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Fritz Meseritz * 1876

Jungfrauenthal 53 (Eimsbüttel, Harvestehude)

1941 Riga

further stumbling stones in Jungfrauenthal 53:
Anne-Marie Caspary, Olga Meseritz

Fritz Meseritz, born 2/5/1876 in Fürstenwalde /Brandenburg, deported to Riga on 12/6/1941
Olga Meseritz, née Chanange, born 12/5/1890 in Annaberg (Erzgebirge), deported to Riga on 12/6/1941

Fritz Meseritz was born in 1876 in Fürstenwalde in Brandenburg. His parents Moritz Meseritz and Hulda, née Fränkel (born 1850 in Ostrowo in the Prussian province of Posen) came to Hamburg before 1903. His father ran a "Manufacturwaaren Spezialgeschäft” (a store specializing in textiles and other manufactured goods) at Ellernthorsbrücke 10; he died approx. 1908. His widow and son moved from Grindelberg 36 to an apartment in a two-storied town house at Jungfrauenthal 53. It is likely that Fritz took over running the company.

Around 1912, Fritz Meseritz married Olga Chanange, who came from Annaberg in the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains); Hulda Meseritz moved to a nearby apartment in Jungfrauenthal 14, leaving the flat At Jungfrauenthal 53 in Harvestehude, a respectable part of town, to her son and his growing family. The residential addresses indicate the family was in as comfortable financial situation. From 1913 at the latest, Fritz Meseritz and his mother Hulda are recorded as members of the Jewish Community of Hamburg.

From 1915, Fritz Meseritz took had to serve as a soldier in the battles of World War I. During this time, the family business was suspended; the listing in the telephone book was deleted. After the war, Meseritz became a partner in the company "G. Stromeier & Co.” founded in 1919, representatives for machinery and building technology, with headquarters at Glockengiesserwall 26, later moving to Holzdamm 14.

The Nazis’ rise to power had far-reaching consequences for the Meseritz family. Jews were driven from their professions, Jewish business owners were deprived of their concessions and licenses. From the end of the 1930s, Jews could hold practically no salaried job or run a major business of their own. Increasing discrimination encroached on the Jewish population’s daily routine and private lives. Considering her lacking perspective and the increasing dangerous situation after the pogrom of November, 1938, the Meseritz’ unmarried daughter Suse Meseritz (born 10/2/1913), who had last worked as a clerk for the Jewish Community, emigrated to Lima, Peru.

The Meseritz’ younger daughter Ursula (born 12/31/1919) had already gone to New York in July of 1938 aboard the S.S. BRITANNIC departing from the French port of Le Havre. From New York, she travelled on to Los Angeles on the American West Coast. Adolf Floersheim (born 1881), who was living in the USA since October, 1937, had given Ursula Meseritz an affidavit, enabling her to get an immigration visas for the United States. Before his emigration, Adolf Floersheim had lived at Jungfrauenthal 55 in Hamburg.

Their parents Fritz and Olga Meseritz, who stayed behind in Hamburg, were systematically deprived of almost all their assets by the Nazi regime. They wanted to emigrate, but no longer had the money to pay for the ship tickets and to exhibit on arrival. The Meseritz’ attempt to emigrate failed.

On December 6th, 1941, Fritz Meseritz, aged 65, and his 51-year-old wife Olga were deported to Riga from their home at Jungfrauenthal 53. Like the other citizens of Hamburg on that transport, they were not taken to the Riga ghetto itself, but to Jungfernhof, a decrepit farm that served as a satellite camp.


Translated by Peter Hubschmid

Kindly supported by the Hermann Reemtsma Stiftung, Hamburg.

Stand: October 2017
© Björn Eggert

Quellen der Kurzrecherche: 1; 4; 8; StaHH 314-15 (Oberfinanzpräsident), FVg 6083 (Suse Meseritz); StaHH 314-15 (Oberfinanzpräsident), R 1940/859 (Fritz u. Olga Meseritz); StaHH 332-8 (Alte Einwohnermeldekartei), Hulda Meseritz; Amtliche Fernsprechbücher Hamburg 1904–1920; www.ancestry.de (eingesehen am 13.4.2009).
Zur Nummerierung häufig genutzter Quellen siehe Link "Recherche und Quellen".