After 1848, the Low-Beer family was able to leave the ghetto of nearby Boskovice. Two brothers, Jacob and Aron Low-Beer, founded this factory in 1854. Their descendants constantly expanded its business, so it became one of the largest wool companies in Europe. In the 1930s, it was run by three brothers—Walter, Felix and August Low-Beer—and it exported wool textiles throughout the world.
In 1938 Czechoslovakia and Europe were split apart, with the new border running along the stream in the factory in Brnenec. As a result of the Munich Agreement in 1938, Czechoslovakia lost a third of its territory to Germany. Walter Löw Beer (1889-1954), fled with his family to escape the Nazis. You can listen now to how he witnessed in Brnenec the moment of the demise of Czechoslovakia.
- In 2-3 words, describe how you felt listening to the story.
- What do you think Walter Löw Beer felt like: Czech, Jewish, German or something else?