Julia (Julie) Schlesinger (geb. Fleischner)

Julia Fleischner was born in Vienna, the daughter of the Jewish family Moritz Fleischner and his wife Adele, née Gans. Nothing has been preserved about her childhood and youth.

In 1923, she converted to the Catholic faith and married the lawyer Johann Schlesinger. Johann Schlesinger is the son of the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Vienna [today: Grand Lodge of Austria of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons] Richard Schlesinger, who has been in office since 1919. Like his father, Johann Schlesinger is also a freemason and a member of the masonic lodge 'Future'.

When free and independent Austria collapsed on March 12, 1938, the new rulers were already ready to forcibly dissolve the Austrian masonic lodges. As early as March 13, a special Masonic detachment of the SS from Berlin began arresting leading Freemasons and confiscating all lodge property. With the occupation of Austria, German legislation is adopted and with it the 'Nuremberg Race Laws', according to which Hans Schlesinger is considered a 'Mischling II. degree' and Julia Schlesinger a 'full Jew'.

Like his father, Hans Schlesinger is arrested by the Gestapo on March 16, 1938. Richard Schlesinger, already old and suffering from an operation, is driven to his death by the Gestapo, Hans Schlesinger is released on the condition that he leave occupied Austria by August 15, 1938.

Hans and Julia Schlesinger flee to the United States of America via Switzerland on August 14, 1938. Their assets in Austria are confiscated as 'Reichsfluchtsteuer'. Hans and Julia Schlesinger finally reach the United States of America and settle in St. Louis in Missuri. Hans henceforth calls himself John R. Schlesinger and Julia 'Julie' Schlesinger. Both become US citizens.

Julie Schlesinger works as a librarian in St. Louis. Her husband dies in 1957, Julie Schlesinger in 1974 at the age of 82. She finds her final resting place in Oak Grove Crematory Cemetery in St. Louis.