Victor Kugler was born in June 1900 in Hohenelbe, Austria-Hungary (which is now known as Vrchlabi in the Czech Republic.)
Victor was in the Austrian Marines but left after being wounded. He travelled to Holland and gained a diploma in Dutch Business Correspondence. Here he met Otto Frank and became one of the first employees of Opekta in 1933.
When the Germans invaded Holland in May 1940, new laws were passed preventing Jews from owning businesses. Otto handed over his company to non-Jewish employees to prevent it being confiscated and Victor became one of the directors.
Victor helped organise for the families to go into hiding in the annex and provided valuable moral support by visiting them almost daily, bringing newspapers and magazines.
Victor also helped procure ration coupons on the black market and his accounting on spice orders meant that the annex had money for supplies. He never told his wife about the Secret Annex or its occupants which caused him great stress.
On August 4 1944, the security police raided the offices of Pectacon, arresting Victor and fellow director Johannes Kleiman, along with the annex inhabitants.
They were taken to Gestapo Headquarters where Victor and Johannes were transferred to Amersfoort concentration camp and then on to Zwolle labour camp.
From here, Victor was moved to Wageningen, and made an escape whilst on a march to Germany when the Allies started bombing.
He returned to run the business in Amsterdam but times were difficult and in 1955, Victor and his wife emigrated to Canada. He stayed in touch with Otto and received awards for his help hiding the Frank and Van Pels families. He died on 14 December 1981.
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