Arnaldi Rinaldo

Arnaldi, Rinaldo In February 1944, Dr. Rinaldo Arnaldi led a group, which included the Kleins – Agnes, Alexander, and Oscar – originally from Vienna, another Jewish couple, two British soldiers, and two Italians through the mountains from Italy to Switzerland. At the time of the crossing, Agnes Klein was pregnant. Dr. Arnaldi stayed with the group in Switzerland for a few days and then clandestinely returned to Italy. His brave actions on behalf of persecuted Jews placed him in extreme danger. This rescue operation was attested to by the priest Don Antonio Frigo from Vicenza, who helped Dr. Arnaldi, together with his mother, brother, and two sisters, to organize the escape of the group. Dr. Arnaldi, who was also active in the Resistance, died heroically in September 1944, in combat against the Germans. He was decorated with a gold medal posthumously by the Italian government. On January 3, 1983, Yad Vashem recognized Dr. Rinaldo Arnaldi as Righteous Among the Nations.