The following is a synopsis of Werner Conn’s book which recounts his life before, during and after the Holocaust.
Werner was born on 17 March 1928 to Erich and Mathilde. Werner grew up in Berlin and has many fond childhood memories. From 1933 – 1938 Werner attended a private school, where he became aware of the Hitler Youth. Following Kristallnacht in November 1938, Werner’s father was rounded up by two men and sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Erich was absent for around six months, before Mathilde managed to get him released from Sachsenhausen.
Erich and Mathilde sought to leave Germany, but were unable to obtain visas prior to the war breaking out, so Werner was sent alone in June 1939 with just one suitcase, on a Kindertransport to Britain. When he initially arrived in the UK, Werner was sent to a Scout camp on the South Downs for two weeks.
After the war, Werner discovered that his parents and younger brother were deported to Theresienstadt, Czechoslovakia on 17 March 1943, which coincided with his 15th birthday.
In 1945, Werner started an engineering apprenticeship at Loughborough College in Leicestershire and obtained a National Certificate in mechanical engineering. Werner began his career at the mechanical test department of the English Electric Company where he stayed for 37 years. Werner met his wife in 1956 and got married in 1958.
Werner resides in North West England, where he lives happily with his partner Elisabeth, who shares his love of travelling.
