Grave of the Deserters Alfred Schoetz at the Cemetery Althofen

At the cemetery in Althofen/Mariapfarr lies the grave of Alfred Schoetz, marked with a black stone cross. Convinced that he was surrounded by Russian troops, the corporal deserted during the final days of the war and took refuge in the British-occupied Lungau. However, in Mariapfarr he encountered his company again and was arrested by them. Without a military trial, the deserter was executed a few days after the war ended on the initiative of the lieutenant Hans Müller, following a discussion with his former comrades, as a "deserter". He was shot dead at night on a field and his body was buried. Only later was his body found and Schoetz was buried at the cemetery. On the local war memorial, the soldier is not mentioned. Alfred Schoetz senior fought persistently for the prosecution of the involved parties despite Müller's influence in post-war judicial proceedings. Only in 1949, under significantly mitigated circumstances, were three participants found guilty.