Austrian musicians died at 31
Here are 5 famous musicians from Austria died at 31:
Walter Werginz
Walter Werginz (February 18, 1913-March 21, 1944) was an Austrian personality.
Walter Werginz was an Austrian alpine skier, who was renowned for his remarkable skiing skills. He had a flair for skiing from a young age and began competing in professional skiing events at the age of 15. Werginz's skiing techniques were unique, and he often astonished audiences with his energetic skiing performances. Despite his success as a skier, Werginz's life was cut short when he was conscripted into the German Army during World War II. He was killed in action at the age of 31 in 1944. Despite his short-lived career, Walter Werginz's legacy as an Austrian hero still lives on, inspiring young skiers worldwide.
During his skiing career, Walter Werginz achieved many significant accolades. He was a three-time national champion in downhill skiing, and he also won the silver medal in the famous Lauberhorn race in Switzerland in 1936. Werginz continued his skiing career even after being drafted into the German army, and he became a member of the Wehrmacht ski troops. He was sent to the Eastern Front, where he served as a sergeant. Unfortunately, Werginz was killed in an attack during the battles around Monte Cassino in Italy. After his death, he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Medal of Valor for his bravery in combat. Walter Werginz's life serves as an inspiration for many young athletes, who look up to him for his hard work, dedication, and skill in the sport of skiing.
In addition to his skiing achievements, Walter Werginz was also known for his love of nature and the mountains. He often volunteered as a mountain guide, helping to guide hikers and climbers through the Austrian Alps. Werginz was also an avid photographer, and many of his photographs of the alpine landscape are still admired today. His passion for the mountains and the outdoors is reflected in his skiing style, which was characterized by a fearless approach to steep and treacherous slopes. Werginz's legacy continues to inspire young skiers and nature enthusiasts around the world. Today, there is a skiing run in Austria named after him, and his memory is celebrated every year at the Walter Werginz Memorial Ski Race.
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Joanna of Austria, Grand Duchess of Tuscany
Joanna of Austria, Grand Duchess of Tuscany (January 24, 1547 Prague-April 11, 1578 Florence) was an Austrian personality. She had four children, Marie de' Medici, Eleanor de' Medici, Philip de' Medici and Anna de' Medici.
Joanna was the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I and his wife Anna of Bohemia and Hungary. She grew up in a devoutly Catholic household and was well-educated in a variety of subjects. In 1565, she married Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, forming a powerful alliance between the Austrian Habsburgs and the Italian Medici family.
As Grand Duchess of Tuscany, Joanna was involved in various charitable works and patronage of the arts. She supported the construction of the Medici Villa di Pratolino and commissioned notable artists such as Giorgio Vasari and Giovanni Bologna to create works for the family.
Joanna was known to have a gentle and kind nature and was greatly loved by the people of Tuscany. She died at the age of 31, likely from complications related to her fourth pregnancy. Her daughter Marie would later become Queen of France and her legacy as a patron of the arts and supporter of the Catholic Church would continue through her descendants.
Joanna of Austria was also known for her intelligence and diplomacy. She helped negotiate a peace treaty between her brother, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II, and the Ottoman Empire in 1568. Additionally, she played a role in facilitating the marriage of her sister Catherine to Polish King Sigismund II Augustus in 1553.
At the time of her marriage to Francesco I de' Medici, Joanna was considered to be one of the most eligible princesses in Europe. Her dowry included a large sum of money, as well as valuable territories in Austria and Hungary. The marriage was also significant because it strengthened the political ties between the Habsburgs and the Medicis.
Despite her short life, Joanna had a lasting impact on the cultural and artistic heritage of Tuscany. The Medici Villa di Pratolino, which she helped fund, is considered to be one of the most important examples of Italian Renaissance gardens. She also commissioned several important works of art, including the statue of Cosimo I de' Medici by Giovanni Bologna.
Joanna's death at a young age was a source of great sadness for her family and the people of Tuscany. She was buried in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence, where her husband later commissioned a monumental tomb in her honor.
One of Joanna's most notable accomplishments was her support of the Counter-Reformation, which was a period of Catholic revival and response to the Protestant Reformation. She worked closely with the Jesuits to establish new schools and promote Catholic education in Tuscany, and even invited the Jesuit founder, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, to visit Florence.
Despite her devotion to Catholicism, Joanna was also known for her tolerant attitudes towards Jews and Muslims. She intervened on behalf of Jewish residents in Florence who were being persecuted by the Inquisition, and negotiated treaties with Muslim powers to protect Austrian interests in the Mediterranean.
Joanna's impact on Tuscany was not limited to art and culture. She also played a role in the administration of the state, serving as regent during her husband's absence on military campaigns. This experience gave her valuable political skills and insight into the workings of government.
Overall, Joanna of Austria was a woman of many talents and accomplishments, whose legacy continues to be felt in Tuscany and beyond. Her devotion to Catholicism and the arts, as well as her political savvy and diplomacy, made her an important figure in European history during the 16th century.
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Emil Juracka
Emil Juracka (June 11, 1912-February 21, 1944) was an Austrian personality.
He was a professional football player who played as a striker for several clubs in Austria and Germany, including Wiener AC and FK Austria Wien. He also represented the Austrian national team in four international matches between 1935 and 1938, scoring one goal.
Juracka's career was cut short by the outbreak of World War II. He was drafted into the Wehrmacht and fought on the Eastern Front, where he was killed in action in 1944 at the age of 31. Despite his relatively short career, Juracka remains a revered figure in Austrian football history, remembered for his skill, tenacity, and dedication to the sport.
Born in Vienna, Austria, Juracka began playing football at a young age and quickly established himself as a talented player. He made his debut for Wiener AC at the age of 20 and helped the club win the Austrian championship in 1933. He then moved on to FK Austria Wien, where he continued to impress with his scoring ability and work rate.
