Walter Frankenstein was eight years old when his parents’ business was destroyed by SA members. In order to be able to go to school at all, he moves to Berlin and is accommodated in a Jewish children’s home. There, in 1941, he met the love of his life: Leonie Rosner. The two later marry and become parents. In 1943 they went into hiding together with their young son, and a year later their second son was born in hiding. Thanks to the support of other people, they survive Nazism. After the war, they built a life together and emigrated to Palestine in 1946/47 and to Sweden in 1956.
In recent years, Walter Frankenstein has reported on his own fate at numerous eyewitness interviews and commemorative events at home and abroad in order to set an example against racism and anti-Semitism.
In addition, he passionately campaigned for the creation of a dignified memorial for the pupils and caregivers of the Auerbach orphanage who were deported and murdered under National Socialism, initiated a memorial plaque at the former site of the Reichenheim orphanage and helped initiate the implementation of the information board for the Jewish School of Architecture. On October 1, 2017, Walter Frankenstein received the Order of Merit of the State of Berlin for his commitment.
The Stiftung Denkmal wishes Walter Frankenstein all the best for the new year of his life!
Photo credits: Stiftung Denkmal, Photo: © Marko Priske
