Fragments of a biography
Only a few traces today tell of the life of Recha Storck, known as Carola, before her persecution under National Socialism.
On 17 October 1872, she was born in Vienna as the daughter of Dr Siegmund and Eva Liebreich.
She had been living in Berlin since at least 1898, first at Schlüterstraße 63 and later at Nürnberger Straße 5 in Charlottenburg. Both addresses were in prestigious residential districts of the time, characterised by representative apartment buildings.
In the 1908 Berlin address book, her occupation is listed as “Direktrice” (directrice), a term referring to a senior position in the fashion industry with both technical and creative responsibilities.
In April of that year, Recha Liebreich married the painter Adolf Eduard Storck, eighteen years her senior, in Berlin‑Charlottenburg. Born in Bremen, he was among the representatives of the Düsseldorf School and produced primarily landscape paintings. The marriage remained childless.
Rep. 36A (II) no. 37426, fol. 9R
Marriage register entry no. 273 for Recha Liebreich and Adolf Eduard Storck, 22 April 1908. Landesarchiv Berlin, P Rep. 551 no. 51
The Storck villa
A few days after their wedding, the Storck couple commissioned the construction of a villa at Prinz‑Friedrich‑Leopold‑Straße 44 in Berlin‑Nikolassee. They moved into the house just one year later.
The location and size of the house indicate that the Storcks were financially well off: on the ground floor were representative rooms such as the dining room, living room, salon, and gentleman’s room, while on the upper floor Adolf Eduard Storck had a studio for his work as a painter.
Impoverished as a widow
Adolf Eduard Storck died in 1913. According to his last will, his estate passed to his sister in Bremen. For his wife, Recha Storck, he provided an annual pension of 20,000 marks as well as lifelong residence in their shared villa.
The hyperinflation of 1923The hyperinflation of 1923 was an extreme devaluation of currency in the Weimar Republic. More destroyed this inheritance, however: it had been invested in government bonds that became worthless overnight. Recha Storck’s only stable source of income suddenly disappeared.
I was formerly well off financially and am a victim of the currency devaluation
Recha Storck an das Finanzamt Groß-Lichterfelde,
26. Dezember 1924
For health reasons, the then 51‑year‑old was unable to take up employment.
Gradually, she began to rent out rooms in the villa and to sell her jewellery. She also received support from relatives.
In 1932, Recha Storck pawned her remaining possessions to her niece in Vienna, who sent her money during this period.
Persecution and deportation
During the National Socialist period, the living conditions of Recha Storck deteriorated, as she was persecuted as a Jewish woman.
In 1938, she was required to pay the Judenvermögensabgabe(Jewish property levy) A compulsory levy introduced for Jews after the November pogroms. More (Jewish property levy). As she no longer possessed any assets and her non‑Jewish relatives would have had to cover the payment, the Reichsfinanzministerium (Reich Ministry of Finance) waived the compulsory levy.
Five years later, on 10 September 1943, the seventy‑year‑old Recha Storck was deported from Berlin together with sixty‑two other persons on the 96th “AlterstransportThe Berlin Gestapo used the term “Alterstransporte” (transports of elderly people) for all deportation transports to the Theresienstadt ghetto, regardless of the age of the deported persons. More” (transport of elderly people) to the TheresienstadtThe Theresienstadt “Altersghetto” (ghetto for the elderly) was established in the old garrison town in what is today Terezín (Czech Republic) as the largest concentration camp (KZ) in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. More.
After nearly half a year in the Theresienstadt ghettoThe Theresienstadt “Altersghetto” (ghetto for the elderly) was established in the old garrison town in what is today Terezín (Czech Republic) as the largest concentration camp (KZ) in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. More, the National Socialists deported Recha Storck further “na vychod” (Czech: to the East), as evidenced by an index card. The red letters ‘DZ’ stand for the AuschwitzAuschwitz is the name of the largest and best‑known National Socialist concentration and extermination camp. More extermination campAuschwitz is the name of the largest and best‑known National Socialist concentration and extermination camp. More.
