Perhaps you’ve walked past this plaque before. This is the Ina Rothschild geb. Herzfeld Plaque. It commemorates a remarkable woman. Ina Rothschild was born Wilhelmine Herzfeld on May 13, 1902. Her birthplace was Hächst im Odenwald.
Ina’s life was dedicated to helping others. She trained as a teacher and then as a nurse. In 1929, she began working at the Wilhelmspflege. This was an Israelite orphanage in Esslingen. She served as a housekeeper there.
Times were tough. The children arriving at the orphanage had experienced hardship. Ina Rothschild understood their pain. She noted the children’s challenges. Economic hardship had taken its toll. Children were the innocent victims of these times. She knew a different approach was needed.
Ina Rothschild married Theodor Rothschild in 1938. He was the orphanage director. It was his third marriage. Later, Ina became the “Hausmutter” or housemother.
The nightmare of Kristallnacht arrived on November 10, 1938. Nazi supporters attacked the Esslingen orphanage. They drove the children out. They assaulted Theodor Rothschild and teachers. They destroyed property and burned books. The orphanage was forced to close.
Ina and Theodor moved to Stuttgart. They lived with acquaintances at first. Later, they moved into a “Jew house”. This was at Blumenstraße 2/1. They shared a single room. They had to share the kitchen and bathroom with four other families.
Theodor had a chance to emigrate to the USA in 1938. He declined. His later application was too late. After Germany declared war on the USA emigration became impossible.
In 1942, Theodor and other Jewish leaders were sent to Theresienstadt. This was a concentration camp. Ina Rothschild followed her husband.
In Theresienstadt, Ina worked as a nurse. She lived with 27 other women. Rosi Weglein was one of them. Rosi later wrote about her experiences.
In November 1944, 49 Dutch orphans arrived. They had severe typhus. Ina cared for these children in quarantine. She received extra rations for her work. In January 1945, these children were sent to Switzerland. They were saved.
Soon after, another transport was arranged to Switzerland. Ina Rothschild was on that transport. Her husband had already died. She escaped to Switzerland.
After some time, Ina Rothschild emigrated to Philadelphia in 1946. She worked as a private nurse. She never remarried and had no children. Ina Rothschild died in 1985.
This Ina Rothschild geb. Herzfeld Plaque reminds us of her life. It honors her dedication to children. It commemorates her courage during terrible times. It ensures that Ina Rothschild’s story will never be forgotten.