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Fritz Klein
© KZ-Gedenkstätte Neuengamme

Fritz Klein * 1901

Langenrehm 14 (Hamburg-Nord, Barmbek-Süd)

HIER WOHNTE
FRITZ KLEIN
JG. 1901
VERHAFTET 1934
KZ FUHLSBÜTTEL
ERMORDET 24.6.1934

Fritz Klein, born 10 Sep, 1901, died 24 June 1934 at the Fuhlsbüttel Police Jail

Langenrehm 14

Fritz Klein was born as the son of the Gustav Klein his wife Auguste, née Schuster, in Pikallen in East Prussia. He attended elementary school from age six to fourteen, and having completed school, began an apprenticeship as a painter. Four years after passing his final examination, he moved to Hamburg, where he got a job in his trade. And he engaged himself in politics, joining the Communist party KPD. Later, Fritz Klein became treasurer of the Rote Hilfe in Barmbek, a political organization to help comrades in jail, close to the KPD.

On January 28th, 1928, Fritz Klein married the 21-year-old Elisabeth Griem, daughter of Max and Martha Griem from Hamburg-Bramfeld. A year later, on March 4th, 1929 the Griems‘ daughter Inge Karla was born. The family lived at no. 4 Langenrehm. After the Nazis came to power in 1933, the Rote Hilfe was forbidden, but continued to operate underground. Fritz Klein, too, continued his engagement, but now had to be extremely cautious, as the members were persecuted by the Gestapo.

On June 8th, 1934, Fritz Klein was arrested by the Gestapo, for "preparing high treason”; he was taken to the Fuhlsbüttel Police Prison for questioning. He must have been brutally tortured during the investigations, because, only two weeks after his arrest, Fritz Klein was dead.

On June 24th, 1934, the Gestapo informed Mariechen Klein that her husband had died; allegedly, he had hanged himself. His body was confiscated, and it was forbidden to see it. Only one day later, on June 25th, it was cremated at the Ohlsdorf crematory, in the presence of the Gestapo.

After Fritz Klein’s death, his family suffered financial distress. Mariechen Klein again and again tried to get work to make a living for her daughter and herself. During this time, Inge grew up with her grandparents. The family survived the war, but, having lost their husband and father, Mariechen and Inge had to cope with everything alone.

Translated by Peter Hubschmid

Kindly supported by the Hermann Reemtsma Stiftung, Hamburg.

Stand: October 2016
© Carmen Smiatacz

Quellen: StaHH 351-11, AfW, Abl. 2008/1, 04.03.29 Detjen, Inge; Diercks: Gedenkbuch "KOLA-FU", S. 26f., S. 34; VVN, K 34 Klein, Mariechen; Totenliste Hamburger Widerstandskämpfer und Verfolgter 1933–1945.