The trail of Recha Storck is lost after this transport. She was presumably murdered immediately upon arrival in AuschwitzAuschwitz is the name of the largest and best‑known National Socialist concentration and extermination camp. More.
Robbed before her murder
Three days before her deportationForced removal of people by state authorities from their place of residence or origin to another state territory or to remote regions where they are detained. More, Recha Storck was forced to complete a Vermögenserklärung(declaration of assets) Before their deportation he persecuted persons had to provide information about their assets located in Germany. For this purpose, the tax authorities developed a multi-page form that had to be filled out in advance. More (declaration of assets) under pressure in the Sammellager(collection camp) In the context of the National Socialist regime: places where Jews were crammed together before deportation. More Große Hamburger Straße. Using pencil, she entered only the most essential information into the sixteen‑page pre‑printed form.
On the first page of the Vermögenserklärung(declaration of assets) Before their deportation he persecuted persons had to provide information about their assets located in Germany. For this purpose, the tax authorities developed a multi-page form that had to be filled out in advance. More, brief details about her person and living situation appear: at that time, Recha Storck occupied four rooms and a kitchen in the villa in Berlin‑Nikolassee.
For furnishings, she listed only “Div. Einzelmöbel” (misc. individual pieces of furniture) and left many sections blank. The signatureIn the context of art and art history: the artist’s signature or initials on a work of art. More at the end of the Vermögenserklärung(declaration of assets) Before their deportation he persecuted persons had to provide information about their assets located in Germany. For this purpose, the tax authorities developed a multi-page form that had to be filled out in advance. More is the last surviving trace personally left by Recha Storck.
Upon submitting the Vermögenserklärung(declaration of assets) Before their deportation he persecuted persons had to provide information about their assets located in Germany. For this purpose, the tax authorities developed a multi-page form that had to be filled out in advance. More, Recha Storck was immediately handed the order issued by the Geheime Staatspolizei(EN) Politische Polizei in der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus, die politische Gegner*innen sowie Jüdinnen*Juden überwachte und verfolgte. (Secret State Police, Gestapo(EN) Politische Polizei in der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus, die politische Gegner*innen sowie Jüdinnen*Juden überwachte und verfolgte.), stating that her property was “zugunsten des Deutschen Reiches eingezogenIn the context of the Reich’s financial administration, “Verfall” (forfeiture) and “Einziehung” (seizure) referred to the retention of confiscated items for the benefit of the state. More” (confiscatedBy confiscating assets, government officials initially deprived owners of the authority to dispose of their bank accounts, household furnishings, securities, etc., which were placed under state administration. More for the benefit of the German Reich).
To provide a veneer of legal legitimacy for this act of theft, the Einziehungsgesetze (confiscation laws) were invoked.
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First page of the Vermögenserklärung of Recha Storck, 7 September 1943. BLHA, Rep. 36A (II) 37426, fol. 2 -
Vermögenserklärung of Storck, entry “Div. Einzelmöbel” (misc. individual pieces of furniture), 7 September 1943. BLHA, Rep. 36A (II) 37426, fol. 5v -
Final page of the declaration of assets with Recha Storck’s signature, 7 September 1943. BLHA, Rep. 36A (II) 37426, fol. 9v
„Div. Einzelmöbel“
From linens to household goods to artworks
Once the completed Vermögenserklärung(declaration of assets) Before their deportation he persecuted persons had to provide information about their assets located in Germany. For this purpose, the tax authorities developed a multi-page form that had to be filled out in advance. More had been submitted, the work of the Vermögensverwertungsstelle (Asset Realisation Office) began, with the aim of converting all Recha Storck’s remaining possessions into cash as quickly as possible.
