In December 1943, at literally the last minute, it became necessary to protect the ‘Schwarze Mander’ from bomb damage at the Hofkirche in Innsbruck. They were moved, under the strictest secrecy, to a rock tunnel near Kundl. Karl Obleitner the Elder from Absam seemed the ideal person for all the safeguarding work, and so he was entrusted with organising the packaging for loading and transport. His son, Karl Obleitner the Younger, who was then a pupil at the School of Applied Arts in Innsbruck, was usually present during this work. Here, as an eyewitness, he recounts the events of that time from his perspective and puts his father’s achievements into proper perspective. Furthermore, the account covers events which, as early as 1809, had placed the ‘Schwarzen Mander’ – alongside other Innsbruck art treasures – in danger.