During World War II, Walter Frankenstein and his family embarked on a perilous journey to survive as Jews in Nazi Germany, hiding in various locations throughout Berlin. For more than two years, they were part of a group often referred to as “human U-boats,” which consisted of around 6,500 Jews who evaded the Nazis by concealing themselves in bombed-out buildings, cars, and other makeshift shelters.
In a significant encounter in 1944, Mr. Frankenstein faced the threat of being exposed while traveling on a train. When confronted by a military policeman demanding to see identification, he cleverly fabricated a foreign accent and lied that he was a forced laborer. His heart raced as the officer expressed intent to call his employer, and it was in this moment of desperation that Mr. Frankenstein ultimately revealed he was Jewish, fully aware of the dreadful fate awaiting him if reported.
Fortunately, the officer's priorities shifted when he declared, “Get lost. I’m not looking for Jews; I’m looking for deserters,” thereby allowing Mr. Frankenstein to escape a fate of potential deportation to Auschwitz. This instance underscores the precariousness of daily life for Jews in hiding during the Holocaust, often residing in plain sight amidst constant peril.
Walter Frankenstein was among the approximately 1,700 individuals who managed to survive the war under the cloak of invisibility, forever marked by their harrowing experiences. He lived out the remainder of his life in Sweden, where he passed away on April 21. His story continues to resonate as a poignant reminder of the human spirit's ability to endure in the face of unimaginable adversity.
In a significant encounter in 1944, Mr. Frankenstein faced the threat of being exposed while traveling on a train. When confronted by a military policeman demanding to see identification, he cleverly fabricated a foreign accent and lied that he was a forced laborer. His heart raced as the officer expressed intent to call his employer, and it was in this moment of desperation that Mr. Frankenstein ultimately revealed he was Jewish, fully aware of the dreadful fate awaiting him if reported.
Fortunately, the officer's priorities shifted when he declared, “Get lost. I’m not looking for Jews; I’m looking for deserters,” thereby allowing Mr. Frankenstein to escape a fate of potential deportation to Auschwitz. This instance underscores the precariousness of daily life for Jews in hiding during the Holocaust, often residing in plain sight amidst constant peril.
Walter Frankenstein was among the approximately 1,700 individuals who managed to survive the war under the cloak of invisibility, forever marked by their harrowing experiences. He lived out the remainder of his life in Sweden, where he passed away on April 21. His story continues to resonate as a poignant reminder of the human spirit's ability to endure in the face of unimaginable adversity.
