| Ottmar (1873-1944) and Daniela (1889-1944) Holzinger
When Ernst Holzinger was born in 1920, his parents and two sisters were living happily in a comfortable and modern house with a big, beautiful garden on Weißenburgstraße 25. The building reflected the status of Ottmar Holzinger, Ernst's father, as a successful, wealthy business man and employer.
the tradeing house in the Maximilianstreet
Ottmar Holzinger was the owner of the wellknown trading house called Weiß & Holzinger in the center of the city (Maximilianstraße 16). Together with his brother Emil, Ottmar sold wool products and knitware to customers in all of Bavaria. In 1935, the trading house celebrated its centenary; even the city council sent congretulations.
Ernst Holzinger's parents had married in 1910. Daniela, the mother, was a young, attractive and intelligent woman. She managed the big house with three employees and taught her children to play the piano, and was committed to social issues within the Jewish community.
After the death of her brother-in-law Emil, she became the head of the retail-department.
In 1914 and 1916, the two daughters Elisabeth and Margarethe were born. Both were to enjoy a very good education.Their younger brother Ernst visited the Jewish primary school. His school career had to end in 1935, when the Nazis had ordered that Jewish pupils had to leave public schools. |
Ernst Holzinger with his sisters |
Ernst's father Ottmar recognized the dangers of the political situation very early and decided to take his children abroad. In 1935, Ernst left Germany for the Netherlands where he studied horticulture in Ahlem to prepare for a new life in Palestine. His parents travelled to Palestine in 1937, where they made preparations for their emigrations..
With the help of Alijah Ernst could travel to Palestine, where his sister awaited him.
During the following years Ottmar and Daniela Holzinger were to suffer more pain and injustice.
In October 1938 they had to sell their house in the Weißenburgstraße at a dumping price. The family was allowed to live on the first floor for two more years.
On November 9 th , 1938 the trading house was demolished, as was the flat on Weißenburgstraße. Like all the other Jewish men Ottmar Holzinger was taken prisoner and deported to the concentration camp in Dachau.
After his return to Regensburg Ottmar Holzinger had to sell the trading house Weiß & Holzinger.
In 1941 Ottmar and Daniela were forced to move to a nursing home in Weißenburgstraße 31. In September 1942 they were deported to Theresienstadt, a concentration camp near Prague. Ottmar died there in January 1944, aged 70 years, his wife followed him in September 1944.
|
Günther Demnig and Ernst Holzinger
hand shake 2010
|
copyright © 2011 Sylvia Seifert |
