Lisl Hennig

Lisl Hennig (née Wisliceny) was one of two named daughters of Professor Wisliceny and Frau Wisliceny. Her parents first names are unknown. In Winter, there are references to "three daughters," but the third daughter never appears. Lisl was described as the youngest daughter.

Commentary
Lisl Hennig was brought up in a culturally-rich household – at the outbreak of World War I her mother, Frau Wisliceny, was reputed to run a salon that was ‘''the most famous in Berlin. The world’s finest musicians take tea there’ as did ‘psychologists, painters, novelists, poets and even socialists.’ [Winter'', 1914 chapter].

She is frequently referred to by Werner Volkmann and Bernard Samson as ‘Tante Lisl’ (a term of endearment, meaning ‘Auntie Lisl’) virtue of them both being raised in the hotel off Berlin’s Ku’damm which she continues to own throughout the Samson series.

 Genealogy 

[please refer to the association charts page for explanation of solid, versus dotted line links - between associates as well as family]

Lisl Hennig is one of just three characters to appear in every one of the graphics published to complement the Samson series of books. On most occasions her key link is as the owner of the old-fashioned hotel in Berlin in which Bernard Samson and Werner Volkmann both grew up.

In the chart for Winter, Lisl’s own family is explained. We know from the 1914 chapter in the book that there were ‘three Wisliceny girls’ however, here, only Lisl and Inge appear as the offspring of Frau and Professor Wisliceny (‘Salons for musicians and other artists & intellectuals’).

The table shows Lisl married to Erich Hennig (‘Concert pianist’) with one son, Theo, who was ‘Killed in air raid with Lottie Winter’. Lottie herself is described as ‘Imprisoned for aiding Jews’ - added to which Werner’s father, Isaac Volkmann, is a ‘Jewish dentist hidden from Nazis by Lisl Hennig’ plus Lisl ‘runs tea room to provide income  with the help of Lily Volkmann’, Werner’s mother. Tensions are therefore hinted at, given Lisl’s brother-in-law (via Inge) is a SS lawyer and Nazi party member.

The final person Lisl is linked to by solid line is her niece Ingrid Winter (‘Illegitimate daughter’ to Inge) who, by the time of the graphic for Spy Line is described as running Lisl’s hotel with Werner.