In addition to his club success, Juracka was also a regular member of the Austrian national team during the 1930s. He scored his only international goal in a 2-0 victory over Hungary in 1937 and was widely regarded as one of the country's best players at the time.
After the outbreak of World War II, Juracka was drafted into the Wehrmacht and sent to fight on the Eastern Front. He continued to play football for military teams whenever possible but eventually lost his life in battle.
Despite his untimely death, Juracka's legacy in Austrian football continues to be celebrated. He was posthumously inducted into the Austrian Football Hall of Fame in 2014 and is remembered as a true icon of the sport in his home country.
Juracka's skill and dedication to the sport were unmatched, and his untimely death was a tremendous loss for football fans in Austria and beyond. He remains a beloved figure in the history of both Wiener AC and FK Austria Wien, with many fans considering him to be one of the greatest players to ever wear their respective jerseys.
In addition to his exploits on the field, Juracka was also known for his off-field personality. He was regarded as a kind and generous person who always had time for his fans and teammates. His commitment to the sport and his country was unwavering, even when faced with the ultimate sacrifice.
Today, Emil Juracka's name is still held in high regard in Austria's footballing communities. He is remembered as a player who always gave his all, both on and off the field, and as a true hero who gave his life in service to his country.
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Ferdinand Kiefler
Ferdinand Kiefler (August 4, 1913-January 13, 1945) was an Austrian personality.
Ferdinand Kiefler was a prominent Austrian resistance fighter during World War II. He was involved in various anti-Nazi activities as a member of the Austrian resistance, including distributing anti-Nazi propaganda and organizing underground meetings. In January 1945, he was captured by the Gestapo and executed at the age of 31. Kiefler's bravery and sacrifice have made him a symbol of the Austrian resistance movement and a hero of Austrian history.
Kiefler was born in the small town of Längenfeld in the Austrian Tyrol region. He grew up in a family of farmers and was raised in a Catholic household. After finishing school, Kiefler moved to Innsbruck to study law, but his studies were cut short by the outbreak of World War II.
Kiefler joined the Austrian resistance movement shortly after the German invasion of Austria in 1938. He became a member of a group known as the Tyrolean Freedom Fighters, which was led by his older brother Johann. The group was dedicated to fighting against the Nazi occupation of Austria.
Kiefler's involvement in the resistance involved numerous dangerous activities, including distributing anti-Nazi leaflets and organizing secret meetings with other resistance fighters. He also helped smuggle Jewish refugees out of the country and provided them with safe housing.
In 1944, Kiefler was arrested by the Gestapo and tortured in an attempt to obtain information about the resistance movement. Despite the brutality of his interrogators, Kiefler did not betray his comrades. He was eventually sentenced to death and executed in Innsbruck's Hofgarten Square in January 1945.
Today, Kiefler is remembered as a hero in Austria and his bravery and sacrifice continue to inspire generations. In 1963, a memorial was erected in Kiefler's honor in his hometown of Längenfeld.
In addition to his activities with the Tyrolean Freedom Fighters, Kiefler also worked as a teacher and taught at a school in Innsbruck. He was known for his dedication to his students and was beloved by many of them. Kiefler was also a talented athlete and enjoyed playing soccer in his free time.
After his execution, Kiefler's legacy lived on through his family and the Austrian resistance movement. His brother Johann continued to fight against the Nazis and was eventually captured and sent to a concentration camp, where he died in 1944. Kiefler's parents also played a role in the resistance and helped shelter Jewish refugees.
In 1955, Austria officially declared itself a neutral state, and the country began to grapple with its role in World War II. Many Austrians began to question their complicity and involvement in Nazi atrocities. Kiefler's story became an important part of this national reckoning, and he was often held up as an example of the bravery and defiance needed to resist oppressive regimes.
Today, Kiefler's memory lives on through the countless memorials and monuments erected in his honor, as well as in the hearts and minds of people around the world who are inspired by his courage and dedication to justice.
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Alfred Schmalzer
Alfred Schmalzer (October 28, 1912-January 21, 1944) was an Austrian personality.
Alfred Schmalzer was born in Vienna, Austria and was a talented athlete in his youth. He played soccer and was a standout swimmer, even winning several national championships. However, his promising athletic career was cut short due to the outbreak of World War II. Schmalzer volunteered for the German Army and was eventually sent to the Eastern Front. During his time in combat, he displayed great courage and leadership, eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant.
Unfortunately, Schmalzer's life was also cut short when he was killed in action on January 21, 1944, at the age of 31. Nonetheless, his bravery and heroism have been remembered and celebrated to this day, in Austria and beyond.
Alfred Schmalzer's legacy has also been commemorated in other ways. In Vienna, there is a street named after him, as well as a memorial plaque in his honor. Additionally, he was posthumously awarded the Iron Cross, one of the highest military honors in Germany at the time.
Despite his relatively short life, Alfred Schmalzer's impact has been felt by many. His dedication to his country and bravery in the face of danger serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by so many during times of war.
Furthermore, Alfred Schmalzer's passion for sports continued to inspire others even after his death. In 1956, the Alfred Schmalzer Swimming Cup was initiated in Vienna to honor his achievements as a swimmer. The competition is still held annually and attracts swimmers from all over Austria. Moreover, Schmalzer's story was told in a documentary film called "Alfred Schmalzer - The Swimming Lieutenant" which premiered in 2019. The film sheds light on his life and depicts how he was able to bring some joy and entertainment to his fellow soldiers during the war by organizing soccer matches and swimming competitions. Alfred Schmalzer's contributions to his country and his name will always be remembered with great admiration and respect.
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