Windmueller and Wasserman families papers

Renate Wasserman was born Renate Bette Carola Windmüller in Berlin on October 27, 1933 to Walter Windmueller (1901-1988) and Hilda Windmueller (nee Westheimer, 1909-1962). Renate was an only child. Walter helped manage the butcher shop of Hilda’s father, Max Westheimer, in Berlin until Hitler came to power and the family could no longer own their shop as Jews. Walter and Hilda moved to Sofia, Bulgaria in 1934 or 1935. Renate remained in Berlin with her maternal grandparents until she was reunited with her parents in Bulgaria in 1936 or 1937. Water immigrated to the United States in early 1937, and Hilda and Renate followed 6 months later aboard the Queen Mary. The family was sponsored by Hilda’s uncle Herman Hamburger (1887-1974). In America, the family changed the spelling of their name from Windmüller to Windmueller. Renate married George Wassermann in May 1957. George and Renate were 3rd cousins as their grandmothers Jenny Hamburger Wasserman and Bertha Hamburger Westheimer were sisters.

George Wasserman (1931-2015) was born Gert Wassermann in Cologne on February 20, 1931 to Fritz Wassermann and Adele Wassermann (nee Schlüsselblum). The family lived in Köln-Mülheim, a borough of Cologne, and immigrated to the United States in 1938. The family was sponsored by Fritz’s uncle Herman Hamburger (1887-1974). In America the family changed the spelling of their name from Wassermann to Wasserman, Fritz became Fred, Gert became George, and Adele was known as Deli. George’a paternal grandparents, Samuel and Jenny (nee Hamburger) Wassermann were deported to France and died in French internment camps in 1942 and 1941 respectively. George married Renate Windmueller in May 1957. George and Renate were 3rd cousins as their grandmothers Jenny Hamburger Wasserman and Bertha Hamburger Westheimer were sisters.