By Simon Henderson for the Otago Daily Times…

The persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany was highlighted during a recent talk at Toitū Otago Settlers Museum [pictured].

University of Otago PhD student Jack Brosnahan shared his research on Felix Grayeff, whose life was shaped by leaving Nazi Germany and finding a new life in Dunedin.

Mr Grayeff was born in 1906 to a “pretty well-off Jewish family” living in Konigsberg.

As a young boy his home life was happy, and the house was a cultural hub of actors, opera singers and artists.

Mr Grayeff’s father died when he was five, and his mother initially received a healthy pension.

However, the business failed in post-World War 1 Germany’s deteriorating economy, forcing his mother to sell property and valuables to make ends meet…

Read the full story on the Otago Daily Times here.