THERESE SCHUBERT (née KECK) (1884 – 1941)

Therese Schubert, née Keck, born on 21 April 1887 in Lüneburg, grew up with her two older sisters Frieda and Christine in middle-class circumstances at Friedenstraße 10. In the winter of 1913/1914, she went to Somerset (USA) for a few months to gain experience as a kindergarten teacher. After her return, she began training as a kindergarten teacher in Hamburg. At the same time, she met her future husband, Heinrich Schubert, who was a respected city architect in Lüneburg. Therese and Heinrich Schubert married on 21 September 1920. The marriage produced two sons, Jürgen and Theo.

Heinrich Schubert died suddenly in 1926. He had drowned in the Ilmenau River. Therese Schubert was unable to cope with the death of her husband and developed severe depression. After unsuccessful treatment by the Hamburg neurologist Max Nonne and subsequent placement in the Ginsterhof near Hamburg, she returned to her sisters, who were now living at Schillerstraße 5 in Lüneburg. However, as Therese Schubert’s health did not improve, she was admitted to the Lüneburg sanatorium on 24 November 1932. The medical officer’s diagnosis was ‘juvenile insanity’.

She lost contact with her sons Jürgen and Theo, who were now living permanently with Therese’s sister Christine Keck. Although Theo brought clothes and extra food to the sanatorium, he left them with the porter without visiting his mother. He was afraid of encountering his sick mother. On 9 April 1941, Therese Schubert was transferred to the Herborn transit institution and from there deported to the Hadamar killing centre. On 28 May 1941, she was murdered as part of ‘Aktion T4’.

Her sisters and sons, who were now grown up, received the news that Therese had died of pneumonia. The relatives doubted this. The family had the urn containing Therese Schubert’s alleged ashes transferred to Lüneburg and placed it next to her husband’s grave. Theo Schubert successfully fought against the dissolution of the grave after the expiry of the resting period. In 2014, the cemetery administration added the resting place of Therese and Heinrich Schubert to the list of historic graves, ensuring that it will be preserved permanently. In 2022, a commemorative plaque was added to provide information about their history.

A stumbling stone at Schillerstraße 5 commemorates Therese Schubert, born on 21 April 1887, murdered on 28 May 1941.