Julie Weiss was born on 31 January 1911 in Graz, Austria, to parents Samuel and Josefine, and was 27 years old when Nazi Germany invaded the country. Before the war, Julie was part of a prominent Jewish family, and her father ran a successful business.

However, with antisemitism on the rise, Julie had little other option than to flee her home town to escape persecution.

1911

With antisemitism on the rise, Julie had little other option than to flee her hometown to escape persecution

The plan was for Julie to travel to London to join her brother, Oswald, who had set up a carpet business in the city. But there was a problem – her surname. As the Weiss family were so well known within the community, Julie’s parents felt it was imperative that she changed her name to ensure her journey to England was successful, so arranged for her to marry a man called Julius Grosz.

While the marriage did take place, the union didn’t last, with Julius leaving Julie when she became pregnant shortly after the wedding. Determined to make her way to safety regardless, and acutely aware that time was of the essence, Julie hurriedly packed her most treasured possessions and made her way to London alone.

Acutely aware that time was of the essence, Julie hurriedly packed her most treasured possessions and fled to London

The exact route Julie took is unconfirmed, but what we do know is her journey would have required immense courage and an unwavering will to succeed. We also know she reached her brother safely, and gave birth to a son, David, in London, before moving to Leicester to escape the Blitz.

Julie, Oswald, and David lived there together before eventually settling in Scotland, where Julie died on 15 August 1993.