returned to his profession, continuing his work in the postal accounting service until 1950, when he retired with the honorable title of Postrechnungsdirektor(Postal Accounting Director).
Martin Berger passed away in 1953. His life stands as a powerful testament to the fact that resistance was not the domain of soldiers alone. It was also the work of civil servants, fathers, and ordinary citizens who, armed with profound conviction and strategic positions, risked everything to reclaim their nation's future. He remains a pivotal figure in the history of Austrian resistance.