Iwan von der Walde
* 1883

Iwan van der Walde, b. 12.31.1883 in Hamburg, a suicide on 8.18.1942

Iwan van der Walde, born 12.31.1883 in Hamburg, was the third son of Magnus van der Walde, a native of Emden. After his death, Iwan and his brother Max continued their father’s firm. It was a large, cohesive family with Max and his three sisters, Marianne, Sarah, and Minne, living for several years in neighboring houses on Haynstrasse in Hamburg-Eppendorf.

Iwan was a member of the Henry Jones Lodge of the B’nai B’rith (Sons of the Covenant) and must have led an active social and cultural life. According to reports from the family, he could not, on racial grounds, marry his long-time partner. Her son, presumably by Iwan, attempted to find a position for Iwan as a butler in England, but in vain. As late as 1941, there is evidence of attempts to emigrate to the USA, but his swiftly degenerating health may have been one of the grounds for giving them up. On 10.25.1941, he and his brother Max narrowly missed being deported to Litzmannstadt (Lodz); both their names were crossed off the standby list.

Max, along with his wife, mother- and brother-in-law, were dramatically able to escape Germany for Argentina. For Iwan, this was not possible. He must have been at the end of his powers, for on 8.18.1942, shortly before deportation to Theresienstadt, he took his own life.

Translator: Richard Levy
Kindly supported by the Hermann Reemtsma Stiftung, Hamburg.