Germany until 1939

life before marriage

Henny Scheuer was born into a fairly wealthy Jewish family in Frankfurt am Main in 1897. Hermann Hartog was born in Aurich, in the north-west of Germany, in 1887. His parents died soon after his birth and he was brought up by his siblings. His older brother was a butcher and the family was part of a strong Jewish community in the town.

married life in Jever

Hermann became a teacher and cantor, leading the music in the synagogue at Jever – about 30km from Aurich - and teaching the Jewish children both there and in the schools. He and Henny were married in 1921 and made their first home in Schlosserstrasse, in Jever, where their two daughters were born in 1924 and 1926.

anti-Semitism

During the 1920s, there was strong support in the area for the far-right political parties and anti-Semitism increased. The Hartogs moved to the nearby city of Wilhelmshaven where Hermann was appointed as Jewish teacher, while continuing to work in Jever. They sent their elder daughter to school in England for her safety. After the pogrom in November 1938, Hermann was sent to a concentration camp and Henny sent their younger daughter to England on the Kindertransport. Hermann was released at the end of 1938.