"K.ö.St.V. Nibelungia Hall in the Nazi Resistance"

Historical Context:

Some Austrian Catholic student fraternities (Studentenverbindungen) were involved in resistance activities against the Nazi regime (1938–1945). The MKV , to which Nibelungia likely belonged, included members who opposed Nazism on religious and patriotic grounds.

​Photograph: "Historical Archives of K.ö.St.V. Nibelungia, Catholic Austrian Student Fraternity in Hall, Tyrol".

K.ö.St.V. Nibelungia Hall: A Student Fraternity in Resistance (1926–1945)

Nibelungia is a Catholic student fraternity (Studentenverbindung) founded in Hall in Tirol in 1926. Among its early members was Anton Dosch, who joined as a student at the Franziskaner Gymnasium. He became the fraternity’s first chronicler and continued documenting its history even during the Nazi era (1938–1945), despite the severe risks involved.
Dosch displayed remarkable courage by recording statements in the chronicle that, if discovered by the Gestapo during a house search, could have led to his arrest or worse. Nevertheless, he kept writing entries from 1938 until the end of the war in 1945, preserving the fraternity’s legacy under oppression.

The Active Leadership of Nibelungia in March 1938

At the time of the Anschluss (Nazi Germany’s annexation of Austria), the fraternity’s active leadership (Chargen-Kabinett) in Solbad Hall consisted of:

• Franz Obholzer (1920–2005), alias Sigurt
• Herbert Egger (1920–1994), alias Armin
• Michael Sojer (1920–2016), alias Locki (serving as FM – likely Fuchsmajor, a role for mentoring new members)

Elected Senior Members (Philister-Chargen) in 1938
On September 23, 1938, the following senior members (Philister) were elected:

• Dr. Matthias Pahle (1905–1953), alias Hagen
• Karl Weber (1915–1967), alias Schlauch
• Anton Dosch (1914–1979), alias Tell (serving as treasurer and secretary)

Key Notes on Style & Clarity:

• "vulgo (vg.)" (Latin for "commonly known as") is replaced with "alias" for smoother English readability.
• "Philister" (senior/alumni members of the fraternity) is translated as "senior members" for clarity.
• Historical context is subtly woven in (e.g., mentioning the Anschluss and Gestapo risks) to help international readers understand the significance.

The Hötting Hall Brawl (1932)

The Höttinger Saalschlacht was a politically motivated and violent clash between National Socialists and Social Democrats on October 15, 1932, in the Hötting district of Innsbruck. It is considered one of the most violent confrontations in the First Republic of Austria, especially in Tyrol, and reflected the growing political tensions between the political right (mainly the NSDAP) and the left (primarily the SDAP) during the final phase of Austrian democracy.

Background

• Political Situation: At the time, Austria was suffering from economic hardship, widespread unemployment, and increasing political radicalization. In Tyrol, National Socialism—although officially banned—was particularly active, sometimes tolerated by conservative authorities.
• Event: On October 15, 1932, the National Socialists held a political rally at the Sonnenburg Inn in Hötting—a district known for its Social Democratic leanings. Although the NSDAP would officially be banned in June 1933, it continued to operate quite openly at this point.
• Counterdemonstration: Social Democratic and pro-republican groups organized a counter-demonstration to protest the Nazi event

The Course of Events

• Violence: The situation escalated into violence outside the inn. Gunshots were fired, although it remains unclear who fired first.
• Casualties: Two people were killed—one from the Social Democratic side, and one from the National Socialist side—and several others were seriously injured.
• Police Response: The police intervened too late and hesitantly. As a result, the incident also gained political significance regarding law enforcement’s conduct.

Significance

• Both political camps used the Hötting Brawl for propaganda purposes.
• For the National Socialists, it became a “martyrdom” narrative used for political mobilization.
• For the Social Democrats, it was evidence of Nazi aggression and served as a warning sign of impending fascism.
• In Tyrol, the event further deepened political polarization and weakened public trust in state institutions.

Historical Context

The Hötting Hall Brawl foreshadowed the violent collapse of Austria’s First Republic. Just months later, in 1933/34, the Austrofascist authoritarian regime was established, which suppressed both Social Democrats and National Socialists. The Austrian Civil War (Österreichischer Bürgerkrieg) followed shortly afterward in February 1934.

The Nibelungia Student Fraternity Opposed National Socialism as Early as 1932

Evidence of the fraternity’s anti-Nazi stance can be seen in the following photos, which document the "Höttinger Saalschlacht" (Hötting Hall Brawl)—a clash between nationalist-socialist groups and opposing student associations.

Photographs: "Höttinger Saalschlacht"- Hötting Hall Brawl. In: ​​"Historical Archives of K.ö.St.V. Nibelungia, Catholic Austrian Student Fraternity in Hall, Tyrol".

"On June 10, 1938, the Nibelungia [student fraternity] was forcibly dissolved as an organization, and its assets were confiscated by the Nazi Party (NSDAP)."

​Photograph: Anton Dosch. In: "Historical Archives of K.ö.St.V. Nibelungia, Catholic Austrian Student Fraternity in Hall, Tyrol".

The Gestapo's Harassment of Anton Dosch - A Chronicle of Defiance

As secretary and chronicler of Nibelungia, Anton Dosch was repeatedly visited by Gestapo officers, police, and Nazi Party officials demanding he reveal the names and addresses of his fraternity brothers. Regarding these interrogations, he wrote in the chronicle:
"My home keeps receiving visits from the Gestapo, police, Party members, etc., all demanding information about the former Nibelungia. They should know this: even today, we remain bound by unbreakable loyalty! If they had their way, this entire 'reactionary conspiracy' would be marching straight to Dachau—but so far, I've always managed to keep the brothers hidden from their sight. These swine will never defile our banner!
They come openly as hyenas, seeking to tear us apart—but they also arrive in sheep's clothing, as shown in the attached document. For us, only one thing matters, and it remains our battle cry against the brown-clad executioners:
'For the Homeland—For the Friend—and our Homeland is never "Greater Germany"! Our Homeland is and shall always be "Austria-Tyrol!"'

Further Members of Nibelungia in the Nazi Resistance

Dr. Adolf Rauch (1914–2006) , as referenced in Blog: 76

Dr. Matthias Pahle (1905 - 1953), as referenced in Blog: 5

TTI-Ing. Carl Hirnschrott (1907- 1981), as referenced in Blog: 60

Dr. Nikolaus Pfeifauf (1910-1971), as referenced in Blog: 8