Ilse Heinrich, born in 1924, grew up in poor circumstances and had to work on a farm after graduating from school. She ran away from there several times because she wanted to live and work in the city. She quickly came under the scrutiny of the National Socialist authorities as a supposedly »work-shy«. From 1943 she had to perform forced labor in a Güstrow labor institution, and in 1944 the Nazis deported her to the Ravensbrück concentration camp.
She survived, was finally able to move to the longed-for big city in 1951 and build a life of her own. Despite the stigma of being »antisocial«, she found the courage to speak out about her persecution and appeared as a contemporary witness for many years.
On August 31, 2023, Ilse Heinrich passed away at the age of 99. We bid farewell to a courageous woman and impressive contemporary witness. Our deepest sympathy goes out to their families.
