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Olga Prenzlau (née Meyer) * 1869

Curschmannstraße 6 (Hamburg-Nord, Eppendorf)

1942 Theresienstadt
tot 9.8.1942

further stumbling stones in Curschmannstraße 6:
Norbert Prenzlau

Norbert Prenzlau, b. 5.29.1865 in Altona, deported to Theresienstadt on 7.15.1942, died there on 9.1.1942
Olga Prenzlau, née Meyer, b. 10.8.1869 in Hamburg, deported to Theresienstadt on 7.15.1942, died there on 8.9.1942

Curschmannstraße 6

Norbert Prenzlau married Olga Meyer, b. 10 August 1869 in Hamburg. The couple had two sons, Rudolf, b. 2 December 1896, who fell in World War I, and Friedrich, b. 7 December 1899. The family initially lived at Eppendorfer Baum 34, later at Curschmannstrasse 6.

Norbert Prenzlau earned his living as a salesman, commercial clerk, and exporter. Since 1917 he was a member of the Jewish Community.

Because of their Jewish descent, the Prenzlaus were exposed to Nazi persecution and had to suffer all the stages of disenfranchisement, robbery, and ostracism. From 1939 on, as Jews gradually were driven out of their houses and apartments, the Prenzlaus had to move into a "Jew house,” the former Martin Brunn Foundation at Frickestrasse 24. It was here that they received their deportation order and made their way to the collection point at Moorweide. From there they were deported to Theresienstadt on 15 July 1942.

Because of their advanced age, they suffered greatly in the catastrophic conditions there. Olga Prenzlau died, according to the death notice from Theresienstadt, just a few weeks after their arrival on 9. August 1942 in "E IV, Room 35 of the psychiatric department.” The Jewish doctor, Artur Schönfeld, reported the cause of death as age-related dementia and weakness. At the end of his powers, Norbert Prenzlau remained alone. He died on 1 September 1942.

After the expropriation of his firm as a result of the "Aryanization” of Jewish businesses, the couple’s son Friedrich Prenzlau emigrated in 1938 to Estonia. He was arrested there on 23 June 1941 by the NKVD (People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs) and interned in diverse labor camps. In January 1947, seriously ill, he was given over to German agencies in Frankfurt/Oder. In the same month, he returned to Hamburg, but decided quickly to emigrate to Sweden.

On 13 March 1957, his son, Dr. jur. Friedrich Wilhelm Adalbert Prenzlau, made application for reparations on behalf of his father.

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

Stand: February 2018
© Claudia García

Quellen: 1; 3; 4; 7; 8; AfW 071299 Norbert Prenzlau; StaH 314-15 OFP, R1940/898; StaH 314-15 OFP, R1941/54; StaH 522-1 Jüd. Gemeinden, 992e2 Band 4.
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