The Wiecks experienced the pain of parting with emigrating Jewish relatives and friends – most acutely when the Nazi regime in October 1941 began systematic deportations of German Jews to ghettos and concentration camps . However , because Wieck 's parents were a mixed marriage – Kurt Wieck had no known recent Jewish ancestors – they were spared deportation and ultimately genocide , unlike most members of Königsberg 's Jewish community , which dated back four centuries . Although the Wiecks experienced isolated acts of kindness from a few non-Jewish neighbors , they were tormented by others , and life became more and more difficult for them as the war dragged on
genocide
The Holocaust
Michael Wieck