Adolf Althoff

Adolf Althoff (German: [ˈaːdɔlf ˈʔalthɔf] ^ⓘ; 25 June 1913 in Sonsbeck – 14 October 1998 in Stolberg (Rhineland) was a German circus owner, animal tamer and performer who saved several people from the Holocaust by having them work and travel in his circus.[1]

Personal life

He was born into the family in Sonsbeck, Germany, as a member of a 300-year-old circus family. He was the second youngest of eight children born to Dominick and Adele Althoff, née Mark.[2] At age 17 he became publicity director for his families of the circus. In his twenties Althoff and his sister formed their own circus, of which he was the ringmaster for 30 years.[3] He married Maria von der Gathen in 1939.[2]

During World War II

In 1940, Althoff began five years work in concealing four members of the Danner performing family in his circus. Althoff provided the Danners with false identity papers and had the family working under pseudonyms.[4][5] Althoff warned the people he rescued with the code Go Fishing.[6] He later stated that he felt he had to help those in need, and that he could not leave them to the Nazi's.[7] Irene Danner stated that Adolf would allow all to work without papers, and even fired an employee that had threatened to denounce him for hiding Jews in the circus.[8]

In 1995 he and his wife Maria were named Righteous Among the Nations, an Israeli honor.[9][10]

Depiction in media

Althoff and his story have been featured in and provided inspiration for books such as Other Germans Under Hitler by Herbert Straeten, The Ringmasters Daughter by Carly Schabowski,[11] and Hidden on the High Wire by Kathy Kacer.[12] The events of his rescue during World War II are also dramatized in a 1998 Showtime TV-movie entitled Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Families.[13][14]

References

1. "From the testimony of Adolf Althoff". www.yadvashem.org. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
2. Hurowitz, Richard (2023). In the Garden of the Righteous; the Heros who Risked their Lives to save Jews During the Holocaust. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780063037236.
3. malte. "Irene Bento (1923-2006), survived the Holocaust by being hidden in Circus Adolf Althoff – Diverging Fates". Retrieved 2022-07-14.
4. "Obituary: Adolf Althoff". The Independent. 1998-10-21. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
5. "Irene Danner's Testimony". www.yadvashem.org. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
6. "Sawdust and Spangle-Land – a Brief History of the Circus in Germany | Sarah Matthias". Retrieved 2022-07-14.
7. Gilbert, Martin (2010). The Righteous; The Unsung Hero's of the Holocaust. New York: Henry Holt and Company. p. 185. ISBN 9781429900362.
8. Otte, Marline (2006). Jewish Identities in German Popular Entertainment, 1890–1933. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521856300.
9. "Adolf and Maria Althoff". www.yadvashem.org. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
10. "Althoff, Adolf and Maria". The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
11. Schabowski, Carly (2020). The Ringmasters Daughter; A Beautiful and Heartbreaking World War 2 love story. London: Bookouture. ISBN 9781838881290.
12. Kacer, Kathy (2022). Hidden on the High Wire. Canada: Second Story Press. ISBN 9781772602517.
13. Pace, Eric (1998-10-19). "Adolf Althoff, 85, Circus Chief Who Hid People From Nazis". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
14. "The Ringmaster Who Saved Jews - Adolf Althoff". Accidental Talmudist. 2017-12-06. Retrieved 2022-07-14.

External links

• Adolf Althoff at Yad Vashem website