Heinrich Feisthauer (14 September 1898 – 11 November 1964) was an opponent of the Nazi regime and survivor of Sachsenhausen concentration camp of Silesian origin.

Early life

Feisthauer's ancestors were Austrian Landler who were deported from

Maria Theresa Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina (german: Maria Theresia; 13 May 1717 – 29 November 1780) was ruler of the Habsburg dominions from 1740 until her death in 1780, and the only woman to hold the position ''suo jure'' (in her own right). ...

because of their Protestant beliefs. Feisthauer was born on 14 September 1898 in Eckersdorf (now Bożków in Poland) in Grafschaft Glatz, Silesia. He was the son of a mounted policeman. Feisthauer wanted to become a watchmaker. However, his mother wanted him to be a gardener, so he started training for this profession which he later cancelled. He subsequently worked as an agent for

margarine Margarine (, also , ) is a spread used for flavoring, baking, and cooking. It is most often used as a substitute for butter. Although originally made from animal fats, most margarine consumed today is made from vegetable oil. The spread was orig ...

and chocolate until 1938. The goods were stored in the basement. He drove his deliveries with a baker's bike to his customers. He married and had three children.

Prisoner in Sachsenhausen concentration camp

Feisthauer lost his job in 1938 because of his lack of Nazi membership. He lost his concession for the foods business. He was instructed to collect donations for the Nazi Party but refused. On 23 June he was brought to Sachsenhausen concentration camp as part of the

Aktion Arbeitsscheu Reich As part of the "''Arbeitsscheu Reich''" ''(work-shy Reich)'' in April and in June 1938 in two waves of arrests more than 10,000 men as so-called " black triangle anti-social elements" to concentration camps. During the so-called June-action were ...

. He remained there until 1 February 1939. His prisoner number was ''005680'', he was placed in block 22. In the concentration camp he was tortured, inter alia, Chinese water torture. He was taken to the concentration camp with two other men, one of whom did not return. Feisthauer was a wrecked man when he returned to Eckersdorf. He was so pale and skinny that his family did not recognize him in the first moments. They wanted to send "the strange man" away when they saw him that first time. Entlassungsschein Heinrich Feisthauer Konzentrationslager Sachsenhausen Nazi Document

Entlassungsschein Heinrich Feisthauer Konzentrationslager Sachsenhausen Nazi Document

Life after Sachsenhausen

Feisthauer never recovered from his experience at Sachsenhausen. He was never able to again work after release from the camp. After the expulsion of ethnic Germans from Silesia in 1946, he arrived in

Esperke Esperke is a village in Hanover Region, Lower Saxony in Germany. It is part of the town Neustadt am Rübenberge. In 2021 it had a population of 701. Esperke and the neighbouring districts of Helstorf, Luttmersen, Vesbeck and Warmeloh are part of ...

, Lower Saxony. A war refugee commission was formed in Esperke on 04/06/1946. Feisthauer was a member of this commission.Mandel, Armin 1974: Ein Dorf an der Leine, Esperke/Warmeloh. S. 206. Feisthauer was a member of the

Union of Persecutees of the Nazi Regime The Association of Persecutees of the Nazi Regime/Federation of Antifascists (German: ''Vereinigung der Verfolgten des Naziregimes – Bund der Antifaschistinnen und Antifaschisten'') (VVN-BdA) is a German political confederation founded in 1947 ...

. He died in Esperke on November 11, 1964.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Feisthauer, Heinrich 1898 births 1964 deaths People from Kłodzko County People from the Province of Silesia Sachsenhausen concentration camp prisoners Sachsenhausen concentration camp survivors