Herzstein, Kurt Albert

Kurt Albert Herzstein was born in Berlin on August 22, 1907, the eldest son of textile merchant Ferdinand Herzstein and his wife Erna Berta née Jacoby. His brothers Fritz and Rolf were born in 1909 and 1912. From 1915 to mid-1932, the family lived at Hewaldstraße 6 in an eight-room apartment. His father was the owner of Herzstein & Co. which manufactured clothing. All three sons attended the Hohenzollernschule, Kurt and Fritz then attended the Textil- und Webefachschule in Berlin, from which Kurt graduated with "very good". He had been employed in his father's company since 1927 as an accountant and buyer. Due to the refusal of bank loans and the lack of foreign exchange permits, the company Herzstein & Co had to be dissolved in October 1933. Kurt Albert emigrated to Amsterdam in March 1934; his brothers Fritz and Rolf had already emigrated to South Africa in mid-1933. His parents also emigrated to Amsterdam in May 1938, where his father founded the company Confectiefabriek Continental.