Lilli Jahn

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Lilli Jahn (born Karoline Jahn; 5 March 1900 – 19 June 1944) was a German-Jewish physician who became a victim of the Holocaust. Her life and tragic death have been the subject of various historical studies and publications.

Early Life and Education

Lilli Jahn was born in Cologne, Germany, into a Jewish family. She pursued her education in medicine and became a physician, a notable achievement for a woman in the early 20th century. Jahn studied at the University of Cologne and later at the University of Freiburg, where she completed her medical degree.

Career

After completing her studies, Lilli Jahn worked as a general practitioner. She married Ernst Jahn, a Protestant physician, and the couple had five children. Despite the growing anti-Semitic environment in Germany, Lilli continued her medical practice until the rise of the Nazi Party.

Persecution and Imprisonment

With the enactment of the Nuremberg Laws in 1935, Lilli Jahn faced increasing persecution due to her Jewish heritage. In 1943, she was arrested by the Gestapo and imprisoned in the labor camp at Breitenau. During her imprisonment, she maintained correspondence with her children, which later provided a poignant insight into her experiences and the impact of the Holocaust on her family.

Death

Lilli Jahn was eventually deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where she was murdered in June 1944. Her letters from the labor camp were preserved by her children and later published, shedding light on her resilience and the brutal realities of life under Nazi rule.

Legacy

The letters of Lilli Jahn have been published and studied as significant historical documents. They offer a personal perspective on the Holocaust and have been used in various educational and memorial contexts. Her story is a testament to the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.

See Also

• Holocaust
• Nuremberg Laws
• Auschwitz concentration camp
• Gestapo
• University of Cologne
• University of Freiburg