Hannelore and Rosemie Hess were born on June 29, 1926.


 They were twins from Langereer, Germany, and the daughters of Jewish parents, Berta Stern and Julian Hess.


In January 1939, the twins escaped to the Netherlands. Their mother could not afford to go with them. By the end of 1939, their father had gone to Shanghai, China, while their mother stayed in Germany.


For a short time, the girls lived in an orphanage at Nieuwegracht 92, Utrecht. Later, they were taken in by a foster family, whose names are unfortunately unknown.


Their relative safety in the Netherlands did not last. In 1942, mass deportations to extermination camps began, and soon it was their turn. On March 5, 1943, Hannelore and Rosemie were killed at Sobibór extermination camp. They were only sixteen years old.


Their mother was likely also killed during the Holocaust, but her fate is unknown... Continue reading 

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