Schoolstraat 18

** The Mayer family didn't stand a chance
**
You can hardly imagine now that a large population group is being murdered. Simply because they do not "fit" into the ideology of a single ruler. Yet that is exactly what happened to people of Jewish descent in World War II.

Max Otto Mayer, born in Mannheim in 1891, was one of many Jews whose final destination was determined as a Jew. His wife Erna Oppenheimer and their son Friedrich, who were 2 years younger, were also victims of the persecution of the Jews.

** Their story **
In June 1939 Otto Mayer and his wife Erna flee to the Netherlands. They live temporarily with family in Tilburg: Max Weil and his wife Jennie Oppenheimer. Max Weil is director at the KLO (later KVL) of the Adler & Oppenheimer families, the large leather factory in Oisterwijk. At the end of September 1939, Otto and Erna move to Oisterwijk where they temporarily find shelter in a boarding house on Peperstraat.

Their son Friedrich Mayer, as a 13-year-old, already came to the Netherlands in early January 1939. He is staying in the Zeehuis in Bergen, a holiday colony that also houses Jewish refugee children from Germany. Since he probably has an infectious disease, he must stay there until late 1939. According to his personal card, Friedrich lives in Oisterwijk from January 2, 1940.
In February 1940 Otto, Erna and Friedrich move to Schoolstraat 18, where they live for 2.5 years. Until the end of August 1942 they receive the dreaded visit from the policeman who carries a deportation call. According to orders they report the next day after which they are transferred to camp Westerbork.

** Auschwitz goal **
After a stay of almost three months in camp Westerbork, they are deported on 24 November 1942, together with 700 other Jews. On the way, the train slows down and stops in Cosel where about 70 men between the ages of 15 and 50 have to leave the dirty train, not knowing what fate awaits them. Friedrich Mayer, son of Otto and Erna, is part of this group. They are put to work in one of the labor camps outside Auschwitz. The other deportees continue their journey. The final goal turns out to be concentration camp Auschwitz where they arrive on November 26, 1942. Immediately the next day, all Jews of this transport were gassed. Otto Mayer and Erna Oppenheimer are also killed here. Otto is 51 years old and his wife Erna 49 years old.

Friedrich Mayer is known to have died in one of the labor camps somewhere in central Europe around March 31, 1944, probably due to illness or exhaustion. Friedrich was only 17 years old.

** Stumbling stones **
On March 12, 2019, a total of 11 stumbling stones were laid in Oisterwijk in memory of the Jews who were deported from Oisterwijk and who died in concentration camps
[https://www.oisterwijkinbeeld.nl/story-of-the-family-mayer/[(http://)

More info about [Stumbling Stones Oisterwijk] (https://www.oisterwijkinbeeld.nl/struikelsteen/)

Recordado aquí

¿Hay aquí alguna piedra dañada o desaparecida? Avísenos por correo electrónico