Adolph Althoff
Adolf Althoff ( born June 25, 1913 in Sonsbeck, † 14 October in Stolberg ( Rhineland ) 1998 ) was a German artist, trainer and ringmaster.
Life
Adolf Althoff was the second youngest child of eight siblings. He came from the famous Althoff circus dynasty. His father Dominik has already taken over the age of 22 his parents' circus. Adolf Althoff was born in his parents' caravan during a circus performance.
On June 25, 1939 Adolf Althoff married in the registry office Braunschweig its born in Dortmund in 1908 Mrs. Maria von der Gathen, who also came from a circus family.
With his humanity Adolf Althoff was a major exception in the Third Reich. He took the persecuted by the Nazis because of her Jewish origin Irene Danner on including family. This was associated with the active in Adolf Althoff Circus Clown Peter Bento. By his attitude and his actions - " You can all come, we 'll manage! " ( Quote from Adolf Althoff from the memoirs of Peter Bento ) - rescued Adolf Althoff then Peter Bentos future wife Irene, their common two small children, Irene sister Gerda and mother Alice Danner, born Lorch and daughter of the famous Ikariers Julius Lorch ( Lorch circus family ).
Mary and Adolf Althoff were included among the peoples on 20 February 1995 for the State of Israel in the circle of the righteous. The ceremony took place in Aachen Rathaus by Israel Ambassador Avi Primor. Avi Primor, an Israeli-born son of a German mother, said in his eulogy:
In the youth book by Ingeborg Prior " The clown and the circus rider " the history of the families Bento ( Danner / Lorch ) and Adolf Althoff was shown.
The children of Adolf and Maria Althoff, Franz and Helene, learned only by the honor which had been suggested by Ingeborg Prior and of the family Bento, what happened during the war in the circus Althoff.
After the death of Adolf Althoff the current conducted by his son Franz Althoff Circus Williams experienced a massive decline. 1996 was the circus of Franz Althoff, who was childless, was sold. His follow-up project "Horse Palace ", a musical theater with men and horses, did not find the hoped-for popularity. The circus has gone into bankruptcy several years ago. Thus the history of the circus Althoff ended in the ninth generation.
Adolf Althoff was further awarded on 14 November 1955, the " Ernst Renz Memorial Plaque " which was donated by the "Society of Friends Circus in Germany " ( GCD ).
On November 4, 1977, he was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit. 1995 Adolf Althoff and his wife were awarded the Order of Merit of North Rhine- Westphalia.
The grave of Adolf Althoff can be found today at the cemetery in Breinig.