In 2009, following the death of his father, Antony Easton discovered a brown leather suitcase while sorting through his father’s possessions in Lymington, Hampshire. The suitcase contained German bank notes, photo albums, and a birth certificate revealing that his father, Peter Roderick Easton, was born Peter Hans Rudolf Eisner in pre-war Germany and was part of a wealthy Jewish family in Berlin.
Although Antony had suspected his father’s origins, the suitcase unveiled a complex history involving a family deeply affected by the Holocaust, loss of significant fortune, and heritage tied to artwork and property confiscated during the Nazi regime. Photographs indicated a life of affluence for Peter, far removed from Antony’s more modest upbringing, featuring lavish settings and a Nazi flag in one picture taken during his childhood.
Antony’s exploration into his family’s past led him to uncover connections to a steel business, Hahn’sche Werke, co-founded by his great-grandfather Heinrich Eisner, who was a wealthy industrialist in early 20th-century Germany. However, with the rise of the Nazis, the family’s situation deteriorated. Rudolf Eisner, Peter’s father, initially believed alignment with the regime could protect his business, but as anti-Jewish laws intensified, the company was sold under duress to a Nazi-supporting firm.
This forced sale was part of a broader pattern of confiscation of Jewish assets, which many families faced during this period. Although the Eisner family managed to flee Germany in 1938, their wealth and properties, likely worth billions today, were lost to them, drastically altering their lives.
Subsequently, Antony sought to trace the fate of the family’s assets and the involvement of Martin Hartig, who purchased properties from the Eisners during their flight. Hartig’s descendants provided conflicting accounts of their family’s role during this time, complicating the narrative of complicity vs. benevolence.
Though Antony faces limitations in seeking restitution for his family’s properties, he has made progress in reclaiming some artworks. As he unravels his family’s history, it serves not only as a remembrance of his lineage but also emphasizes the broader impact of this historical tragedy. The Eisner name may have vanished upon their departure from Germany, but it has recently been revived through a familial connection, rekindling an interest in their past.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c33pvlez6yjo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss