Elfriede Schild - English

Elfriede Schild came from the Hirsch family, a long-established family in Magdeburg. Her father, Abraham Hirsch, was a successful businessman who founded a tobacco factory. Elfriede married Max Schild, whose family also had a history of business activities in Magdeburg.  

The couple Elfriede and Max continued to run the family business until Max’s sudden death in 1934. The company faced significant challenges during the economic crisis, leading to several relocations. Their son Werner followed in his father’s footsteps but tragically passed away at the age of 21 in 1925.  

Facing increasing pressure from the Nazi regime, Elfriede found herself subjected to persecution and attempted to emigrate to Switzerland. However, her plans were thwarted by bureaucratic obstacles and she was eventually evicted from her apartment. In 1942, at the age of 63, Elfriede was deported to the Warsaw Ghetto and subsequently disappeared.  

Elfriedes life story provides insight into the life of a Jewish family in Magdeburg during the 19th and 20th centuries, characterized by economic ectivity, persecution during the Holocaust and tragic twists of fate.