IRMGARD RUSCHENBUSCH (1912 – 1941)

Irmgard Ruschenbusch was born on March 5, 1896 in Hermannsburg in the district of Celle. Her parents were Bertha Ruschenbusch, née Harms, and the country doctor Dr. Ernst Friedrich Ruschenbusch. Her mother’s family was firmly rooted in Hermannsburg and was oriented towards the free church, producing missionaries and pastors.

Irmgard was the couple’s first child. She was followed by her sister Elsa. The two girls had a carefree, untroubled childhood. It ended when their father died of throat cancer in January 1911 at the age of 45.

Irmgard finished school after leaving primary school and went to Hamburg. She began training as an educator at the so-called »Froebel Seminar«. However, due to signs of »juvenile insanity«, she had to break off her training and return to her mother. In the fall of 1918, she became worse there and was admitted to the Lüneburg institution and nursing home for the first time. Six months later, she was released back home »improved«. Five years later, Irmgard fell ill again and was admitted to the institution for a second time. This time she was diagnosed with »schizophrenia« and remained an inpatient.

Irmgard is said to have received regular visits from her mother and her sister Elsa in the early years. Elsa, who moved in with her husband in 1926, even made the journey from Hanover for this purpose. Mother and sister also kept in touch with letters and parcels.
However, the visits ended in 1940 when Elsa moved to Potsdam.

Irmgard was transferred to the Herborn intermediate care facility on April 30, 1941. From there, she was taken to the Hadamar killing center on June 16, 1941 and murdered. Her mother only found out about the »planned transfer« in mid-June 1941. As Bertha did not know that her daughter had already been killed at this point, she sent her a parcel to Hadamar. There was no response to this parcel.

A few weeks later, Irmgard’s mother received a »letter of consolation« instead. Suspecting that her daughter had been murdered, she tore it up. She then organized a church funeral service so that the family could say goodbye to her with dignity.

On November 3, 2011, a stumbling stone was laid for Irmgard Ruschenbusch in the presence of family members. Twice a year, a descendant travels to Hermannsburg to clean the stone and place a grave candle. »People then have to step over it,« says Michael Schade with a smile.