Maier family papers

Maier family papers 

Ludwig Maier was born in Malsch, Germany on August 19, 1901 to David (b. October 14, 1873) and Pauline Maier (Line Maier, b. December 7, 1880). In 1933, Ludwig Maier married Freya (Frida Valfer) who was born on May 29, 1910 in Kippenheim, Germany. They lived in Malsch, Germany where Ludwig owned a tobacco business and Freya assisted him. Their daughter Sonja Sofie Maier (later Sonja Geismar) was born in Karlsruhe, Germany on February 16, 1935. The day of Kristallnacht, Ludwig Maier was rounded up and sent to Dachau concentration camp. That evening, while Freya and Sonja were at home, the house was raided by Nazis and household items were destroyed. Eventually Ludwig Maier was released from Dachau. On May 13, 1939, the Maier family boarded the MS St. Louis bound for Cuba. Members of the Maier family aboard the ship included David and Pauline Maier, Bertha Ackerman (Sonja’s great-aunt, b. January 27, 1876), another unnamed great aunt, Ludwig and Freya Maier, and their daughter Sonja Maier. The Loeb family, also aboard the MS St. Louis, was related to the Maier family through Sonja’s grandfather’s sister. The Maier family were part of the 287 total passengers who disembarked the MS St. Louis in England. The family lived in a boarding house in Broadhurst Gardens in London. On February 11, 1940, the family immigrated to the United States and lived in the Bronx, New York. Another daughter, Lynn J. Maier was born in New York. Ludwig worked as a night watchman and later started a business as a personal shopper. After two strokes, he passed away at the age of 52. Freya continued the business after his death. Freya passed away in 2003. 

Maier family papers