Language / Sprache: EN | DEDachau Concentration Camp – Prisoner No. 14354: Dr Ernst Verdross The Original Dachau Account Published by Elisabeth Walder Elisabeth Walder holds one of the first copies of the publication and smiles at the camera. Dachau Concentration Camp – Prisoner No. 14354: Dr Ernst Verdross The Original Dachau Account Published by Elisabeth Walder In October 2025, historian and ethnologist Elisabeth Walder published the autobiographical Dachau account of Dr Ernst Verdross (1892–1963) under the title KZ-Dachau – Häftlingsnummer 14354. Verdross, a jurist and long-serving municipal official in Hall in Tyrol, was persecuted by the National Socialist regime and deported to Dachau Concentration Camp in 1938. There he was registered as prisoner No. 14354. He later became involved in the resistance network in Hall. Verdross wrote his account for his children after the end of National Socialist rule. His personal record describes persecution, violence and everyday life in Dachau. At the same time, it is an urgent appeal to future generations to preserve human dignity and resist dictatorship and political injustice. The publication presents the complete original account and places it within the historical context of National Socialist persecution and resistance in Hall in Tyrol. Historical Background Following the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in March 1938, political opponents, representatives of the former Austrian state, members of Catholic and monarchist circles, and other individuals regarded as unreliable by the new regime were arrested. Dr Ernst Verdross was among those persecuted. After his arrest, he was deported to Dachau Concentration Camp, where he was assigned prisoner number 14354. His experiences must be understood within the wider system of National Socialist terror. Dachau, established near Munich in 1933, served not only as a place of imprisonment and violence but also as a model for the Nazi concentration camp system. Verdross’s account provides a personal perspective on this system. It documents how political persecution affected an individual, his family and the community from which he came. A Historical Source from Hall in Tyrol The manuscript is particularly important for the history of Hall in Tyrol because it connects the history of the Dachau concentration camp with local persecution and resistance. The original document came into the editor’s possession following a lecture. The Verdross family subsequently entrusted it to Elisabeth Walder for scholarly research and publication. The book makes this historical testimony accessible to the public for the first time in its complete form. It also preserves the personal character of a text that Verdross originally wrote for his children. His account is therefore both a private family document and an important historical source concerning National Socialist persecution, imprisonment and resistance. The Warning Legacy of Prisoner No. 14354  Black-and-white portrait of Dr Ernst Verdross, taken in the 1950s. Held in: Historical Archive Foto Stockhammer, Hall in Tyrol. Verdross did not record his experiences merely as a personal recollection. His account was intended as a warning to later generations. His central message remains relevant today: dictatorship and political violence do not begin only with imprisonment and physical persecution. They are preceded by the gradual destruction of democratic rights, human dignity and individual responsibility. The publication therefore contributes not only to historical research but also to civic education and remembrance culture. It encourages young people in particular to examine the history of National Socialism critically and to recognise the value of democracy and human rights. Book Presentations at WIDER.STAND in Hall in Tyrol  Christoph Sailer and Martin Sailer during the presentation of the newly published Dachau account of Dr Ernst Verdross in November 2025. The event formed part of the remembrance work conducted at WIDER.STAND in Hall in Tyrol. The publication was presented on 23 October and 6 November 2025 at WIDER.STAND, the former Schneiderkapelle at Franz-Reinisch-Platz 1 in Hall in Tyrol. Both evenings attracted an exceptionally large audience and were fully booked. The events combined historical information, readings from the original source and musical contributions by students of the Hall Music School. Elisabeth Walder introduced the publication and explained the historical background of the manuscript. Selected passages from the original account were read by Martin Sailer and City Councillor Christoph Sailer. Dean Dr Jakob Patsch welcomed the guests and supported the presentations at WIDER.STAND. The musical programme was performed by Dahlia and Gregor from the Hall Music School. The presentations demonstrated the strong public interest in the history of National Socialist persecution and resistance in Hall in Tyrol. Book Presentation on 23 October 2025 The first presentation took place on 23 October 2025 as the opening event in a series devoted to resistance against National Socialism. Among the guests were:
