With what event does Press open the book, Beautiful Souls?

Press first presents the case of Paul Gruninger, commander of the state police in the Swiss town of St. Gallen. Gruninger was a family man, a Christian, a military veteran, and a conservative. As a part of the state police, he was required to uphold the laws of Switzerland, including turning away Jewish refugees fleeing from Hitler. Gruninger refused to obey the law, instead granting “special permission” for Jewish refugees who sought him out to stay in Switzerland indefinitely. For his efforts, Gruninger was thrown out of his job, and spent the last 30 years of his life unable to find steady employment, while his family was initially shunned.