Address: TRUHLÁŘSKÁ 1106/9, PRAGUE 1
Born 30. 09. 1898
Last residence before deportation: Prague II
Address/place of registration in the Protectorate: Prague II, Truhlářská 9
Transport Bd, no. 427 (04. 09. 1942, Prague -> Terezín)
Transport Bk, no. 577 (08. 09. 1942, Terezín -> Malý Trostinec)
Murdered
Vilma was born Wilhelmina Koscherakova on 30th November, 1898.
In 1922, Vilma graduated as a Doctor in Industrial Chemistry from Charles University. In 1923 she married Frantisek Sprinzels, a fellow graduate.
Vilma worked as an industrial chemist in the Sprinzels family firm in Soukenická street.
In 1927, Vilma and Francis had a son, Pedr Jindrich Sprinzels in Smichov.
Helen and Neil are two of Petr’s three children. Their brother Brian was unable to attend the ceremony today.
In 1938, Francis travelled to the United Kingdom to set up a food processing and preserving factory. In 1939, the Nazi regime established the
protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. Francis tried to obtain British visas for Vilma and Petr to live with him in England.
In late May in 1939, Petr was granted a Gestapo exit permit. On 31st May 1939, Vilma took Petr, then aged 12, to Hlavni Nadrazi station to see him
on a Kindertransport train organised by Sir Nichlas Winton. Vilma and Peter said goodbye at the train station, never to see each other again.
In September 1942, Vilma was deported to Terezín from Truhlářská 9, on Transport Bd, no 427. A few days later, she was deported from Terezín to
Maly Trostinec extermination camp in Belarus, Transport Bk, no 577, and executed at the age of 43.
Petr had arrived safely in England in 1939 and met his father. Petr continued his education at Cambridge University. His new name became Peter Henry
Springell. He emigrated to Australia in 1951, and in 1952 married Josephine Ivatts whom he met at Cambridge. Peter gained a PhD in Biochemistry in
1954 from Melbourne University and had 3 children who all live in Australia: Helen, Neil, and Brian.
30th November 1898: Wilhelmina (Vilma) was born in Prague, daughter of Dr Alois Koscherak (from Benesov) and Phillipine (nee Altschul – from Česká Lípa), who lived in Zitna street, Praha II.
16th June, 1922: Vilma, aged 23, graduated as a Doctor (PhD in Industrial Chemistry) from Charles University, Prague.
30th April 1923: Vilma, aged 24, married Frantisek Karel Sprinzels (aged 24, also a PhD in Industrial chemistry, graduated on the same day as Vilma). Vilma and Francis lived at Mezibranská street, Žitná street, Senovážné náměstí, and Truhlářská street in Prague.
3rd May 1927: Vilma (aged 28) and Francis (aged 28) had a son, Pedr Jindrich Sprinzels in Smichov. Vilma worked as an industrial chemist in the Sprinzels family firm in Soukenická street which imported and preserved produce.
In late1938, Vilma’s husband, Frantisek (Francis) travelled to the United Kingdom to set up a food processing and preserving factory.
16th March 1939: The protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia was established by the Nazi regime, restricting the freedom of the Jewish population. Vilma moved to Truhlarska street with her son, Peter. Francis attempted to obtain British visas for Vilma and Peter to come and live with him in Cumbria in the Lakes district of England. These were denied by the protectorate.
27th May 1939: Vilma’s son Peter was granted a Gestapo exit permit.
31st May, 1939: Vilma took Peter, aged 12, to the main train station in Prague. They said goodbye at the train station, never to see each other again. Peter was evacuated on one of the 8 trains organised by Sir Nicholas Winton.
2nd June 1939: Peter arrived safely in the United Kingdom to Francis, his father. Peter continued his education in England and went to Cambridge University. His new name became Peter Henry Springell. He emigrated to Australia in 1951 and married Josephine Ivatts (whom he met at Cambridge) in 1952. He gained a PhD in Biochemistry in 1954 and had 3 children who all live in Australia.
1st September 1939: The second world war was declared.
4th September, 1942: Vilma was deported to Terezín from Truhlářská 9, transport Bd, no. 427.
8th September, 1942: Vilma was deported from Terezín to Maly Trostinec extermination camp in Belarus, transport Bk, no. 577, and executed.
Vilma was 43 years of age. Vilma had two brothers, Rudolf and Richard Kosek (Koscherak) and a sister-in-law, Emilie Kosková (Richard’s wife).
10th August 1942: Rudolf (45), Richard (37), and Emilie (32) deported to Terezin on the same day on different transports.
25 August 1942: Rudolf deported to Maly Trostinec and murdered.
8th September 1942: Vilma, Richard, and Emilie deported to Maly Trostinec on the same day on different transports and murdered.