Emil Deutsch

Emil Deutsch was born in Rechnitz in Burgenland, the son of the Jewish couple Philipp Deutsch and Cäcilia, née Klein. After finishing school, he trained as a gardener. He moved to Vienna, married the Catholic Veronika Weissenböck in 1929 and became a display arranger.

Between 1912 and 1935, Emil Deutsch was convicted 18 times for theft, fraud and brawling and served minor prison sentences.

On March 12, 1938, he witnessed the demise of a free and independent Austria with the invasion of the German Wehrmacht. With the occupation of Austria, German legislation was adopted and with it the 'Nuremberg Race Laws', according to which Emil Deutsch was considered a 'full Jew'.

On June 22, 1938, Emil Deutsch was taken into custody and deported to the Dachau concentration camp on June 24, 1938. From there, he was transferred to the Buchenwald concentration camp on September 23, 1938. After more than four years in Buchenwald concentration camp, he was transferred to Auschwitz concentration camp on October 17, 1942. He was murdered there on 25 September 1943 at the latest (the exact date is not known) and cremated.

His wife Veronika Deutsch witnessed the liberation of Austria in April/May 1945 and later joined the ÖVP-Kameradschaft der politisch Verfolgten und Bekenner für Österreich. She outlived her husband by 34 years.