On August 22, 2025, an important event took place in Berlin: the German government unveiled a postage stamp dedicated to Donata Helmrich. Together with her husband Eberhard, she saved hundreds of Jews during the Holocaust, risking her own life. Her name today stands as a reminder of the power of humanity in times when the world descended into darkness, reports G.Business.

Donata and Eberhard Helmrich were neither politicians nor military leaders. They were an ordinary married couple who had the courage to defy the system. In their home, they sheltered Jewish women, provided forged documents, and invented cover stories, often presenting those they rescued as Ukrainian maids. A particularly moving event took place in 1942, when Donata saved two girls from Drohobych, literally snatching them from death.

For their actions, the couple received the honorary title “Righteous Among the Nations” from the Yad Vashem memorial: Eberhard in 1965, Donata in 1986. This recognition confirmed that their deeds were not only acts of compassion but also a testament to civil courage.

The presentation of the stamp was more than just a philatelic event. It was an act of remembrance, a call to the duty of speaking the truth. During the ceremony, Berlin’s Chief Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal emphasized: the example of the Helmrichs teaches today’s generation never to remain indifferent in the face of injustice. The stamp with Donata Helmrich’s portrait will become part of a national series dedicated to people who brought light in the darkest times.

Donata Helmrich was born in Dresden and grew up in Weimar in a theater family. She taught foreign languages, translated literary texts, and had an excellent humanistic education. After her divorce in 1931, she married Eberhard, who served in the Wehrmacht and used his position to help Jews in Poland. After the war, their paths diverged: Eberhard emigrated to the United States, while Donata stayed in Germany, working as a translator and remaining faithful to humanist values until the end of her life. She died in 1986 on the island of Sylt.

The couple’s daughter, Cornelia, published the book Two Trees in Jerusalem, which in 2021 served as the basis for an animated film. This is not only a personal family testimony but also an important cultural contribution to preserving history. Today, a memorial plaque on the house in Drohobych where Eberhard Helmrich once lived commemorates the bravery of both.

The release of the postage stamp sends a clear signal to current and future generations: history must not disappear into the archives. Donata Helmrich has become a symbol that one individual can save hundreds of lives – an example that must not be forgotten, especially in a time when the world once again faces great challenges.

Who was Donata Helmrich

Donata Helmrich (1900–1986) was a German woman whose extraordinary courage during the Holocaust saved hundreds of Jewish lives. She was born in Dresden into a culturally active family and grew up in Weimar, surrounded by theater and literature. This environment shaped her love for languages and humanist values. Later, she became a language teacher and translator of literary works, building a reputation for her cultural and intellectual depth.

In 1931, after her first marriage ended in divorce, she married Eberhard Helmrich, an officer of the Wehrmacht. Despite his official position in Nazi Germany, Eberhard rejected the regime’s ideology and secretly worked with Donata to protect Jews. Their apartment and contacts became a lifeline:

  • They hid Jewish women in their home, often at great risk.
  • They created false papers and cover stories, presenting those they sheltered as “Ukrainian maids.”
  • They organized escape routes and helped move people to safer places.

One of the most striking examples of their bravery came in 1942, when Donata rescued two Jewish girls from Drohobych (today Ukraine), taking them out of immediate danger and literally saving them from death.

For these acts of humanity, the couple was later recognized by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations:

  • Eberhard received the honor in 1965.
  • Donata was officially recognized in 1986, shortly before her death.

After the war, their lives took different paths: Eberhard emigrated to the United States, while Donata remained in Germany, working as a translator and upholding her dedication to humanist principles. She passed away in 1986 on the island of Sylt.

Her legacy lived on through her daughter Cornelia Helmrich, who published the book “Two Trees in Jerusalem”, later adapted into an animated film in 2021, ensuring that her parents’ story reached new generations.

Today, Donata Helmrich is remembered not only through literature and film but also in public memory projects:

  • A memorial plaque in Drohobych marks her husband’s former residence and their joint resistance.
  • In 2025, Germany honored her with a commemorative postage stamp, symbolizing that individual courage can shine even in the darkest chapters of history.

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