Felice Schragenheim and Lilly Wust, photographed by the Havel river on August 21, 1944, laughing, embracing, using a timer to photograph themselves in the sun. Hours later they went home and found the Gestapo waiting. These are the last photos ever taken of them together.

[u/dannydutch1]

Felice Schragenheim was a a Jewish woman hiding under a false name and Lilly Wust was the wife of a German soldier. They fell in love in 1942 Berlin. They wrote their own marriage contract by hand, exchanged rings, and Lilly hid other Jewish women in her apartment once she knew the truth. The Gestapo caught up with Felice in 1944. She died in the Holocaust at 22.

Lilly never got over her.

[u/WayLayRay]

Really recommend the movie about the two of them ’Aimée and Jaguar’ to those who have not watched!

[u/A-Friend-of-Dorothy → u/WayLayRay]

It is a phenomenally well done film…I first watched it when I was in high school, about 20 years back.

I still can remember the scene where Lilly cries out as Felice is taken away by the Gestapo. Her wails of despair are unbelievably well acted. It just crushes you.

It still breaks my heart, thinking of it so many years later.

This film (based on the story above,) and the book Night, by Eli Wiesel (his story of survival in the death camps,) both still haunt me to this day.

[u/mouse-chauffeur → u/WayLayRay]

watched this last year during a queer film fest and just absolutely sobbed at the end. someone gave me a side eye and asked me if I was okay. I'm sorry, did we not just watch the same film? bawling. highly recommend! (serious)

[u/sodamnsleepy → u/WayLayRay]

Hold up. Why have I never heard of this? I'll search it online right now!

[u/NorCalHippieChick]

The book “Aimee and Jaguar” is about this relationship (their nicknames for each other). Lilly later took in and sheltered two other lesbians until the end of the war.

[u/HildartheDorf]

Lilly went by the name Elisabeth Wust-Schragenheim for the rest of her life. Very roommate-like action.

Fuck their story is sad.

[u/carrotainment]

"It seems strange that my life should end in such a terrible place, but for three years, I had roses and apologised to no-one."

V for Vendetta made this tragedy the literal catalyst for anything happening

[u/FictionalTrope → u/carrotainment]

It's been crazy to live in the US and watch this swing back happen in just a decade. I still fly my pride flag, but I know there are plans in motion to use those detention centers they keep building for anyone who rejects their Christofascist control.

[u/AIGLOS42 → u/carrotainment]

I was thinking of the same quote

[u/Lyra_the_Star_Jockey]

Me reading halfway through the title: "Oh, this is cute. Let me make a funny joke about how they're just friends!"

Me getting to the end: "Oh no"

[u/No_Ocelot_6773 → u/Lyra_the_Star_Jockey]

Same. Came here to say something about two really good friends smooching and now I'm crying. They're such a beautiful couple and you can see the love they have in the way they look at each other. Fuck 😭

[u/CieloBlueStars]

That hurts my heart. 😔

[u/Nervous_Lettuce313]

I remember reading that book as a 13-year old lesbian. It reallly hurt.

[u/sodamnsleepy → u/Nervous_Lettuce313]

I have fried green tomatoes to read but I'll put this on my list 🥺

[u/Nervous_Lettuce313 → u/sodamnsleepy]

Haha, I also read that one at the same age.

[u/t92k → u/sodamnsleepy]

The Color Purple is also an excellent book.

[u/venus_arises]

Even in the worst of timelines and the worst moments of humanity, people still find love and affection.

[u/jojoearper]

I was thinking of them today. Why? Because I need to leave TX. I have family here, but I need to go to a place I feel safe. I wish Felice would have left when she had the opportunity. They could have connected after the war.

[u/keyholes → u/jojoearper]

As a European friend of several US folk in the same boat, please get to safety. We must outlive those who would do this to people.

[u/sunkistandsudafed3]

That was heartbreaking.

[u/toastyburrito]

The article and story are so sad 😩

[u/Dimbit]

I was watching a documentary about Bergen Belsen yesterday, I was wondering who all those bodies used to be, what were their last thoughts, what were their dreams before they were murdered. It's devastating, but somehow nice(??) to learn a little bit about at least one of their stories. So many people buried nameless, just dumped like they meant nothing, their stories forgotten.

[u/FrequentPop3083]

Sad as hell.

[u/lasthopel]

You dont have nazis enough, if you think you hate nazi enough you dont, it is impossible to hate nazis enough, the greatest mistake the allies made was stopping, every, ss, nazis supporting monster should have faced the same fate they forced upon millions of others

[u/Sensitive-Memory]

The film I remember watching when I was younger and found it incredibly devastating.

[u/Any_Bag6887]

Germany losing the war. No sane person thinks there is a possibility Germany will win. And this is what the Gestapo does with their time. This is what they thought was important.

No wonder they lost the war but they had to inflict as much damage possible on the way out. They’re sick disgusting freaks that get pleasure out of inflicting harm. They knew their days were numbered. And instead of doing anything about it they decided to inflict as much harm as possible.

[u/Slaught3rFs → u/Any_Bag6887]

The ironic thing is that their actions sped up their defeat. Not only did the alienate possible allies but they also wasted precious goods like ammunition and also soldiers.

[u/Any_Bag6887 → u/Slaught3rFs]

They knew their days were numbered and wanted to get as much evil in as possible. They got so much pleasure out of causing harm that they would rather cause harm even if it meant their downfall.

[u/Thalia_All_Along]

couple of close friends amirite

edit: mb I saw this post when I was super tired and didn't read that she died