Luise Biasioli

This is the story of Luise Biasioli, a typist in the Landhaus. She died in the building’s air-raid shelter in a bombing raid.

Luise Biasioli was born in Trient in 1893 and went to school in Innsbruck. In 1924 she found work in the Landhaus. With the beginning of the war in September 1939, her working conditions changed drastically. From 1943 Allied air raids became a daily threat.

The heaviest attack on Innsbruck took place at midday on 15 December 1943. The air raid siren and the Landhaus chapel bell provided warning for the employees. They had been given clear instructions: The windows were to be opened to prevent air blast damage, and typewriters and telephones moved to a place of safety. For the air raid shelters, they were to have torches and scarves or towels as protection against smoke and dust.

The bombing raid had devastating effects: 269 people were killed and 500 wounded and 1,627 left homeless. 45 buildings were completely destroyed. The government quarter and the Landhaus suffered heavy damage. At least 6 employees were killed in the attack. Luise, then 50 years old, was one of the victims.

The Landhaus staff were highly agitated because of the inadequacy of the air-raid shelters. Gauleiter Franz Hofer’s response to their fears was harsh. The employees had to remain in their offices until shortly before an imminent air raid. A guard was posted to prevent them from leaving the building. Anyone who disobeyed was punished. The funeral ceremony for the victims of the bombing raid on 15 December was held on Landhausplatz. There was great mourning, and Gauleiter Hofer took advantage of the occasion to swear his staff to a “fight to the death”.