Memorial Plaque for the Fallen with Order Refuser Otto Schimek

In the Josefskapelle of the Leopoldskirche at the Alexander-Poch-Platz in the 2nd district, a memorial was erected around 1948 for approximately 300 fallen soldiers of the Second World War. The memorial is adorned with an Iron Cross and two Christian crosses, naming the names, ranks, and dates of death of the fallen, as well as a dedicatory inscription. The commemorative plaque also mentions — atypically for soldier memorials — Otto Schimek as a fallen soldier. Schimek was executed as a deserter on 14 November 1944 and is considered a victim of NS military justice. The frequently expressed assumption that Schimek was executed because he refused to carry out an order to participate in the execution of Polish civilians is disputed.