Marie Gertrud Anna Burde, nicknamed Mieze (9 June 1892 – 12 July 1963),[1] was a German rag-and-bone woman who hid three young Jewish men during the Nazi era, thus saving their lives.

During World War II, Jewish people were pursued in all countries occupied by Nazi Germany and once captured, they were sent to extermination camps, destined to be killed.

[2][4] Burde lived as a single woman throughout her life, residing in a basement apartment at Tegeler Straße 13 in Berlin-Wedding,[6] that was full of stacks of newspapers and very little furniture.

[2][11] Burde took them, along with Arthur Fordanski, a friend of Alfred's, into her basement apartment in Berliner Wedding district,[2][12] an area that was inhabited by working class people.

[2] In addition, since Marie Burde was a vegetarian,[2] she was able to give the meat she was able to buy with her food stamps to the men.

Rolf escaped custody twice, once when he jumped off of a moving train headed to Auschwitz concentration camp and another when he leapt from a window at the Jewish Hospital.

[6][a] After the house at Tegeler Straße 13 was destroyed by a bombing raid in the fall of 1943, the men and Burde went to Schönow near Bernau to a lot she owned there, where they built a rough shelter[2][b] in the spring of 1944.

[2][12] In retirement, Rolf Joseph repeatedly told his personal survival story and also about his memories of Marie Burde at events, especially in schools.

[7] Here next door, in the apartment building Tegeler Straße 13, destroyed in World War II, lived MARIE BURDE 9.6.1892 - 12.7.1963.