Friedrich Zawrel

“The children in my class knew, they talked about concentration camps, it seems that all adults at the time must have been deaf.”

Born in Lyon in 1929, grew up in Vienna. Since his mother became homeless, he was placed into the care of foster parents starting in 1935. From 1938 in various educational facilities: Central Children’s Home Vienna, Mödling educational facility, afterward again with his biological parents. Based on his father’s alcoholism, he was labeled “hereditary defective“ and eventually transferred to Spiegelgrund, where he was initially detained for nine months. Afterward in various facilities: Dreherstraße/Vienna, Ybbs/Danube, Mödling, and again Spiegelgrund, Pavilion 17. Escaped in 1944 with the help of a nurse, but was caught. Until evacuation of the institution in 1945 detained in Kaiserebersdorf, Vienna.

Taken to court in 1975 for theft. There he again faced Dr. Heinrich Gross, who was by now active as a forensic expert. For his expert opinion, Gross used parts of the expert opinion on Zawrel from his Spiegelgrund records. Was sent to the Stein correctional facility and released only in 1981 in the wake of a public debate and two trials around the role of Heinrich Gross. Was active for many years as a contemporary witness. His story became the basis for books, films, plays, and a puppet show.

Friedrich Zawrel died on 20 February 2015.