Inge Auerbacher
Encyclopedia
Inge Auerbacher is an American chemist
of German
origin. She is a survivor of the Holocaust and has published many books about her experiences in the Second World War.
, a village in South-Western Germany located at the folot of the Black Forest
, close to the borders of France and Switzerland. She was the only child of Berthold (1898–1987) and Regina Auerbacher (née Lauchheimer, 1905–1996). Both of her parents came from observant Jewish families who had lived for many generations in Germany.
Inge’s father was a soldier in the German Army during World War I. He was wounded badly and consequently awarded the Iron Cross
for service to his country. Inge’s father was a textile merchant and the family owned a large home in Kippenheim.
Auerbacher spent her childhood between the years 1941-1945, a total of 140,000 people were shipped to Terezin; 88,000 were sent primarily to the gas chambers in Auschwitz, and 35,000 died of malnutrition and disease in Terezin.
Of the 15,000 children imprisoned in Terezin, Inge is among the one percent that survived.
The Red Army rescued Auerbacher's family on May 8, 1945. After a short stay at Göppingen
, the family immigrated to New York
in May 1946.
Seven years later Auerbacher obtained US citizenship.
She graduated from Queens College and spent 38 years working as a chemist.
In 1986, Auerbacher published her first book about her childhood's memories. It was called I am a Star.
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
origin. She is a survivor of the Holocaust and has published many books about her experiences in the Second World War.
Life
Inge Auerbacher was the last Jewish child born in KippenheimKippenheim
Kippenheim is a town in the district of Ortenau in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.Kippenheim has restored its pre-war synagogue.-Notable residents:*Stef Wertheimer , German-born Israeli entrepreneur and industrialist and politician...
, a village in South-Western Germany located at the folot of the Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
, close to the borders of France and Switzerland. She was the only child of Berthold (1898–1987) and Regina Auerbacher (née Lauchheimer, 1905–1996). Both of her parents came from observant Jewish families who had lived for many generations in Germany.
Inge’s father was a soldier in the German Army during World War I. He was wounded badly and consequently awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
for service to his country. Inge’s father was a textile merchant and the family owned a large home in Kippenheim.
Auerbacher spent her childhood between the years 1941-1945, a total of 140,000 people were shipped to Terezin; 88,000 were sent primarily to the gas chambers in Auschwitz, and 35,000 died of malnutrition and disease in Terezin.
Of the 15,000 children imprisoned in Terezin, Inge is among the one percent that survived.
The Red Army rescued Auerbacher's family on May 8, 1945. After a short stay at Göppingen
Göppingen
Göppingen is a town in southern Germany, part of the Stuttgart Region of Baden-Württemberg. It is the capital of the district Göppingen. It is situated at the bottom of the Hohenstaufen mountain, in the valley of the river Fils....
, the family immigrated to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in May 1946.
Seven years later Auerbacher obtained US citizenship.
She graduated from Queens College and spent 38 years working as a chemist.
In 1986, Auerbacher published her first book about her childhood's memories. It was called I am a Star.
Works
- Beyond the Yellow Star to America. Royal Fireworks Pub, 2003. ISBN 0-88092-252-4
- Finding Dr. Schatz: The Discovery of Streptomycin and a Life It Saved. Lightning Source. UK Ltd, 2006. ISBN 0595379974
- Anton Hegele (Hrsg.), Inge Auerbacher: 800 Jahre Jebenhausen: vom ritterschaftlichen Dorf zum Stadtbezirk. Göppingen, 2006. Veröffentlichungen des Stadtarchivs Göppingen, Band 46
- I Am a Star: Child of the Holocaust, Penguin, January 31, 1993 ISBN 0140364013