The Loewenstein Family: A Story of Survival

Organizing a new government in Germany presented the Allies with many challenges. The Allies did not want Nazis involved in the new government; however, Hitler had killed most known political opponents. Britain and the United States wished to create a democratic government in Germany, while the Soviet Union wanted to establish a Communist state under their control.

Otto Grotewohl, a former neighbor to the Loewensteins who Henry had known as a child, had served in the Reichstag before Hitler came to power and had subsequently been imprisoned several times. Grotewohl lived very quietly until he was involved in the failed attempt to assassinate Hitler in 1944, when he became a hunted man. As one of the few anti-Nazis with political and administrative experience to survive the war, he emerged to take charge of distributing food and services in his immediate neighborhood. Very soon, he was handling distribution in all of Berlin and throughout Germany and became the leader of the newly formed Social Democratic Party.

Grotewohl knew of Karin's anti-Nazi past and asked her to become his assistant. She dealt on Grotewahl’s behalf with representatives of the Western Powers. One of her contacts was Denver native Dick Sears at the Office of the Military Government of the United States (OMGUS) in Berlin, who also connected with Henry on his London trips.