Martha Liebermann (born October 8, 1857, died March 10, 1943) was the wife and widower of Mr. Max Liebermann, a well-known German painter and printmaker. Because of her husband’s enormous achievements in the world of art, Martha has always been respected.

Martha Liebermann’s Biography, Wiki and Quick Facts

Her life was influenced by her husband’s death in 1935, and she battled greatly. Martha Liebermann committed suicide and therefore left the world.

Who was Martha Liebermann? 

Many people may be unaware of Martha Liebermann until the German TV movie based on her life, directed by Stefan Buhling, is unveiled in 2022. Director Stefan Buhling considered making a film on Martha because she remained recognized even after the death of her popular painter husband.

Her husband has garnered awards for her artistic skills. Many art aficionados are already anticipating the release of the film “Martha Liebermann-A Stolen Life.” Art and painting enthusiasts will enjoy this film as it depicts Martha’s life with her husband, Max Liebermann.

They will also learn about the difficult decision Martha made before and after her husband’s death. Her ambition after her husband’s death was to be transferred to a concentration camp, but she committed herself a few days before her deportation to the Theresienstadt concentration camp.

Biography, Wiki, and Childhood of Martha Liebermann

Uncovering Martha Liebermann’s life, she was born in Berlin. Her tombstone states that she was born in 1958, although Wikipedia states that she was born on October 8, 1857. In 2022, it is difficult to discover information about her studies. However, her parents remained close to her throughout her life.

Heinrich Benjamin Marckwald was her father’s name, and Ottilie Pringsheim was her mother’s. Her father was born on August 24, 1815, and passed away in 1870. Her mother was born in 1829 in Rosenberg, Oppeln, Schlesien, Germany, and died in 1902.

Martha was the fourth child born to her parents. Benno Heinrich Marckwald, Elsbeth Marckwald, and Charlotte Marckwald are her elder siblings. Her older siblings had all perished before her. Margarete Ottilie Marckwald, Marthas’ younger sister, died in 1921.

Martha Liebermann was born into an affluent Jewish merchant family in Berlin, where her father, Heinrich Benjamin Marckwald, ran a shop. Elsbeth Marckwald, her elder sister, married famous businessman Georg Liebermann (Martha’s husband’s older brother.)

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Martha Liebermann Husband, Marriage & Daughter

After her elder sister married Max Liebermann’s elder brother Georg Liebermann, Martha Liebermann married Max Liebermann. They married on September 14, 1884 after getting engaged in May 1884. They established their residence at IN Den Zelten 11, Tiergarten. Martha and her husband Max had one child, a daughter named Käthe Liebermann, who was born in August 1885.

Martha moved to the flat on the second floor of the Liebermann family house at Pariser Platz 7 with her daughter and husband in 1892.

She encountered difficulties living with her spouse after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1904. She was treated at the Jewish Hospital for years and eventually beat cancer. In May 1915, at the age of 30, her daughter married diplomat Mr. Kurt Riezler.

Her husband died on February 8, 1935, while living at the Pariser Platz house. Max’s death had a significant impact on Matha’s life.

In 1938, her daughter Käthe Liebermann moved to the United States with her husband Kurt Riezler and daughter Maria from Germany. Martha started living alone in Berlin before attempting to emigrate to other countries.

The drudgery of Martha Liebermann after her husband Max Liebermann’s extinction

She began spending her days in Graf-Spee-Straße 23 (today: Hiroshimastraße) after her husband Max Liebermann died in 1935.

Martha lost her two apartments after being harassed and abused by Jews in National Socialist Germany. She lost practically everything after her house as her money plummeted.

She was then forced to sell her villa at a low market value due to National Socialist pressure. Martha Liebermann then attempted to emigrate to Sweden but was unsuccessful. Because of the high demand for money from National Socialists, she was denied permission to immigrate to Sweden.

Then, in March 1942, Prince Eugene of Sweden attempted to assist Martha in obtaining permission to immigrate to the United States and was successful. But no one knows what happened on March 5, 1943, when Martha was discovered in a coma just before being transported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp.

Death

On March 5, 1943, Matha was discovered unconscious and in a coma. She was admitted to the Jewish Hospital in Berlin and died on March 10, 1943. After her death, publications said that she committed suicide by overdosing on Veronal in order to avoid deportation.

She was then interred at Schönhauser Allee Jewish Cemetery, the same location as her husband.

Martha Liebermann’s Facts and Trivia

• Martha’s role in the 2022 film Martha Liebermann- A Stolen Life was played by actress Thekla Carola Wied.
• She enjoys wearing traditional German women’s clothing.
• After her death, she was buried in Berlin-Weissensee Jewish Cemetery, although her coffin was later moved near her husband’s grave, which was already buried there.
• A special Stumbling block is accessible in front of the Max Liebermann House on Pariser Platz.

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