A Jewish German Refugee in Shanghai
Heinz Schwarz’s father, Walter, fought in the German Army in World War I and was awarded a medal called the Iron Cross for his heroism. The family operated a successful clothing business frequented by Jews and non-Jews alike. Heinz had at first a typical German childhood. At age 8, his school photo was taken with a traditional Schultüte, or school cone. German parents traditionally gave the cone, filled with sweets and school supplies, to their children on the first day of school.
With Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in January of 1933, conditions steadily grew worse for the German Jews. In 1938, the Nazis took over the business that belonged to Heinz’s family. By 1939, all Jews were issued identification cards, each with a large “J” stamp. Their middle names had also been changed to “Sara” for women and “Israel” for men. Jews were prohibited from using state hospitals, parks, and libraries. The Nazis rapidly passed laws that segregated Jews and excluded them from daily business, social and political life.
During the 1930s, Nazi policy encouraged Jewish emigration out of Germany. Shanghai, China, seemed like an unlikely place to go, but more and more countries were refusing to allow Jewish people in.
