Heinrich Rechnitzer was born in Vienna, Austria, on June 19, 1936. He was the son of Jewish parents Max and Reisel. He also had a brother, Walter. In 1938, the Nazis occupied Austria in what was known as the Anschluss. Most Austrians enthusiastically welcomed Nazi rule. After the Anschluss, more than 100,000 Jews fled Austria. Heinrich’s parents were either unable to flee or chose not to.


On July 17, 1942, Heinrich and his parents were arrested from their home (which was located at Grosse Sperlgasse 6/14) and deported to the Terezín camp in Czechoslovakia. Shortly after this, they were deported to Auschwitz. Walter, Heinrich’s brother, was the only survivor of the family. Heinrich was murdered in the gas chambers at age six. May his memory be a blessing

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