Johann Koplenig ( May 15 , 1891 – December 13 , 1968) was an Austrian politician. He was the Chairman of the Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) from 1945 until 1965, and Honorary Chairman of the party from 1965 until his death. In 1945, Koplenig was Vice-Chancellor of Austria in Karl Renner's provisional government. After his return home, Koplenig became active in the Communist Party of Austria in Styria. In 1922, he was elected to the party's Central Committee, of which he was elected General Secretary in 1924. Koplenig was elected a member of the Executive Committee of the Communist International in 1928, and in 1935–1943 he was a member of the committee's Presidium. When the KPÖ was banned by the regime of Engelbert Dollfuss in 1934, Koplenig went underground and continued to work illegally in Austria for a while before fleeing the country. He remained in exile after the Anschluss of Austria into Nazi Germany and the outbreak of World War II, and spent time in Czechoslovakia, France and the Soviet Union. Koplenig returned to Austria after the end of the war in 1945, and was made Vice-Chancellor in Karl Renner's provisional government, together with Adolf Schärf and Leopold Figl. The same year, he was elected to the National Council, where he was a deputy until 1959. He was also elected Chairman of the KPÖ, a post he would keep for 20 years before resigning in 1965; however, he retained the post of Honorary Chairman until his death.
Johann Koplenig ( 15 May 1891 – 13 December 1968) was an Austrian politician. He was the chairman of the Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) from 1945 until 1965, and Honorary Chairman of the party from 1965 until his death. In 1945, Koplenig was Vice-Chancellor of Austria in Karl Renner's provisional government. After his return home, Koplenig became active in the Communist Party of Austria in Styria. In 1922, he was elected to the party's Central Committee, of which he was elected general secretary in 1924. Koplenig was elected a member of the Executive Committee of the Communist International in 1928, and in 1935–1943 he was a member of the committee's Presidium. When the KPÖ was banned by the regime of Engelbert Dollfuss in 1934, Koplenig went underground and continued to work illegally in Austria for a while before fleeing the country. He remained in exile after the Anschluss of Austria into Nazi Germany and the outbreak of World War II, and spent time in Czechoslovakia, France and the Soviet Union. Koplenig returned to Austria after the end of the war in 1945, and was made Vice-Chancellor in Karl Renner's provisional government, together with Adolf Schärf and Leopold Figl. The same year, he was elected to the National Council, where he was a deputy until 1959. He was also elected Chairman of the KPÖ, a post he would keep for 20 years before resigning in 1965; however, he retained the post of Honorary chairman until his death.
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