Paul: Dad, my grandmother, Oma - who I met a few times while she was still alive. She was a famous opera singer. Why did she have to stop singing?

Volker: Well opera in Germany was and is a very big thing. Every state capital had an Opera House. My mother was a singer and she was a celebrity. She was invited to all the upper crust get togethers, which included Jewish bankers, Jewish industrialists. And after Hitler came to power, she was visited by some Nazi officials in uniform. Who told her, "Listen, you're a celebrity here, you have to stop associating with Jewish people."

My mother, who was not diplomatic - she was rather outspoken. More or less said, "Do you know who I am? I'm a star at the opera here, and you are beer hall thugs." Which did not go over well. She was almost hauled into court for insulting a German official. Yes, the Germans have a law like that. Anyway, the Opera House was told she had to be fired. Which took place.

She moved to Munich where her sister lived, and one of the first things she did - she went to the Opera House - and the Director there, knew her of course. And said, "Look, we would love to hire you. I can't do it. You are blacklisted. You will never sing in Germany again. If I hire you tomorrow, I'll be out of a job in a week." So she didn't. And we-- But we had to go on living. But she was never incarcerated, but she lost her job.