Orders of Merit for Holocaust refugees from Innsbruck

In a small, personal ceremony, the City of Innsbruck has awarded Orders of Merit to three Holocaust refugees on 13 February 2012 at the Residence of the Austrian Ambassador in London: Vera Adams, Dorli Neale and Vera Graubart all had to flee their native Innsbruck as children on a Kindertransport to Britain, after the Nazis had taken power in Austria. Innsbruck City Councillor Gerti Mayr presented the awards to the three ladies in recognition of the tragedies they suffered: “Once an Innsbrucker, always an Innsbrucker: on this day, the city shows that it is proud of you!”

Honoree with Ambassador Emil Brix. Photo Mike Neale

HE Ambassador Emil Brix was delighted by this important remembrance event. He told his guests of honour: “It is always a special moment for me to meet Austrians who once had to flee their home under those tragic circumstances, and who – after all those long years – find a home in Austria once again”.

Writer Christoph Bauer, historian Horst Schreiber and teacher Irmgard Bibermann also came from Innsbruck especially to celebrate the three. Bauer read from his recent book on the Graubarts’ harrowing story, “Graubart Boulevard”.