Fritzi

Fritzi Lorber was born on November 23, 1923 in Vienna, Austria. He enjoyed life in this fine city until his teenage years. In March of 1938, when Fritzi was only fourteen years old, tanks and trucks rolled through the streets. He saw the Nazi soldiers storm into his city. The soldiers were the Sturmabteilung or SA, the original paramilitary wing of the Nazi party. Their nickname was "brownshirts", and their uniforms looked very expensive to Fritzi. The soldiers in brown shirts were...
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Fritzi Lorber was born on November 23, 1923 in Vienna, Austria. He enjoyed life in this fine city until his teenage years. In March of 1938, when Fritzi was only fourteen years old, tanks and trucks rolled through the streets. He saw the Nazi soldiers storm into his city. The soldiers were the Sturmabteilung or SA, the original paramilitary wing of the Nazi party. Their nickname was "brownshirts", and their uniforms looked very expensive to Fritzi. The soldiers in brown shirts were intimidating and very frightening to the Jewish boy. Fritzi heard the cheering crowds waving Nazi flags, buildings adorned with swastikas, and the soldiers, with their guns, were larger than life. The streets were packed with people wanting a glimpse of Hitler. Fritzi saw him as he drove past in a car. "He just knew how to inspire the crowd," Fritzi reflected many years later. It was a welcome home for the leader who was Austrian born. In the months following the takeover of Austria, Fritzi and his family lost their freedoms, rights, and identity. As a Jew, Fritzi could no longer attend school. Soon, the Lorber family could not check books out from the library, use public transportation, or be seen sitting on park benches or attending the cinema. When Fritzi was targeted and beaten, he and his family felt scared, isolated and alone.They kept a low profile, staying in their apartment so as not to be seen. Unfortunately, that did not protect the family. One evening, Fritzi's father and his uncle were arrested by the Nazis and taken to a concentration camp called Dachau. Fritzi's friend Leo Schickler, who was just eight months older than him, was taken to Dachau with the other Jewish men. He spent the entire war in the concentration camp. However, he survived and immigrated to the USA. The two friends met again in New York after the war.Fritzi's uncle and father were in Dachau for several months and then released. The family considered themselves fortunate and decided it was time to leave Europe. They made their way to the United States and began a new life in New York City. His parents lived in Manhattan in an apartment above their small grocery store. Fritzi's grandparents were smuggled into Belgium, and were able to meet them in New York City.Fritzi changed his name to Fred, thinking it sounded much more American. In 1942, he graduated from high school and was drafted into the US Army in the spring of 1943. Just before leaving for his basic training, he met the love of his life, Miriam (nicknamed Mickey). The couple met at a dance in New York City. Mickey was the first woman Fred ever dated because he was a shy eighteen-year-old. But he was a very good dancer, especially at the popular dance called the jitterbug.After the war ended, Fred went with the United States forces into Austria. First thing, Fred drove over to his old apartment building. As he sat in front of the building, a woman recognized him and screamed his name. Old friends kept coming, and soon the street was filled with close to two hundred people. Fred was overwhelmed. When Fred got out of the service, he returned to New York, graduated from college and married his sweetheart. In 1950 he moved to Des Moines, Iowa where he led a successful business life and had a wonderful family. Fred and Mickey are loving parents with four children and three grandchildren. Fred has served his community and synagogue in many ways. He passed away in December of 2014. He was a proud American and enjoyed serving the country he loves. He told his story and inspired audiences in the hope that they will never forget.