Gedenktafel Elsa und Hermann Strauß Plaque

Elsa’s whispered anxieties echoed in the grand apartment on Kurfürstendamm as 1942 approached. Here at Kurfürstendamm 184, the Gedenktafel Elsa und Hermann Strauß Plaque commemorates the lives of Elsa and her husband, Hermann Strauß. This plaque, a simple glass pane, holds a heavy story. Hermann, a renowned physician, had dedicated his life to research at the Charité. He made significant contributions to nephrology and gastroenterology. His inventions, like the Strauß cannula for blood draws, simplified medical procedures. Elsa, a pioneer of modern hospital social work, championed patient welfare. The Gedenktafel Elsa und Hermann Strauß Plaque serves as a poignant reminder of their contributions. They both worked tirelessly at the Jewish Hospital in Berlin. However, their world crumbled with the rise of the Nazi regime. Hermann, despite warnings, refused to emigrate, clinging to the hope that his esteemed position would shield him. Their dedication to their city and their patients ultimately sealed their fate. In July 1942, they were deported to Theresienstadt. The Gedenktafel Elsa und Hermann Strauß Plaque, unveiled in 2015, stands as a testament to their resilience and the tragic loss of two brilliant minds. Neither Hermann nor Elsa survived the horrors of the ghetto. Hermann, suffering a heart attack, passed away in October 1944, while Elsa perished shortly after liberation in June 1945. Their story, etched in glass here at Kurfürstendamm 184, reminds us of the devastating impact of intolerance and the importance of remembrance.