Fritz Hochwalder was born in Vienna and completed his education at the Volkshochschule, Vienna. He started out as a paperhanger’s apprentice and in 1936 became master of his craft. Until 1938 he was head of his own workshop.
From 1927 to 1934 F. Hochwalder was a member of the Socialistische Arbeiterjugend and the trade union’s secretary.
In 1938, after the Anschluss, Hochwalder emigrated, illegally, to Switzerland. He settled in Zurich, but was unable to obtain a work permit. He earned his living as a freelance writer.
Hochwalder was a member of the illegal K.P.O. (Kommunistische Partei Oesterreichs) in Switzerland. From 1941 to 1942 he was interned in Gordola and Davesco labor camps.
Fritz Hochwalder is the author of dramas dealing with historical or ideological subjects. Many of his works have been conceived while being in exile and published after WW2. In 1947 he became a member of the PE.N. (Publicists, Essayists and Novelists). Hochwald received the Literary Prize of the City of Vienna (1955); Grillparzer Prize (1956); Wildgans Prize (1963); the honorary title of Professor in Australia (1964), and the Australian National Prize (1967).
Noteworthy among his works are Das heilige Experiment (Elgg, Zurich, 1947); Der Fluchtling (Munich, 1948); Donadien (Hamburg, 1953); Der offentliche Anklager (Hamburg, 1954); Hotel du Commerce (Elgg, Zurich, 1954); Die Herberge (Elgg, Zurich, 1956); Der Unschuldige (Elgg, Zurich, 1958); Dramen, 2 volumes (Munich, Vienna, 1959-64); Dramen (Munich, Vienna, 1968); Dramen, vol.1 (Gratz, 1975-).