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Andreas London * 1882

Friedrichsberger Straße 35 (Hamburg-Nord, Barmbek-Süd)

1943 Theresienstadt
ermordet 18.01.1944

Andreas London, born on 24 Jan. 1882, deported on 26 Feb. 1943 to Theresienstadt, died there on 18 Jan. 1944

Friedrichsberger Strasse 35

Andreas London was born as the oldest child of the Jewish couple Adolf and Marianne London, née Os, in Lingen. Some of his younger siblings were Sophie, Moritz, Elise, and Ottilie. Both parents passed away at the beginning of the 1920s.

From birth, Andreas London suffered from an eye condition and a physical deformity. As a result, he required assistance all his life. Moreover, he attended the eight-grade elementary school (Volksschule) for only two years, since he had gone nearly blind already. He never learned how to read and write, which meant he was unable to take up an occupation. In 1904, he was assigned a male nurse, who was supposed to help him. However, the caregiver hardly ever encountered Andreas London at home. Since he was unable to practice a regular job, London strove to earn an income by engaging in peddling, thus being on the road most of the time.

At times, Andreas London stayed overnight with his aunt, sleeping on the couch. His parents, who owned a small store, could have supported him perhaps, but they appear to have had no room for him. The neighbors complained about Andreas London several times. They accused him of being a fraud.

As of 1908, he had gone completely blind, thus depending on welfare assistance from then on. For this reason, he received poor relief until Dec. 1915, amounting to 12 to 20 marks a month. In addition, he received funds from charitable foundations several times. With his friend, Berthold Freundlich, Andreas London left Hamburg. The two actually intended to try their luck in Berlin and get into trading there. Since this did not work out, however, they returned to their native city after only a few days, without any money left. From Jan. 1915, Andreas London was scheduled to be admitted to the workhouse and poorhouse. However, he refused, never showing up there.

Andreas London was repeatedly arrested and convicted because of petty crimes. Thus, for the first time, he was sent to prison for six months in 1913, on charges of a sex crime. Three years later, he was sentenced yet again to one year and nine months in prison for trading in stolen goods. During his prison terms, one of his sisters drew the poor relief allocated to him. This constituted fraud and was punished as well.

In 1914, Andreas London lived at Bäckerbreitergang 76 with a female acquaintance for a short time. At this point, he probably already knew his future wife, Dora Plackmeyer, a Protestant.
On 7 July 1915, Andreas London married Dora Plackmeyer, who was eight years his senior. From then on, she supported her husband in conducting his mostly illegal trade. The situation changed, however, from 1931 onward because Dora London fell ill.

In 1935, the London couple moved to Friedrichsberger Strasse 35. In December of that same year, Dora London had a serious accident, causing her to fracture four ribs and requiring treatment at Barmbek General Hospital. It is unclear when exactly she died. However, she must have passed away prior to the deportation of her husband, for at that time he was listed as a widower.

The last residential address of Andreas London was at Beneckestrasse 6. From there, he was deported to the Theresienstadt Ghetto on 26 Feb. 1943, where he died on 18 Jan. 1944. A similar fate also befell his sister Sophie, who perished in Theresienstadt as well.


Translator: Erwin Fink
Kindly supported by the Hermann Reemtsma Stiftung, Hamburg.

Stand: March 2017
© Carmen Smiatacz

Quellen: 1; 4; 5; 7; 8; StaHH 351-11, AfW, Abl. 2008/1, 24.1.82 London, Andreas.
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