Maria Emma Bokor (geb. Mottloch)

Maria Emma Mottloch was born in Vienna as the illegitimate daughter of the housemaid Filomena Mottloch. After completing compulsory schooling, she works as a nanny in various households.

In 1912, she marries the Jewish restaurateur with Hungarian roots, Julius Bokor, whose birth name was Braun, but who changed his name to Bokor in 1902. In 1913, their daughter Gertrude Bokor was born. In 1919, Julius Bokor converted to the Catholic faith and married Maria Bokor in church.

In 1927, Julius and Maria Bokor rented the baroque palace of Count Nostitz near the Meidling Gate of Schönbrunn Palace, which was completely unused and run down at the time. After investing heavily in the property, they opened the 'Café Schlössl' in November 1927 and moved into an apartment directly above the coffee house. In the years that followed, the coffee house developed into a flourishing business.

On March 12, 1938, the Bokor family 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 Racial Laws', according to which Julius Bokor was considered a 'full Jew' and their daughter Gertrude a 'half Jew' or 'Mischling I. Grade'. Although Maria Bokor is advised by the National Socialists to divorce Julius Bokor, she resolutely refuses.

Julius, Maria and Gertrude Bokor, who had been robbed of their livelihood, were also evicted from their home. Gertrude Bokor tries working as a nanny in Belgium, where she can live on board and lodging, while her parents find a room to sublet for a short time, but soon can no longer afford it as they cannot find work. In order to survive, they sold all their belongings and received support from Caritas.

After Gertrude Bokor's Belgian residence visa was not renewed, she returned to Vienna in August 1939. Together with her mother, she found short-term accommodation with relatives, where they shared a bed.

In November 1939, Julius Bokor fled to his sister, who lived in Budapest, in the hope of finding work there and supporting the family financially. However, under the rule of Reich Governor Miklós Horthy, there was also a strict anti-Semitic mood in Hungary, which is why Julius Bokor was unable to find work there either. In February 1941, Julius Bokor publicly criticized Adolf Hitler, whereupon he was arrested and deported to Kamenez-Podolsk in the Ukraine. He was probably murdered there as part of the Massacre of Kamenez-Podolsk. The last sign of his life was on August 17, 1941.

At Christmas 1939, Maria and Gertrude Bokor found temporary work in Mariazell. In January 1940, Maria Bokor is involved in a streetcar accident and becomes a nursing case. Gertrude Bokor now had to support herself and her mother.

Between 1942 and 1945, Gertrude Bokor had to do forced labor in an armaments factory, which further reduced the family income.

With the liberation of Austria in May 1945, Maria Bokor had to have her husband Julius declared dead; the exact date of his death remains unknown, as does the location of his mortal remains.

After the liberation, Maria Bokor joined the ÖVP-Kameradschaft der politisch Verfolgten und Bekenner für Österreich