Leopold, Josef#

b. Langenlois (Lower Austria), Feb. 18, 1889, d. Malin near Shitomir (Ukraine, died in combat), July 24, 1941, officer and National Socialist politician. Until July 22, 1933 in the Austrian Federal Army captain, 1919 joined the DNSAP party, 1925 became kreisleiter of the Waldviertel area of Austria, in 1927 gauleiter for Lower Austria, 1932 member of the Lower Austrian Landtag and member of the provincial government, between July 1933-1936 was arrested several times, from January 1935 provincial leader of the (illegal) NSDAP in Austria, was involved in internal party conflicts and on Feb. 21, 1938 was removed by Hitler. When in May 1938 he was not considered for a position as gauleiter, joined the German Army April 1, 1940, took part in Hitler's French campaign and died as a lieutenant colonel during the Russian campaign.

Literature#