Otto Landsberg worked as a book and art dealer in the family business "S.L. Landsberg" in Oldenburg. With his wife Martha he had two children together: Ursula and Hans.

Due to his Jewish roots, he was arrested and deported during the Nazi era. The persecution of Jews forced the two children to leave Germany without their parents already at that time. They emigrated to England. After his release, Otto also emigrated to England together with his wife.

Heinrich Hirschberg was born on October 24, 1895 in Żmigród (then Austrian Galicia) as the son of the egg wholesaler Eisig Hirschberg. The family spoke High German and belonged to the part of Galician Jews who joined the German cultural circle. At that time, Galicia was dominated by great poverty, and many young Jews were looking for a better existence in northwestern Germany. Hirschberg, however, remained in Żmigród until he was drafted into the Imperial and Royal (K.u.K.) Infantry Regiment in 1914 during World War I, then as a 19-year-old.

Moses Katzenberg (1912-1980) initially attended the teacher training seminar in Würzburg in 1931/32 and worked at schools in Kassel and Dortmund from 1936. On July 04, 1937, he moved from Spangenberg near Kassel to Oldenburg, where he continued to work as a teacher, but also as head of the Jewish elementary school as well as cantor. On August 10, 1938, he married Sophie Katzenberg, née Baum (1915-2010), with whom he later had two children.

Gertrud Reyersbach was born on July 28, 1907 in Oldenburg and became known as a kind-hearted doctor who was subjected to numerous repressions by the National Socialists. Despite the circumstances, she nevertheless went her way to achieve her goal of becoming a doctor. Although she emigrated to Boston in the USA in March 1937 due to growing threats from the political situation, she was always connected to her hometown Oldenburg. For example, she returned to Oldenburg for the memorial service for her brother, who was murdered by the Nazi regime.

Gustav Alexander Tahl was born on November 18, 1891, in the Romanian city of Constanta. The extended Tahl family later became residents of Transylvania. Before reaching the age of thirteen, Gustav went on a journey to put his artistic talent to profitable use. His journey took him to the College of Drawing in Buxtehude. In addition to his schooling, he apprenticed with the local master photographer Behling, where he later passed his master's examination. Shortly after completing the same, he met his future wife Magarethe Dora Meijer.