Max (Mayer) Schiffmann (geb. Birkenfeld)

On March 12, 1938, Max Schiffmann witnessed the demise of a free and independent Austria with the invasion of the German Wehrmacht. He and his brothers were arrested by the Gestapo on March 13, 1938 and deported to Dachau concentration camp on April 2, 1938 on the so-called 'Prominent Transport'. Between June 1, 1938 and June 8, 1938, he was taken to an unknown location and then to Dachau concentration camp again. During the absence of the four brothers, the Schiffmann brothers' department store was deliberately forced into liquidation and Olga Schiffmann had to apply for liquidation at the Vienna Commercial Court on August 13, 1938. On September 23, 1938, he was transferred to Buchenwald concentration camp, where he was released on February 22, 1939 on the condition that he leave occupied Austria as soon as possible.

On April 14, 1939, Max Schiffmann, his wife Olga Schiffmann, his mother-in-law Leontine Lazar and his three brothers emigrated to London in England. There they received a visa for the United States of America on March 26, 1940. They left Liverpool on May 3, 1940 and reached New York on May 11, 1940.