He was a resistance fighter, prevented a fire in St. Stephen’s Cathedral and encouraged people – Gottfried Leitner died at the age of 100.
All his life, the good soul Leitner tried to warm the heart to all that was true, good and beautiful. What the Viennese, who has now died in his apartment on Graben, has had to experience and go through is valuable contemporary history and more. What distinguished Leitner: sincerity, empathy and courage.
“Escaped henchmen at the last minute”
The intellectually active resistance fighter and later journalist proved the latter when he rescued Torah scrolls from the burning synagogue in Linz during the pogrom night of 1938. He owes it to fate that the death sentence imposed by the Nazis was not carried out. Because the transport to Mauthausen concentration camp was attacked by Allied bombers. “I escaped my accomplices at the last minute,” Leitner said in the “Krone” interview during the pandemic.
Encouragement in difficult times
He confidently encouraged people: “With full strength and wisdom, we will survive Corona.” Like many, Leitner had become lonely during the crisis. The legend—as faithfully bound companions assure—actually lost faith until his death a few days ago, but never.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
