Leo Leixner

Leo Leixner
Birth name Leopold Leixner
Born (1908-03-26)March 26, 1908
Thörl-Maglern, Austria
Died August 14, 1942(1942-08-14) (aged 34)
Krasnodar-Küban Russia
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch Army
Rank Wachtmeister
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Iron Cross First Class
Relations Marga Käthe Leixner (née Gambalis- Altmann)

Leo Leixner (1908-1942) was a Nazi journalist and war correspondent. He is known for his book From Lemberg to Bordeaux, a first hand account of war in Poland, the Low Countries, and France, 1939-40.

Early life and education

Leo Leixner, a schoolteacher's son, was born in Thörl-Maglern (Austria) on March 26, 1908, graduated in 1918 from the German National Real Gymnasium in Villach. He studied German Literature at the University of Graz and received his Doctor of Philosophy in 1932, with a dissertation entitled Mohammed in German Poetry.[1][2]

Journalist and War Correspondent

After 1933, Leixner wrote for Der Angriff newspaper, and was assigned to the Vienna office. He also wrote for the Völkischer Beobachter and other Nazi publications. On August 22, 1939, Leixner volunteered for the Wehrmacht. His most popular book was the illustrated From Lemberg to Bordeaux: Front Experiences of a War Reporter (1941).[3]

Death

Leixner was killed 14 August 1942 in Krasnodar-Kuban (Russia). He was shot through the head while crossing the Kuban River in an inflatable boat. He was awarded an Iron Cross First Class on the day of his death.[4]

Books

  • Von Lemberg bis Bordeaux : Fronterlebnisse eines Kriegsberichters (From Lemberg to Bordeaux: Front Experiences of a War Reporter) by Leo Leixner. 11 editions published between 1941 and 1942 in German and held by 71 WorldCat member libraries worldwide.
  • Generaloberst Eugen Ritter von Schobert; Lebensbild eines deutschen Armeeführers by Leo Leixner. 4 editions published in 1942 in German and held by 13 WorldCat member libraries worldwide


References

  1. ↑ Erich Nussbaumer, Josef-Friedrich-Perkonig-Gesellschaft. Kärnten im Wort: Aus d. Dichtung eines halben Jahrhunderts, 1971, p. 279
  2. ↑ Joh. Leon. Carinthia I.: Mitteilungen des Geschichtsvereins für Kärnten. 2004, p. 105
  3. ↑ Pruckner, Marion. Dr. Leo Leixner – ein typischer Vertreter der nationalsozialistischen Kriegsberichterstatter? Thesis, University of Vienna 2009
  4. ↑ Leo Leixner on Deutschekriegsgräberfürsorge
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