Georg David Sally Reiss 1916 - 1941

Born 23.1.1916 in Mannheim
Died 23.10.1941 in Mauthausen

Biography

Georg Reiss came from a wealthy manufacturing family. His father, Paul Reiss, was a partner in the J. Reiss cigar factory, which had been founded by Georg’s grandfather in 1845 and was among the leading cigar manufacturers in Germany. Georg and his brother Peter, one year his junior, enjoyed a carefree childhood in a large house surrounded by family and friends. They did a lot of sport, and art and culture played an important role. Paul and Else Reiss enjoyed travelling and did so a lot, both alone and with their children. They spent their holidays in Switzerland and in Italy, and in 1937 the family even visited the United States.

From an early age Georg was interested in singing and in particular in opera. After successfully graduating from the classical grammar school in Mannheim he began to take singing lessons. He continued his training in Salzburg and Milan and made his debut in 1938 in Cimarosa’s Il Matrimonio Secreto. A bright future seemed to await the fun-loving and charming young baritone.

But when one year later, in May 1939, the German-Italian pact was signed, Georg left the country. He went to Amsterdam, where his brother had already been living for two years. His parents also emigrated to Amsterdam after his father had been forced to sell his factory in 1938. Georg moved in with them in Schubertstraat. Paul Reiss knew the Netherlands well. For years he had been going to auctions in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, which at that time was the centre of the global trade in raw tobacco from Java and Sumatra. He had made many friends during these what were often long visits and thanks to his contacts, in 1938 he was able to set up a wholesalers in raw tobacco with some colleagues. Georg’s professional prospects in the Netherlands were poor. As early as summer 1940 the occupiers began to limit and ‘Aryanise’ musical life, which meant that Georg could only perform for Jewish audiences. But he was granted too little time even for this. On 11 June 1941 he was seized while on his way home from visiting friends and imprisoned. Less than two weeks later he was deported from Schoorl to Mauthausen, where the young artist Georg Reiss died. He was 25 years old.

Georg’s father died on 7 June 1944 in Bergen-Belsen. His mother, his brother and his sister-in-law survived the camp.

Henny E. Dominicus

 

Stichting Vriendenkring Mauthausen

Translation into English: Joanna White

Location In room