Die geschützte Insel

Prussian, German, and Jewish: The Auerbach Orphanage in Berlin was once a highly respected institution - loyal to the monarchy yet pedagogically ahead of its time. Founded in 1832, the development of the institution also reflects the relationship between the Christian majority and the Jewish minority in Prussia. However, the Nazis destroyed Jewish life and murdered the children and their caregivers. Klaus Hillenbrand recounts the history of the house and the fate of its residents. Walter Frankenstein, a former pupil of the institution who is now nearly a hundred years old, reflects on his years at the Auerbach Orphanage. Photos from his album depict the sheltered everyday life of Jewish boys and girls beyond the threat posed by the National Socialists.