Markreich, Max, 1881-1962
Max Markreich was born in Weener (East Frisia) on October 11, 1881. He worked with a wholesaler in Bremen and became increasingly interested in Jewish affairs. After serving in the army during the First World War, he returned to Bremen. In November 1912 Max Markreich married Johanna Behrens. They had three children: Ludwig, Mary, and Irene. In 1927, Markreich was elected Chairman of the Jewish Community and continued in that post through 1938. In November 1938 he was arrested along with many other members of the Jewish Community. Upon his release, Markreich determined to leave Germany.
In January 1939, Max Markreich left Germany with his wife and daughters and emigrated to Trinidad in the British West Indies, a country that was still relatively easy to receive a visa for. After two years there, complete with a sojourn in an internment camp as enemy aliens, the family obtained affidavits and visas and came to the United States separately. In the United States Max Markreich was active in refugee affairs, helping found the congregation Shaare Zedek in Astoria, Queens and in 1945-1946 the Hilfswerk für Juden in Bremen which gathered money and relief aid for Jewish Displaced Persons and concentration camp survivors living in Bremen after the Second World War.
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