Anna Freitag Memorial

The 26-year-old post office manager from Bad Grosspertholz, Anna Freitag, was very popular among the people. The pretty young woman was born in Heidenreichstein. Since Anna could not often visit her family because of work, the shy and reserved Anna sometimes felt lonely and the townsfolk were happy to invite her for Sunday dinners. She even sometimes celebrated Christmas with a family in Bad Grosspertholz.

On October 30, 1936, after work, Anna locked up the post office and, as always, set off on foot to Rindlberg, where she lived. But the next morning, the otherwise always reliable Anna didn't open the post office. The people of Bad Grosspertholz were immediately concerned. It quickly became known that Anna had not arrived home the evening before. A search party was immediately assembled and the area was searched. But help came too late for Anna. She was found murdered, with her throat cut.

First, a tramp was arrested because he was suspected of the crime. But soon suspicion grew against the local gendarme, Alois Eder from Unter-Arnsburg near Salzburg. He was generally known as a busybody and was considered overbearing and arrogant. According to statements from citizens, Alois Eder often and gladly played it up.

Alois Eder was arrested three days after the crime. The evidence was overwhelming and so he admitted everything. He explained that he wanted to rob the workers' wages at the Pfleiderer forest estate. As was the case at the end of every month, the money for this was deposited at the post office. Alois Eder thought the easiest thing would be if he could somehow get hold of the post office keys. So he intercepted Anna Freitag on her way home and offered to accompany her. He explained to her that it would be very dangerous to go home without protection when everyone knew that there was so much money in the post office. When they arrived at the wooded area, Alois Eder pulled out a butcher's knife he had brought with him and cut Anna Freitag's throat. He then stole the keys to the post office and the cash register and went to get the money.

Alois Eder was sentenced to death by the district court in Krems in April 1937 and executed by hanging on June 5, 1937. Some citizens of Bad Grosspertholz made their way to see the execution. They later said that Alois Eder had defended himself, screaming and crying.

The postal workers from all over Austria and some citizens of Bad Grosspertholz collected money, and in 1937 the memorial for Anna Freitag was erected not far from the place where she was murdered. The curve on which the monument stands is now called Anna Freitag Curve. The exact spot where the act took place is marked by a small cross.

A photo of Anna can be seen on the large marble sign in the memorial. There you can also read: "Anna Freitag - post office manager in Gr.Pertholz - born July 25, 1910, in Heidenreichstein, Lower Austria. She was murdered not far away, at the point marked on the route with an +, on October 30, 1936, by Alois Eder, a native of Unter.Arnsdorf, Salzburg, in a treacherous manner, and the office and cash register keys were stolen. – Remember her in prayer!"