| Paul Klein | |
| Fictional Character | |
| In the Presence of Mine Enemies POD: c. 1940 | |
| Type of Appearance: | Direct |
| Nationality: | Germany (of secret Jewish ancestry) |
| Date of Birth: | 2009 |
| Date of Death: | 2010 |
| Cause of Death: | Euthanasia |
| Parents: | Richard and Maria Klein |
| Relatives: | Eduard Klein (brother) |
Paul Klein (August 2009 - December 2010) was the infant son of Richard and Maria Klein. His family was one of the many hidden Jews in Berlin. Paul was diagnosed with Tay-Sachs disease by his pediatrician, Martin Dambach.[1] Tay-Sachs was far more common in Jews than in other people, a fact on which Dambach became focused.[2]
Another hidden Jew, Esther Stutzman, was a receptionist in Dambach's office. Her husband Walther successfully changed the Klein family's genealogical records on file. However, Esther forgot to remove the hard copy that remained in the file of the Kleins' older son, Eduard. Dambach noted the discrepancy, and brought it to the attention of the authorities.[3]
Maximilian Ebert of the Genealogical Office immediately investigated the Kleins as possible Jews. However, Lothar Prützmann, the Reichsführer-SS, had a great-nephew with Tay-Sachs, and promptly halted Ebert's investigation. The Kleins were freed.[4].
The Kleins then made the difficult decision to have Paul euthanized at a Reichs Mercy Center, rather than allow him to spend a short life suffering the horrors of Tay-Sachs.[5]
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