Eternal commemoration: Hedwig and Paul Eppstein - heroes of humanity

On January 7, 2025, we remember the suffering and the story of Hedwig and Paul Eppstein, who at times lived in Mannheim and later became victims of National Socialism. Hedwig Eppstein, born Strauß, was born on January 6, 1903 in Mannheim. Her parents, August and Mathilde Strauß, lived at Collinistraße 20, where stumbling blocks were later laid in their honor. Hedwig attended the Liselotte-Gymnasium and studied psychology in Heidelberg, where she was the first person in 1927 at the Psychological Institute.

Hedwig was active in the Jewish Women's Association until 1933 and campaigned for Jewish children. She married Paul Eppstein in August 1930. Paul Eppstein, born on March 4, 1902 in Ludwigshafen, studied law and social sciences, sociology and economy and did her doctorate in Heidelberg. Due to the political developments, Paul had to give up his office in 1933 and the adult education center was closed.

The way to deportation

After moving to Berlin, Paul worked in the Reich representative of the German Jews and rejected an invitation to lectures in England to help in Germany. From 1939 he worked at the Reich Association of Jews in Germany. In September 1941, Paul from Adolf Eichmann received the order to bear the yellow Jewish star. Both Eppstein were deported to the Theresienstadt ghetto in January 1943. There Paul was appointed Jewish elder and he had to participate in deportations. On September 27 or 28, 1944, he was shot by SS men.

Hedwig Eppstein worked in the Berlin Jewish youth welfare in Berlin and became head of the Berlin children's and youth-Alija in 1938, which ensured that numerous Jewish children and adolescents were brought to safety. This organization saved about 21,000 children and adolescents. Hedwig was deported from Theresienstadt to Auschwitz on October 28, 1944 and murdered there three days later.

commemoration and honor

The history of suffering of the Eppstein will not be forgotten. In 2021, a street in the new residential area Spinelli was named in Hedwig Eppstein. The day of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on January 27th has been a nationwide commemoration for the victims of National Socialism since 1996. In Mannheim there will be a memorial event in the Jewish community on this day, while in Ludwigshafen the event "View through the windows of the time" will be held at 7 p.m.

For more information about Paul Eppstein and his life story see wikipedia and the reporting of Kommunalinfo Mannheim .