August Landmesser, became a member of the Nazi Party in 1931 with the hope of improving his employment prospects during a time of economic hardship
August Landmesser, became a member of the Nazi Party in 1931 with the hope of improving his employment prospects during a time of economic hardship. Nonetheless, in 1934, Landmesser's life took an unexpected turn when he fell in love with a Jewish woman named Irma Eckler. The couple got engaged a year later, but were unable to marry because marriage between Jews and non-Jews was forbidden. Despite this obstacle, he married Eckler, and they had their first daughter in 1935. Two years later, Landmesser, his wife and daughter attempted to flee Germany for Denmark but were apprehended by authorities. Landmesser was charged with “dishonoring the race” under Nazi racial law but was later let go and was just ordered to end his relationship with Eckler with the warning that a repeat offense would result in a multi-year prison sentence. However, he refused to abandon his wife and was eventually arrested again in 1938. This time he was sentenced to hard labor for 3 years at a concentration c...