The Vermögenserklärungen(declaration of assets) Before their deportation he persecuted persons had to provide information about their assets located in Germany. For this purpose, the tax authorities developed a multi-page form that had to be filled out in advance. More generally served the authority’s staff as an initial overview of the belongings of those affected. In the case of Recha Storck, however, the general entry “Div. Einzelmöbel” (misc. individual pieces of furniture) provided no precise insight into the nature or extent of the possessions she had left behind.
To record the furnishings and determine their value, the Obergerichtsvollzieher Hoffmann visited the villa at Prinz‑Friedrich‑Leopold‑Straße 44 on 22 October 1943 on behalf of the Vermögensverwertungsstelle. On the form Inventar und Bewertung (inventory and valuation), he meticulously documented Recha Storck’s last belongings.
The first page of the pre‑printed form Inventar und Bewertung (inventory and valuation). Items 1–17 list Recha Storck’s belongings in typescript, 22 October 1943. BLHA, Rep. 36A (II) 37426, fol. 22
The Obergerichtsvollzieher Hoffmann valued Storck’s remaining movable property at a total of 14,157 reichsmarks. He did not appraise items 101 and 143 (each a “Posten Bücher”, batch of books) nor item 144 (a “Blüthner‑Flügel”, Blüthner grand piano).
From item 145 onwards, the level of detail in the assessment changes: in the hallway, the dining room and the cellar, alongside everyday household goods, several prints, paintings, and antiques were found. The valuation of these objects was additionally supported by Paul Theodor Geyer, proprietor of the antiquities shop Peri‑Ming, acting as an expert.
Among the artworks appraised by the experts were five oil paintings by Storck’s late husband, Adolf Eduard Storck, depicting urban and landscape scenes.
Three days later, nine additional items were appraised retrospectively. They were in a room sublet to Vera Neumeister and included another painting by Adolf Eduard Storck.
Interest of a "Bombengeschädigter”
The National Socialist financial administration did everything in its power to sell the former property of Recha Storck as quickly as possible and to make the rooms she had occupied in the villa ready for new tenants.
By mid‑October 1943, barely a month after Recha Storck’s deportationForced removal of people by state authorities from their place of residence or origin to another state territory or to remote regions where they are detained. More, new tenants had already been found for this part of the house: Ministerialrat Dr Walter Conrad and his family.
The Hauptplanungsamt der Stadt Berlin(Main Planning Office, Berlin) Local authority responsible for overall urban planning in Berlin during the Nazi era. More (Main Planning Office(Main Planning Office, Berlin) Local authority responsible for overall urban planning in Berlin during the Nazi era. More of the city of Berlin) had allocated to the Conrads the part of the villa previously occupied by Recha Storck as a replacement for their destroyed residence in Berlin‑Steglitz. In addition to using the rooms, the “Bombengeschädigter” (bomb victim) Walter Conrad was also interested in taking over some of the furnishings.
Gaps in the documentation
Whether Walter Conrad took over any objects from the possessions of Recha Storck, and if so which ones, cannot be determined from the file of the Vermögensverwertungsstelle.
According to a report from the Hauptwirtschaftsamt(Main Economic Office, Berlin) From the end of 1942, it had privileged access to the expropriated property of deported Berlin Jews. More (Main Economic Office(Main Economic Office, Berlin) From the end of 1942, it had privileged access to the expropriated property of deported Berlin Jews. More), the clearance of the flat took place on 8 November 1943:
Only the accounting stamps of the Vermögensverwertungsstelle on the reverse of the Inventar und Bewertung (inventory and valuation) forms indicate that proceeds from the objects were received by the Finanzkasse (Treasury Office) in April 1944.
For the Vermögensverwertungsstelle as a financial authority, it was of no interest who ultimately received the objects; the only information that mattered was the revenue recorded.
Further information on the fate of the objects can only be gleaned from the files of the restitutionReturn of confiscated property to its rightful owners or their heirs. proceedings. You can find out more about this in the chapter responsibility.