Helene Hintersteiner (1909–1990)

In the spring of 1940, Helene Hintersteiner was asked to take a “well paid position with the Gau Leader”. Shortly after, the Nazi supporter began to work as an employee and later as the head of the office of the killing operations at Hartheim “euthanasia” centre. From then on, like numerous other—mostly female—typists she helped to set up and cover up the mass murder of people with disabilities or mental illness. After all the traces of the crimes were erased and the staff had cleared the premises, Hintersteiner remained at Castle Hartheim and was the head of the children’s home that had been established to cover up the operation until June 1945. 

When charged in an Austrian court, she was found innocent.