Irene was born in Berlin in 1930 and lived there with her Pappi, Mutti, and brother Werner until 1937. Her grandfather started a bank, which was later co-owned by Pappi, until the Nazis took it away and handed it over to non-Jews.
Irene Hasenberg and her brother Werner, circa 1933.
Irene's brother Werner with their grandfather, Julius Mayer or Opa as he was called by the grandchildren.
Irene with her maternal grandmother, Pauline Mayer or Omi as she was affectionately called, in 1931. Pauline and her husband Julius were not allowed to move from Germany, although they did later visit Irene's family in Amsterdam. They were deported to Theresienstadt concentration camp on August 17, 1942. Pauline was murdered on October 19 of that year and Julius on November 9.
Irene's Pappi, John Hasenberg
Irene's Mutti, Gertrude Hasenberg
Irene (right) with her brother Werner and Mutti (Gertrude Hasenberg)
Irene with her Pappi in Berlin, circa 1934.
Irene in first grade in Berlin, 1936.
Riga, Latvia (Sept 6, 1918): Irene's father John Hasenberg (right) with friend and fellow World War One German officer Leo Buschhoff. During the World War Two Leo got Irene's family off the list to Auschwitz concentration camp where they would have most likely been killed. Leo and his wife didn't survive the Second World War.
Riga, Latvia (1915): John Hasenberg (pointing with swagger stick), hamming it up with his rangefinder squad. The rangefinder (the horizontal tube on the tripod) was used to measure the distance of enemy aircraft.