Harry Petzal

Born in 1908, Harry, like his older brother, attended the Kirschner Oberrealschule nebst Realgymnasium F.S. in Berlin. Later, Harry, a delicate child with asthma, was sent to the Odenwaldschule in Heppenheim, 600 km away, an alternative, progressive school run by the charismatic couple Paul and Edith Geheeb. From 1928 to 1939 he worked in Germany in the metal industry, a job that was to benefit him greatly, as there was not enough money to pay for his studies.
Harry enjoyed living in Berlin, where he had a close circle of friends, many of whom he was to keep for life. His successful business career took him abroad, including America in 1936. He was a keen photographer and sportsman, especially sailing and winter sports.

In 1939, with the help of his future wife, Harry fled to Britain with false papers, immediately volunteered for the British Army and was drafted into the Pioneer Corps. He was not interned.
Because of his knowledge of metallurgy, he was posted to work on RAF projects in 1943.
In 1943 Harry married Hannalore Isakowitz in London, a German Jewish refugee whom he had met in Dresden in 1932.

After the war, Harry made several trips to the Netherlands and Germany to find out what had happened to his family. Harry was never again a practising Jew; he completely lost whatever faith he may once have had. He did, however, support and visit Israel. He never spoke about the time between 1933 and 1945 or about the family he had lost.