Help for Jewish Refugees in the Villa Niedrist Pertisau

In the Villa Niedrist, Jewish refugees from Berlin were hidden. Rudolf Ruhmann arrived in January 1943 with a forged passport in Pertisau. His friends, the siblings Isabella and Hans Niedrist, gave him shelter. At his request, they also took in Irene Dann and her daughters Eva and Marion, who made their way to Tirol in early February 1943. A denunciation led to a house search by the Gestapo. The Niedrist siblings found new accommodations for the refugees on mountain farms outside of Niederau („Egghof“) and in the community of Hopfgarten („Hühnersbichlhof“) with the help of the teacher Heinz Thaler from Niederau in Wildschönau. Over 100 locals were informed, countless people offered shelter and help for over two years. All four survived. There is still no memorial that recalls this exceptional act of civilian courage.