Wiegala

IIlse Weber was a Czech author, poet, and songwriter. Born in Austria in 1903, Isle would grow up to become a writer of many books and theatrical works for children. Most of the literature written during her life was penned under her maiden name, Ilse Herlinger. She later met Willi Weber, and the couple married in 1930. Together, they raised two sons, Hanus and Tommy. Following the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1939, Willi and Ilse were able to send their eldest son, Hanus, to the United Kingdom and eventually Sweden before they were confined to a Jewish ghetto in Prague. In February of 1942, the Weber's, including their youngest son Tommy, were sent to the concentration camp Theresienstadt. Working in the children's infirmary, Ilse entertained the young patients with songs, trying to make their daily suffering slightly more bearable. Writing, composing and singing with her illegal guitar was Ilse's way of cheering the children she attended to. "Wiegala" was one of these songs. In October of 1944, Willi was scheduled to be deported to Auschwitz. Not wanting her family to be separated, Ilse volunteered to join him with Tommy. Upon their arrival at Auschwitz, Ilse and Tommy were immediately separated from Willie and sent to the gas chambers. An excellent selection to bring history into your music classroom!