Grete Franziska Rosenthal was born in Giessen on May 17, 1903, the daughter of Ludwig (Louis) Rosenthal, an agricultural machinery manufacturer, and his wife Bella, née Heilbrunn.

Berthold Rothschild was born in Giessen on June 8, 1894, the son of Israel Rothschild and his wife Emma née Klogal.

Bernhard Rothschild was born into a Jewish family in Lohr am Main on October 30, 1885.