The Lewkonja Family
Written by Dr. Hubert Schneider
In the address book of the City of Bochum for the year 1942 there is listed Alfred Lewkonja as living in the Old School House, Wilhemstrasse 16
His parents Louis Lewkonja and Valessca Lewkonja nee Rheinglass died in 1923 and 1931, its not known if they lived in Bochum.
They had 5 children:
Erich Lewkonja he was born 26 December 1883 in Gottingen
Kurt Lewkonja he was born 13 December in 1885 in Gottingen
Erna Lewkonja she was born on 30 December 1887 in Gottingen
Alfred Lewkonja he was born 11th November 1889 in Gottingen
Charlotte Lewkonja she 3rd June in 1895
Alfred and Erich appear in the Address Book of Bochum. They first appear in 1920
as the co-owners of a grocery and hardware store "Brothers Flachman" at Bruderstrasse 32. According to the records they lived at this address since 1918.
The building included 5 other stores which were rented out.
About their son Heinz and we know very little.
Erna and Charotte only appear in material after the war
In 1950 Erna Malkops nee Lewkonja was living in Berlin and her sister Charlotte Preissner nee Lewkonja was living in Berlin.
Dr. Kurt managed to flee to England in 1939 and lived in Birmingham. He was a technical advisor.
During the process of Aryanization a businessman from a small town called Schwelm took over the store on the 24 November 1938.
Berhard Bernig, the man who had taken over the shop was interested in purchasing the living accommodation above the shop. He asked the local Nazi party for permission to buy the living accommodation, they replied there was no problem. On the 19 May 1939 a contract was drawn up for the sale for the sum of 40,000 RM. The contract was sent to the City Council for approval. The brothers wrote that with the money from the sale they had the possibility to emigrate and requested that the permission be given quickly.
This was refused as the City Council wanted to purchase the property themselves as they planned to widen the street and thus needed the property. The City bought the property for 39,400 RM . This was the price from 1918 and not is current market value.
In the contract they could continue to live there till their date of emigration.
13,945 .56 RM was to be paid to the Central Credit Bank in Berlin
4,750 RM was paid to a baker in Bochum
And the remainder, 21,304.54 RM to the Community Bank in a "closed account"
Alfred Lewkonja married his cousin Margarita Lewkonja who was born in Minden
4th July 1891. The couple had no children.
Alfred was active in the Jewish Community and he was the leader in a sports group organized by the Jewish Front Line Soldiers.. These organizations were very important when Jewish Youth groups were no longer allowed to participate in "Aryan " organizations.
1 picture exists from 1934 showing Alfred surrounding about 50 Jewish youths. Those who escaped remember Alfred with warmth.
Alfred and his wife tried to leave Germany and we have found a document dated 1st April 1939 were they stated to wished to go to South America.
To be continued.
Sound files at Jewish Bochum/
