Andreas Hofer was born on 22nd November 1767 at Sandhof near St. Leonhard in Passeier, between the towns of Meran and Sterzing in modern-day South Tirol.

He lived a normal life as a landlord in the guesthouse “Am Sand”, and was also a cattle and wine dealer.

As a result of Austria’s defeat in the third coalition war, Tirol was under Bavarian rule from 1805/1806. The reforms carried out by Bavaria in Tirol generated much resentment. The huge changes to religious life in particular met with a great deal of resistance within the population.

Compulsory recruitment for the Bavarian Army finally lead to rebellion, and the Tirol struggle for freedom started. It began on 9th April 1809 in the capital, Innsbruck.

Andreas Hofer positioned himself as leader of the anti-Bavarian movement and headed Tirol’s struggle for freedom.

On 11th April in protecting Passeirer near Sterzing he was able to make a stand against Bavaria. On 12th April the first ‘Bergisel slaughter’ occurred around Innsbruck, and 2 days later the people of Tirol were able to move into Innsbruck.

The Bavarian and French troops did however succeed in winning back parts of the Tirol as well as Innsbruck. As a result two more slaughters took place on the Bergisel, after which the Bavarian troops were beaten, and had to retreat into the Lower Inn Valley.

Renewed occupations followed, and there were bloody slaughters for supremacy in Tirol.

On 1st November the fourth and final ‚Bergisel slaughter’ took place, when the people of Tirol were defeated under the leadership of Andreas Hofer.

Hofer had to flee with his family to Pfandleralm (near St. Martin in Passeier). This hide-out was however betrayed and Hofer was arrested on 28th January 1810.

He was taken to Mantua in Northern Italy, court-marshalled and shot on 20th February 1810.

Even today Andreas Hofer is regarded as a national hero by the Tirol people, and his dedication as leader of the Tirol rebellion movement in Tirol’s fight for freedom is honoured with a series of memorials.