Hans Arno Fritsche

Photo by Hans Fritsche — Hans Fritsche
Image: DÖW

Personalia

Born:

September 16, 1919, Prague

Died:

April 27, 1981, Vienna

Profession:

Merchant

KZ Number:

33349

Memberships

Austrian People's Party, ÖVP Comradeship of the politically persecuted and confessors for Austria

Curriculum Vitae

Hans Arno Fritsche was born in Prague as the legitimate son of the merchant Ewald Fritsche and Helene Ida, née Konrad. His mother came from a Jewish family, her father had changed his surname from Kohn to Konrad and she converted from Judaism to Catholicism in 1912.

The family moved from Prague to Vienna at an early age, where Ewald Fritsche opened a textile business at Gonzagagasse 5 in Vienna's 1st district. Hans Fritsche attended elementary and secondary school and in 1935 transferred to the Order of Friars Minor Teachers' Training College in Vienna's 21st district with the aim of becoming a teacher.

On March 12, 1938, Hans Fritsche witnessed the demise of 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 Racial Laws', according to which Hans Fritsche was classified as a 'Mischling I.

In order to avoid arrest, Hans Fritsche's father claims that he wants to set up a branch of his company in Agram in Yugoslavia [today: Zagreb in Croatia] and obtains an exit permit for his son, limited to May 31, 1942. In Agram, Hans Fritsche earns his living with odd jobs such as chauffeur services and unskilled labor. On November 20, 1941, he is sentenced in absentia in Vienna to four months in prison for 'racial defilement' and alleged attempted abortion. His son was born on June 9, 1942.

After his exit permit expired, Hans Fritsche did not return to Vienna but remained in Agram. He was arrested in Agram on December 16, 1943 and deported to the Buchenwald concentration camp

Inmate personnel card of the Buchenwald concentration camp by Hans Fritsche
Image: Arolsen Archives

In April and May 1945, he witnessed the liberation of Austria and the re-establishment of the Republic. He returns to Vienna and attempts to resume his training as a teacher, but does not complete his training for economic reasons. He joins the newly founded Austrian People's Party (ÖVP) and the ÖVP-Kameradschaft der politisch Verfolgten und Bekenner für Österreich.

Hans Fritsche founds a company for the representation of textile goods of all kinds, marries Edda Renate Gettiner in 1949 and becomes the father of a son, later he marries Gertrude Kratzer and becomes the father of a daughter. He always kept in touch with his illegitimate son and financed his education.

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