Lilli Jahn

Lilli Jahn

Lilli Jahn's passport photo

Lilli Jahn (née Schlüchterer; 5 March 1900 – 19 June 1944) was a German-Jewish physician who became a victim of the Holocaust. Her life and tragic death highlight the persecution faced by Jews in Nazi Germany, as well as the personal struggles of maintaining family and identity under oppressive regimes.

Early Life and Education

Lilli Schlüchterer was born in Cologne, Germany, into a Jewish family. She pursued her education in medicine, a field that was not commonly chosen by women at the time, especially those of Jewish descent. Lilli's determination and intellect led her to successfully complete her medical studies, becoming a licensed physician.

Marriage and Family

In 1926, Lilli married Ernst Jahn, a Protestant physician. The couple settled in Immenhausen, where they both practiced medicine. They had five children together: Gerhard, Ilse, Dorothea, Günther, and Jürgen. Despite the challenges of balancing a career and family life, Lilli was known for her dedication to both her patients and her children.

Persecution and Arrest

With the rise of the Nazi Party and the implementation of anti-Semitic laws, Lilli's life took a drastic turn. In 1934, Ernst Jahn divorced Lilli, likely under pressure from the Nazi regime, which prohibited "Aryans" from being married to Jews. This left Lilli vulnerable to the increasing persecution of Jews in Germany.

In 1943, Lilli was arrested by the Gestapo and sent to the Breitenau labor camp. Her children, who were left behind, maintained correspondence with her through letters, which later became a poignant record of her experiences and thoughts during this period.

Death

Lilli Jahn was eventually deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where she perished in June 1944. Her death was a tragic loss to her family and a stark reminder of the countless lives destroyed during the Holocaust.

Legacy

The letters exchanged between Lilli and her children were preserved and later published, providing a deeply personal insight into the impact of Nazi persecution on individual lives and families. These letters have been instrumental in educating future generations about the human cost of hatred and intolerance.

Related Pages

• Holocaust
• Auschwitz concentration camp
• Nazi Germany
• Jewish history in Germany