Battling Till the End: Remembering Peggy Parnass - A fierce spirit, even in her golden years
- Written by David Baum
- Approximate read time: 2 minutes
Woman Desires Accused Killers to Face Trial, Opposed to Donning Judge's Garb - Serious seeker yearns for criminals in the courtroom, but not draped in judge's gowns.
Peggy Parnass, a fighter throughout her life, maintained her resilience even in her 90s. This incredible woman made St. Georg's gentrified former working-class neighborhood her domain, captivating everyone who crossed her path. Leaving her inner courtyard building on Lange Reihe, home to actress Monica Bleibtreu, Peggy commanded attention and respect.
Death - Her Most Tenacious Enemy
Despite her age, Peggy held an unyielding disdain for death. This resistance to such an inescapable foe could be traced back to her turbulent childhood, when she narrowly escaped the clutches of Nazi extermination camps. In a poignant audio recording from the Stolpersteine action, Peggy shares the restrictions imposed upon her as a child, banned from enjoying simple pleasures like the cinema, swimming pools, or even sitting on a park bench. Accompanied by her brother Gady, Peggy's survivor story began with their mother's courage to send them on the Kindertransport to Sweden in 1939.
Peggy Parnass - Unwavering Activist
Peggy's story shares striking similarities with many Nazi persecutees, but her journey veered drastically from the expected. Peggy returned to her homeland not only as a survivor but as an activist, artist, accuser, and lover. Her enduring love for humanity was inspired by her parents, particularly her mother, who demonstrated boundless affection despite her husband's volatile nature. Peggy cherished their profound love above all else, declaring it the most important inheritance she carried into the 21st century. "I love people, I can't help it," she stated.
Peggy's homecoming served a noble purpose: to effect change and bring about justice. She became a court reporter, striving to confront the perpetrators of her family's atrocities during their trials. Over 100 members of Peggy's family perished in concentration camps. "I went to the court because I thought I could shed light on many aspects of the mass murderers," she said. Between 1970 and 1978, Peggy wrote reports on more than 100 cases, earning her numerous accolades. Her apartment served as a shrine to this life dedicated to the pursuit of truth. Peggy's unique empathy towards hardened criminals earned her a stone-cold credibility that opened doors for her in the courtroom.
Witness or Accuser?
Though Peggy documented the grim realities of her time, she was more than a witness to history. Amidst political unrest, she used her experiences to fuel radical change. Her passionate essays, though too raw for delivery in speeches, were embraced by young activists. Peggy left behind a monument to her parents in the form of another stumbling block, engraved with the affectionate title "The Lovers." This legacy not only commemorates her past but serves as a testament to the enduring power of love and resistance.
- Peggy
- Love
- Mother
- St. George
- Monica Bleibtreu
- Dogs
- Activism
- Courage
- Justice
- Peggy Parnass, even in her 90s, continued to hold an unwavering love for humanity, a trait inspired by her mother's boundless affection, despite her father's volatile nature.
- After her escape from the Nazi extermination camps, Peggy Bleibtreu's apartment in St. George's neighboring Monica Bleibtreu's building served as a shrine, housing not only her memories but also her writings on more than 100 court cases.
- Peggy's story is a testament to the enduring power of love and resistance, as she left behind a legacy not just as a survivor, but as an activist, with her parents memorialized in a stumbling block inscribed with the affectionate title "The Lovers."
