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Willi was born on 19 July 1925, the second son of Godel Storosum and Natla Kriegstein. His parents, both originally from Poland, moved to Cologne before Willi was born. It is where Willi grew up, together with his older brother Heinz (Chaim) and younger sister Martha. In 1938 the family’s life changed dramatically when they were declared stateless. Godel and Natla lost their jobs and their residence permits, and their bank accounts were frozen.
When they were forced to flee Germany in July 1939, Willi, Heinz and Martha were taken to Brussels on a Kindertransport. Their parents and grandmother also fled to Belgium shortly afterwards.
Willi settled in Anderlecht with his parents and grandmother, but Chaim and Martha probably stayed in a shelter. The family became separated for good following the German army’s invasion of Belgium on 10 May 1940. The shelter where Chaim and Martha were staying was evacuated to France. Willi, who was working as an apprentice furrier in Brussels, stayed behind with his parents and grandmother.
In the summer of 1942, the then 17-year-old Willi received a forced labour order (Arbeitseinsatzbefehl). He complied with this request and reported for duty at the Dossin Barracks. On 4 August 1942, he was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau on the very first transport. On arrival, Willi was selected for forced labour. Less than two months later, on 1 October 1942, Willi died in the camp.
Godel and Natla, Willi’s parents, were also deported later on – his mother on Transport XI and his father on Transport XVII. They both perished. Chaim and Martha were the only members of their family to survive the war.