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 Chapter 12: Therese

Therese Wilhelm Opava

Therese Wilhelm, my great-grandmother, Marianne's mother.

Grabstein Regina Sonnenblum Ur Ur Grossmutter in Troppau

Gravestone of Therese's mother, Regina Sonnenblum.

The Unspeakable Therese 3

A letter to Therese from 1905 from her son, Alfred.

The Unspeakable Therese 2

A letter from Therese to her daughter-in-law, Hilde (Alfred's wife) in 1930. The letterhead is 'Sonnenblum' her family's company. Sonnenblum was Therese's maiden name.

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A postcard from Therese to her grandson, Claus. Claus was Alfred and Hilde's son, he was my father's cousin.

The Unspeakable Therese 4

A screenshot of the list of women with the name 'Therese Wilhelm' who are documented as Nazi victims at the Arolsen Archives. I found this list in 2021. The last entry is Therese, but it is the Czech version of her name.

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When I visited Opava in 2016 I sought out Therese's memorial in the Jewish cemetery. Her husband, Ludwig, had died young at the age of 47.

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Just as you have the impulse to do something, stop.

Early Zen scripture

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