Ilse Luise Ledermann née Citroen

Ilse Luise Citroen was born on March 8, 1904 in Berlin. She was the daughter of Hendrik and Ellen Citroen. The Citroen family was active in the textile industry in Germany and the Netherlands. Ilse Luise had three siblings, brothers Hans and Paul and sister Charlotte.

In 1924 she married the lawyer Franz Anton Ledermann from Hirschberg in Silesia. The young couple moved into an apartment at Genthiner Strasse 5a (today No. 14), not far from the Citroen family, who lived at Derfflinger Strasse 21. Two daughters were born: Barbara in 1925 and Susanne in 1928. The husband's thriving law firm enabled an upper-class lifestyle with staff, many guests, and musical gatherings.

The Nazi seizure of power in 1933 changed the life of the family completely. Franz Anton Ledermann was only allowed to represent Jewish clients and thus lost most of his former business. Ultimately, this led to the closure of the law firm. On October 1, 1933, the family emigrated to the Netherlands, where Ilse Luise Ledermann had relatives.

After initial difficulties, Franz Anton Ledermann managed to get back on his feet professionally. However, the new beginning was not to last. With the German invasion of the Netherlands in 1940, the Ledermanns once again faced the harassment they had fled Germany to escape.

While Barbara Ledermann managed to survive with the aid of the Amsterdam underground, Ilse Luise, Franz Anton and Susanna Ledermann were interned in the Westerbork camp on June 20, 1943. From there they were deported to Auschwitz on November 16, 1943, where they were murdered on November 19, 1943.