Chance discovery of amazing Holocaust story sets Sydney playwright on detective trail

The true story of a German couple who sheltered a Jewish man during World War II — and at war’s end convinced him that the Nazis had won — is the subject of a new play in Sydney.

Timothy Daly whose play The Man in the Attic was inspired by the true story of a Jewish man who was tricked into believing the Nazis had won the war. Picture: supplied.

THE true story of a German couple who sheltered a Jewish man during World War II — and at war’s end convinced him the Nazis had won — is the subject of a play which premieres in Sydney this week.

In about 2003, Australian playwright Timothy Daly stumbled on a reference to the story in a German book. Its “demonic audacity” captured his imagination.

The couple had hidden the Jew during the Holocaust, during which time they realised he had certain skills and they could profit by exploiting them.

At war’s end, the couple told the Jew he would have to stay hidden because Hitler had triumphed and he would be in danger if he were at large. This way they kept the man working while they used him to make a living for themselves.

Playwright Timothy Daly. Picture: supplied

Despite travelling to Munich to track down clues, Daly never discovered the Jewish man’s identity. He did discover that the couple went to trial, although he did not find the transcript and doesn’t know whether they were jailed.

Would the Jewish man have been the only one to have such an experience?

“For as long as the war was on, there would have been all sorts of payment extracted and you can use your imagination as to what form of payment was currency,” Daly says.

The Man in the Attic, by Timothy Daly, Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton St, Darlinghurst; until July 22, $38-$54, shalom.edu.au