Anton SCHUBERT was born in Gross-Kunzendorf in Austrian Silesia (now Velké Kunětice in the Czech Republic) on September 19, 1910. He was raised Catholic and moved as a child to Salzburg where he became an electrical engineer and teacher. He lived at 8 Stadlhofstrasse in Salzburg-Itzling with his wife Elizabeth and their children. He shared ownership of the house with his brother Richard Schubert who also lived there with his family. Their parents, Anton and Thekla Schubert, lived in 31 Eichstrasse, Gnigl.
Anton SCHUBERT jr. took over as head of the Communist resistance organization in the Salzburg District (»Gau«) in February 1941 – using the code-name Max. At the beginning of 1942 Anton’s group and the Organization of Revolutionary Socialists were betrayed by an informer and their members were arrested.
The imprisoned Salzburg resisters were tried shortly after the victory of the Red Army at Stalingrad, and on April 6, 1943 Anton SCHUBERT jr. was tried by the so-called People’s Court [Volksgerichtshof] for conspiracy to commit high treason and sentenced to death. On July 22, 1943 he was beheaded in the Stadelheim prison in Munich. His brother Richard had also been arrested but was only sentenced to eight years in prison and was freed in May 1945.
In a still extant farewell letter addressed to his brother Richard and sister-in-law Maria that Anton wrote:
Dear brother and sister-in-law.Now I must also say farewell to you from this world. By the time you get my lines, I will have already left this world. My earthly suffering will come to an end today at 6 o’clock. I leave this world with a clear conscience. May you be allowed to survive the war, and may you be fated with a happier future.
I have one request of you, dear brother, and especially you, dear sister, as you’re the closest to my dear wife. Comfort my loved ones and support them with whatever is in your power. You have to be a comfort and support to one another. You are not the only ones from whom this war has demanded sacrifice, and you will also be strong enough to endure this sacrifice. Our suffering will soon be over, for you it will last your whole life long. Support each other as you have so far, and makes this life as comfortable for yourselves as it is possible for you. My poor dear mouse [wife] now needs strong support, and I beg you, dear sister-in-law to be that also for my dear children. My poor Lizzy will wait in vain for her father.
So, now be greeted and kissed for the last time by your Tony.
Nor have I forgotten Erika. Give my hearty greetings to all my acquaintances for the last time.
At the request of Anton’s mother Thekla Schubert, Franz Duernberger the priest in Gnigl held a mass for Anton. As a result Duernberger was arrested and imprisoned in the Dachau concentration camp until April 1945.
Translation: Stan Nadel
Stumbling Stone
Laid 22.08.2007 at Salzburg, Stadlhofstrasse 8
Anton SchubertPhoto: Archive of the Austrian Communist Party
