Heinz (Jindřich) Prossnitz lived in Prague. He was a member of Makkabi Hatzair, a Zionist youth group led by Fredy Hirsch. When the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was set up in 1939, Jews began to be persecuted in Prague. Prossnitz tried to flee to Palestine but failed. In 1941 the first of Prague’s Jews were put into the Litzmannstadt ghetto, including Makkabi Hatzair members. Prossnitz collected donations for them.
From the end of 1942, deportations from Prague went to the Theresienstadt ghetto. Prossnitz’s father worked in the financial department of Prague’s Jewish Community, which initially protected his family. Along with his friends Edith Březinová and Erika Wolfová, Prossnitz sent letters and packages to Theresienstadt. Most of the people imprisoned there were deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp from 1942. The group formed around Prossnitz also managed to send packages there. For instance, Fredy Hirsch regularly received packages from Prossnitz.
In October 1944 Heinz Prossnitz and his parents were taken to Theresienstadt and later to Auschwitz-Birkenau. They were murdered instantly on arrival.
Heinz Prossnitz, Prague, 1930s. Source: Beit Theresienstadt Archives, Kibbutz Givat Chaim (Ihud)
