Alfons Klein, ca. 1940 • His mother, Laja Leszczynski, shortly before her deportation • Israel Klein, his father, ca. 1928
Both Polish Jews, Israel Klein, who emigrated in 1928, and Laja Leszczynski in 1931, were both from Berlin. Their son, Alfons, was born in Antwerp in 1932. Laja Leszczynski and Israel Klein, both tailors, lived in a street that escaped the raids of summer 1942.
Israel Klein, 43 years old, was forced to work in the North of France. He was taken to Mechelen to join Transport 16. His trace was lost upon arrival at Auschwitz-Birkenau on 3 November 1942.
Alfons Klein and Laja Leszczynski, his mother, also disappeared without leaving a trace. They were caught three days before the departure of Transport 20 on 19 April. Upon arrival at Auschwitz-Birkenau, a mother of 44 years old and her 11-year-old son had no possibility of survival in a transport where 69% of women were assassinated as soon as they got off the train.