Maria Köstler

Marie Köstler (, 21 November 1879 – November 1965), also known as Maria or Marie Koestler, was an Austrian nurse, trade unionist and politician. As a member of the Social Democratic Party of Austria (SDAPÖ), she was elected to the Landtag of Styria in 1920 and was elected to the National Council in 1930. She was expelled from Austria in 1934 and lived in exile in London during World War II, where she co-founded the League of Austrian Socialists in Great Britain. She returned to Austria after the end of the war and joined the Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ).

Biography Köstler was born on 21 November 1879 in Niemes, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary (now Mimoň in the Czech Republic). She grew up with her grandparents as a child (as her father died and her mother was unwell) and moved to Vienna to live with her maternal aunt after her grandfather died. She founded a nurses' union in Graz in 1917 and was secretary until trade unions were banned in 1934. Köstler served as the delegate from Styria to the 1926 Women's Reich Conference. serving during the fourth legislative period. and co-founded the League of Austrian Socialists in Great Britain in London with Annie Hatschek. She argued that a broad coalition had to be forged on the political left to win the war against fascism and Nazi Germany.

After the allied victory and end of World War II in Europe, Köstler returned to Austria in 1945 and joined the Communist Party of Austria (KPÖ) in 1946. She became a member of the Central Committee of the KPÖ and a member of the Association of Democratic Women (BDF).

Köstler retired in 1954. She died in November 1965.