15 Facts About Richard Steidle

Richard Steidle was an Austrian lawyer and the leader of the paramilitary Heimwehr in Tyrol.

Richard Steidle was born in the Untermais district of Meran, South Tyrol, with his father having originally come from the Duchy of Wurttemberg.

Richard Steidle studied at the University of Innsbruck, completing his doctorate in jurisprudence.

Richard Steidle was closely associated with the Tirolische Bauernbund, a peasants group affiliated to the Christian Social Party.

Richard Steidle built a career in politics alongside his militia activity and represented the Christian Social Party in the Tyrolean Landtag from 1919 to 1934 and sat in the Bundesrat from 1922 to 1931, twice chairing the body.

The Heimwehr in Tyrol was established on 15 May 1920 with Richard Steidle confirmed as the group's Landesfuhrer.

Richard Steidle summed up his opinion by arguing that he hated only Jewish Marxists and that patriotic Jews were welcome in the Heimwehr.

Richard Steidle's newly moderated views caused some controversy within the Heimwehr and led to Steidle splitting from his former ally Walter Pfrimer, the regional leader in Styria and a staunch antisemite.

Now an important figure, Richard Steidle enjoyed a good relationship with Johann Schober and was considered for a place in his third government, although no appointment was made.

Richard Steidle served as president of the Osterreichischer Alpenverein for a time.

Richard Steidle grew closer to the anti-Nazism of the Austrofascists who came to dominate Austrian politics in the mid-1930s and in 1934 he was appointed Consul general in Trieste under Kurt Schuschnigg's government.

Richard Steidle held this position until the Anschluss when, along with many of his fellow government officials, he was sent to Buchenwald.

Richard Steidle was sent to the camp on the basis that in his roles of Landesrat of Tyrol from March 1933 to November 1934 and security director of Tyrol in late 1933 he had allegedly treated members of the outlawed Austrian Nazi Party with undue harshness.

In June 1933, two Nazis tried to assassinate Richard Steidle, wounding him in the forearm.

Richard Steidle was shot and killed by camp guards at Buchenwald on 30 August 1940.