Kaumheimer family

Biographical/Historical note

Dr. Ludwig Kaumheimer was a pediatrician who lived in Munich, Germany. He was born on May 1, 1881 in Munich, Germany. Dr. Kaumheimer was the deputy chairman of a children's insitute in Munich operated by the Central Verein (Central Organization); he was active in the founding of the institute and provided volunteer services for over 30 years. His wife, Hilde Rosenberg Kaumheimer, born November 2, 1901 in Berlin, managed the institute from 1928 until 1932. She and Dr. Kaumheimer were married in 1933.

Dr. Kaumheimer was arrested in Munich after the Kristallnacht pogroms of November 1938, and was imprisoned in Dachau concentration camp. He and his wife Hilde emigrated from Germany in 1939.

Julius Kaumheimer, a businessman, was an older brother of Dr. Ludwig Kaumheimer. He was born on February 9, 1880 in Munich. His wife, Selma Landauer Kaumheimer was born June 5, 1890 in Ulm, Germany. The Kaumheimers lived in Stuttgart, Germany and emigrated with their four children -- Hans, Fritz and twin daughters Margerita and Ruth to Merano, Italy in 1939 and from there to San Francisco, California.

The Kaumheimer family had a valuable collection of porcelain figurines, which were confiscated by Italian authorities when they entered that country in 1939 and assigned to the National Museum in the Castle of Buonconsiglio in Trento. Many years later, the Jewish community of Merano sought restitution for the owners of the porcelain collection and in 2002 the Kaumheimer collection was allocated to the community. Attempts by the Jewish community of Merano to locate the Kaumheimer family were not successful until they contacted HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society). HIAS placed an ad in the Aufbau, a German Jewish newspaper, which was answered by Julius's son John (formerly Hans.) Surviving members of the Kaumheimer family visited the museum in Merano, Italy where the porcelains were kept, and were once again reunited with this collection.

From the guide to the Kaumheimer family papers, 1935-1940, (Tauber Holocaust Library)