Kach, Claire, 1925-2009

Ernest Marx - "Ernst Isaak Marx" at birth - was born in Mannheim on 1 March 1895. He was married to Elise Marx, who converted to Judaism before their wedding. The couple had two children, Hans and Claire "Klaerle" (born Dec 11, 1925). Ernest Marx was a salesman and travelled to the Middle East in 1939. He worked in Cairo, Egypt, throughout the war, while his wife and children remained in Frankfurt.

The Marx family was able to avoid deportation and death as a result of Elise's classification as an "Aryan". Elise belonged to the Jewish community and was therefore classified as a Glaubensjuden (Jewess by faith), while her children were Geltungsjuden (counted as Jews) and treated as Jews. During World War II, Elise worked as a janitor at a children's home and Claire as a caretaker, while Hans attended school. In February of 1945, Hans was deported from Frankfurt to Theresienstadt for four months until June 1945.

In 1947 the family was reunited in New York, where Ernst's name was Anglicized to Ernest. Ernest Marx died in 1965. Claire Marx married Alfred Kach and lived in Westchester County until her death in 2009.

From the guide to the Ernest and Elise Marx Family Collection, 1938-1950, bulk 1939-1945, (Leo Baeck Institute)