Early Life
Otto Antonius was the eldest of five children. His father was Protestant minister a native of Transylvania. Otto was named after the German chancellor Otto von Bismarck.
He attended classical grammar school in Vienna and studied in particular natural sciences, zoology and palaeontology at the University of Vienna. During his years of study, Antonius joined a nationalist fraternity, named “Silesia” which strove for a Pan-German solution. His father and three of his brothers were also members of this student organisation.
In 1910 he received his PhD and started to work for Professor Othenio Abel as scientific assistant at the chair of palaeobiology. Until 1918 he served in World War I as lieutenant and liaison officer. He received several medals: the Eisernes Kreuz, the Eiserner Halbmond and the Silberne Tapferkeitsmedaille.
In 1919 he resumed his scientific work as assistant professor. The same year he received his habilitation from the University of Vienna, in 1921 from the University of Agriculture.
In 1922 he married Margarethe von Tunner, they had two daughters.
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