Book presentation of Dachau Concentration Camp – Prisoner No. 14354 on 23 October 2025 at WIDER.STAND in Hall in Tyrol. The event marked the beginning of a series devoted to resistance against National Socialism. Photographs: Gregor Handrich, Hall in Tyrol. Book Presentation on 6 November 2025 The second presentation took place on 6 November 2025. This evening was also fully booked and was characterised by a respectful and attentive atmosphere. Among the guests were:
The Publication  Front and back cover of Elisabeth Walder’s book KZ-Dachau: Häftlingsnummer 14354 (Dachau Concentration Camp: Prisoner Number 14354). The book was published in German; an English edition is not available. Elisabeth Walder: KZ-Dachau – Häftlingsnummer 14354. Dr. Ernst Verdross. Innsbruck 2025. The book is available in German from:
Dean Dr Jakob Patsch presents a bouquet of flowers to historian and author Elisabeth Walder. In the foreground, Michael Domanig of the Tiroler Tageszeitung (TT) photographs the moment. Media Coverage The publication and the presentations received considerable regional media attention. Tiroler Tageszeitung Michael Domanig’s article, “Die Schrecken des Lageralltags”, published in the Tiroler Tageszeitung on 4 November 2025, reports on the publication of Dr Ernst Verdross’s Dachau concentration camp account. Stadtzeitung Hall in Tyrol  Stadtzeitung Hall in Tirol, No. 38, 30 October 2025, p. 2. The article “Eine bewegende Überlebensgeschichte” reports on the publication and presentation of Dr Ernst Verdross’s Dachau account. The photograph shows Christoph Sailer, Elisabeth Walder and Martin Sailer. Tiroler Sonntag  Walter Hölbling, “Vom Grauen und vom Widerstand”, published in Tiroler Sonntag, 23 October 2025, p. 12. The article discusses Dr Ernst Verdross’s experiences in Dachau and the publication of his original account. Summary The publication of Dr Ernst Verdross’s original Dachau account preserves an important historical testimony from Hall in Tyrol. As prisoner No. 14354, Verdross experienced the violence and dehumanisation of the National Socialist concentration camp system. His manuscript documents these experiences from a personal perspective while also expressing an urgent warning to future generations. By publishing the complete original source, Elisabeth Walder has made a significant contribution to research, historical education and remembrance culture in Hall in Tyrol. The two fully booked presentations in October and November 2025 demonstrated that this history continues to resonate strongly with the public. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Who was Dr Ernst Verdross? Dr Ernst Verdross (1892–1963) was a jurist and senior municipal official in Hall in Tyrol. He was persecuted by the Nazi regime, imprisoned in Dachau Concentration Camp and later became involved in the resistance in Hall. What was Ernst Verdross’s prisoner number? In Dachau Concentration Camp, Dr Ernst Verdross was registered as prisoner No. 14354. What does the book contain? The book contains the complete autobiographical account written by Dr Ernst Verdross about his imprisonment in Dachau. It also provides historical context concerning persecution and resistance in Hall in Tyrol. Why did Verdross write down his experiences? Verdross wrote the account for his children. He wanted to preserve the memory of what had happened and warn future generations about dictatorship, violence and the destruction of human dignity. Who published the original account? The manuscript was edited and published by historian and ethnologist Elisabeth Walder in 2025. When and where were the book presentations held? The presentations took place on 23 October and 6 November 2025 at WIDER.STAND, the former Schneiderkapelle at Franz-Reinisch-Platz 1 in Hall in Tyrol. Is the book available in English? No. The publication is currently available only in German. Why is this source important? The account links the history of Dachau Concentration Camp with the local history of persecution and resistance in Hall in Tyrol. It is both a personal family document and an important source for historical research and education. Suggested Internal Links: 🇬🇧 Verdross -Dr. Ernst -Biografie - Blog (EN)🇬🇧/resistance-fighters-hall-in-tyrol🇬🇧/resistance-groups-in-hall-in-tyrol🇬🇧 /culture-of-remembrance-hall-in-tyrol-national-socialism-resistanceMEMORIAL- PLAQUE-WIDER.STANDBiografien-Biographies
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