Prean - Erica

Erica Prean's grandfather Carl Bernstein was born in Menden, North Rine-Westphalia, in 1874. He married Emmy (née Mayer) and had a textile business in Aachen, North Rine-Westphalia. He perished in the Holocaust in 1942. They had two daughters, Ellen and Ilse, who emigrated to England. Ilse took her daughter Erica with her to England.

Erica's great aunt Rosalie Bernstein (born in 1864) married Siegfried Ephraim (1853-1924). They owned a textile shop in Menden. Their son Wilhelm was born in 1903. The business got into increasing financial difficulties during the Nazi regime and was subject to anti-semitic attacks. The shop was damaged during the November pogroms in 1938. Wilhelm got married to Ruth Schürmann in 1938. They had a son, Denny, in 1940. The whole family tried in vain to emigrate. They were deported to Theresienstadt concentration camp in 1942 where Rosalie died. Ruth, Wilhelm and Denny were transported on to Auschwitz concentration camp where they also perished.

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