Search for Names, Places and Biographies

Antonia Westberg im Juni 1938
© Archiv Evangelische Stiftung Alsterdorf

Antonia Westberg * 1897

Stubbenhuk 38 (Hamburg-Mitte, Neustadt)

HIER WOHNTE
ANTONIA WESTBERG
JG. 1897
EINGEWIESEN 1907
ALSTERDORFER ANSTALTEN
"VERLEGT" 1943
HEIL- UND PFLEGEANSTALT
AM STEINHOF / WIEN
ERMORDET 3.11.1944

Antonia Franciska Helena Westberg, b. 12.28.1897 in Hamburg, committed to the then Alsterdorf Institute on 1.7.1907, transferred on 8.16.1943 to the Wagner von Jauregg Medical and Nursing Home of the City of Vienna, died on 11.3.1944

Stubbenhuk 3 (Stubbenhuk 42)

On 7 January 1907, shortly after her ninth birthday, Antonia (Toni) Westberg arrived in the then Alsterdorf Institute (today, the Evangelical Alsterdorf Foundation). Her mother Johanna Henriette Westberg, née Nolda (b. 7.9.1860) had died shortly before, on 13 November 1906. Her father, the helmsman Anton Carl Westberg (b. 8.27.1859 in Rönne, Denmark), apparently could not care for his handicapped daughter by himself. Moreover, he had to give up the apartment at Stubbenhuk 42. The old homes on Stubbenhuk at the corner of Schaarstenbrücke were torn down to make way for the Aztec Office.

First, on 9 December 1906, Antonia was baptized at the neighboring St. Michael’s Church, probably in order to have her accepted in the Evangelical Alsterdorf establishment. To the public health doctor who initiated both committals, she seemed to be "good-natured.”

In her second year of life, an abnormal development had become noticeable in Antonia Westberg, She was lamed on the left side and learned how to run only at six years of age. On the other hand, in a handwritten examination report from January 1909, it was noted that her development to this point was "still appropriate for her age.” However, her speech was seen as "very deficient.” Although her intelligence was rated as "good,” from her twelfth year she ceased attending school. She was described as friendly, obedient, and pleasant, although also high-maintenance. Later, her diagnosis became "imbecility” (moderately mentally deficient) with obesity, stunted growth, and semi-paralysis.

Her father Anton Westberg entered a second marriage on 11 November 1915 to Bertha Frieling (b. 5.28.1879) and moved in with her at Alsterdamm 37 (today, Ballindamm). As before, he regularly fetched is daughter home for visits. Other family members cared for her as well, for example, her widowed grandmother Christiana Franziska, née Sauerland, and also her uncle, the dentist Franz Otto Nolda (see biographical entry for Lieselotte Betty Isenberg). Antonia’s father died on 23 October 1929, her uncle three years later on 26 May 1932.

Antonia was also called Toni in the Alsterdorf Institute; in her 35-year stay she attempted, despite frequent bouts of illness, to make herself useful. Thus her dossier from 1933 states: "[She] is eager to help the children and to make them happy. For some time, goes to a weaving class, and takes great pleasure in it, also likes to make peace between the children. Very conscientious and punctual.” "She liked to help and also, with her good hand, to give out little favors.”

On 14 April 1943, in one of the final entries to her patient’s dossier, and although she was 46 years old, she was described as a "very peaceful child.” "She has to be washed, bathed, and combed, but can dress and undress herself. She is clean and orderly. Despite the fact that she is seemingly helpless, she is always ready to hand out little favors. Otherwise she occupies herself with looking at pictures and stringing pearls. She can be mischievous, for example, when someone falls down, she can laugh herself silly.”

The last notation, on 16 August 1943, signed by the directing chief physician Gerhard Kreyenberg reads: "On account of severe air raid damage to the Alsterdorf Institute, transfer to Vienna.”

Upon her arrival at the Wagner von Jauregg Medical and Nursing Home of the City of Vienna, she still weighed 93 pounds. She was considered as inadequately oriented and high maintenance.

In a grotesque sketch from 30 May 1944, it was affirmed that that, at 4’5” tall, she weighed only 62 pounds, which indicated a withdrawal of nourishment.

Antonia Westberg died a half year later, on 3 November 1944, in the Vienna institution. When the family of her deceased uncle inquired as to the cause of death, the Vienna institute’s Dr. Wunderer responded with, "degeneration of the heart muscle,” as well as bronchial pneumonia. She had already often been treated for lung inflammation and bronchitis while at the Alsterdorf Institute, so the diagnosis seemed reasonable. Money sent to Vienna by her cousin for a funerary ornament came back to Hamburg by return mail.

Translator: Richard Levy
Kindly supported by the Hermann Reemtsma Stiftung, Hamburg.

Stand: June 2020
© Susanne Rosendahl

Quellen: StaH 332-5 Standesämter 2780 u 1144/1891; StaH 332-5 Standesämter 2435 u 4397/1897; StaH 332-5 Standesämter 571 u 1078/1906; StaH 332-5 Standesämter 3265 u 528/1915; StaH 332-5 Standesämter 950 u 1715/ 1929; StaH 332-5 Standesämter 7138 u 585/1932; Archiv der Evangelischen Stiftung Alsterdorf V 215 Antonia Westberg; Wunder/Genkel/Jenner: schiefen Ebene.