Joseph Wallisch

Joseph Wallisch, a commercial representative from Austria, entered Belgium illegally on 28 December 1938. He found accommodation in Brussels and prepared to emigrate to Mexico. In his leisure time, he took part in the activities of the Österreichischer Kulturverein. As a political refugee with no family, Joseph was interned on 1 March 1940 at the refugee centre in Merksplas and later in Halle. The Belgian authorities arrested him at Halle on 10 May. Joseph was handed over to the French administration, which interned him at Saint-Cyprien. During a storm in October 1940, the camp was flooded and he was transferred to Gurs. He managed to escape on 14 June 1941, but was recaptured a year later and interned at Pithiviers. Joseph Wallisch (34) was deported via Transport 13 to Auschwitz-Birkenau on 31 July 1942. Although he was selected for forced labour on arrival, he did not survive deportation. According to the Auschwitz Sterbebücher (death books), Joseph Wallisch died on 27 September 1942.