MARIECHEN PETERSEN (1933 – 1943)

Mariechen Petersen was born on 2 June 1933, the second child of Wilhelm and Erna Petersen. The Petersens had eight children in total. The family lived at 4 Rotehahnstraße. »Mike«, as Mariechen was called by the other children, would always sit on the doorstep and watch the many children playing in the street. Her father, Wilhelm Petersen, died as a soldier on 18 July 1941. From then on, Erna Petersen had to provide for her family of nine on her own.

When she criticised an NSDAP party event in autumn 1942 and refused to attend, Erna Petersen was denounced and arrested on 2 November 1942. She was sent to prison in Hanover for four months. The state welfare services took custody of her eight children. The youngest went to live with their grandmother, while the older ones were sent to a children’s home in Celle. Due to her Down syndrome, Mariechen was first admitted to the children’s hospital at Barckhausenstraße 6 and from there to the »Children’s ward« of the Lüneburg mental hospital. After a six-week observation period, the doctor in charge, Willi Baumert, came to the conclusion that Mariechen was »not expected to develop«. She then fell ill. Information about the administration of medication suggests that the infections had been provoked, possibly to test active ingredients.

After Erna Petersen was released from prison, Mariechen was visited by her mother and siblings. Her mother brought her clothes and extra food. On 9 August 1943, she even requested money for a new dress and a pair of shoes. It is noteworthy that Mariechen only remained free of infection during the weeks when her mother was able to visit. Completely exhausted and most likely as a result of an overdose of medication, Mariechen died on 15 September 1943.

In 2019, a Stolperstein was laid for Mariechen Petersen at Rotehahnstraße 4.