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Von Sommer, Whose Medals Routed Vienna Nazis, Reported Executed with Family

January 16, 1940
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The execution of General Emil von Sommer, Austria Jewish monarchist who attracted world-wide attention in 1938 when he routed Nazi storm troopers in Vienna by appearing for forced labor in full uniform and medals, is reported by the Jewish newspaper Israelitisches Wochenblatt. The newspaper asserts that General von Sommer and his family were executed by the Nazis in charge of legitimist activities.

The general, who was leader of the Austrian Jewish War Veterans Legion in pro-Nazi Austria, was arrested following the Anschluss in March, 1938, not long after the encounter with the storm troopers. In 1934, he had offered the services of Jewish war veterans to the Dollfuss Government against the Nazis and issued a proclamation calling on Jewish patriots to support restoration of the Hapsburgs to the Austrian throne.

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