HERBERT (1928–1945) AND WILLI KÖHLER (1928–1988)

The twin brothers Herbert and Willi Köhler were born on August 18, 1928, in Groß-Lobke in the district of Hildesheim. They had a younger brother, Friedel. Their mother, Berta Köhler (née Meier), was a former nanny, and their father, Willi Köhler, was a trained master shoemaker. The twins were developmentally delayed. Willi nevertheless attended school until eighth grade, while Herbert did not receive any schooling.

At almost 15 years of age, they were among the few teenagers among the patients in the »children’s ward.« They were admitted to House 23 on June 7, 1943, by head nurse Wolf.
The initiative had come from the mother. She wanted to have her sons examined to see if they were fit for work. Herbert and Willi might even learn a trade at the institution. In addition, she was going on a health cure and needed accommodation for her sons, as their father had died in the war. Since there was no doubt that the admission would be approved, the clerk announced in the same letter that the mother, Berta Köhler, would bring her children to the institution in person on June 7, 1943. Since there was apparently great urgency to place the children in the »special children’s ward,« they had even already been deregistered from the registration office, including the cancellation of their food ration cards.

Willi was initially assigned to the tailoring and shoemaking workshops, but was deemed »unfit for work« and sent back. Herbert was employed in basket weaving, but was also deemed »unfit for work.« As a result, both were forced to work in the field labor corps. Their mother was very concerned about her twins after learning that their attempts at work had been unsuccessful.

Despite his poor health, there was only one entry in Herbert’s medical records for the rest of 1943. As his mother remained deeply concerned about her twins, she visited them on January 4, 1944. The visit shocked Berta Köhler. She found her children naked in bed despite the freezing cold. In addition, the children had to stay in bed in the afternoon and also ate their dinner there. She then wrote several letters of complaint to the medical director and even threatened to involve the Reich Health Leader Leonardo Conti. Berta also wrote a letter to her twins, encouraging them to persevere until she had found a solution. Berta Köhler’s accusations were denied by Willi Baumert.

Following her reports and complaints, Berta Köhler was harassed. She was only granted permission to travel to Lüneburg if she presented a certificate from the institution stating that her visits were desired. Later, the course of the war prevented further visits. Meanwhile, Herbert’s health deteriorated in the winter of 1944/1945. At the end of January 1945, the now 16-year-old weighed only 28.5 kg. He died on March 22, 1945, officially of »pneumonia.« This can be doubted, especially since the illness is said to have broken out only one day earlier. Herbert’s twin brother Willi was with him during his illness. He was deeply affected by his brother’s death. Berta Köhler did not learn of her son’s death until a month later. She then decided to save Willi – with success. On April 29, 1945, she brought him home. He survived and died on December 12, 1988, in Bad Gandersheim.