Fritz Beckhardt - World War II and Beyond

World War II and Beyond

Beckhardt was released in March 1940. Apparently, Hermann Göring had interceded on the grounds of sentiment towards his old comrade in arms. Beckhardt's lawyer, Berthold Guthman, had served with both Göring and Beckhardt during World War I. (Guthman, who was Jewish, died in KZ camp Auschwitz on 29 September 1944).

Fritz and Rosa Emma Beckhardt escaped to neutral Lisbon, Portugal, thence to England. After a brief internment on the Isle of Man, the Beckhardt family reunited and moved in with one of the Froweins. In London he reunited with his two children Kurt and Sue Hilde who had been brought to England by the "Kindertransport"-Organizations (Refugee Children's Movement (RCM)). The RCM had its seat in London, Bloomsbury house. It consisted of many Jewish and Christian organisations.

In 1950, Fritz Beckhardt returned to Wiesbaden and recovered his house and shop and a part of his other property through legal action. He and his son Kurt then opened the first self-serve grocery in Wiesbaden. Fritz Beckhardt ran the grocery until his death on 13 January 1962. His death was caused by several strokes. He and his wife are buried at the cemetery of Wiesbaden - Sonnenberg.

His son Kurt lived in a camp in Barham, Claydon (Suffolk), in different hostels in Sheffield and in Golders Green, London until he returned with his father to Germany. He is now living in Bonn, Germany. His daughter Suse Hilde became a British subject in January 1954 and lived in London.