 His mother’s parents were Heinrich and Else Spruch from Bielefeld-Quelle, and his father’s parents were Gustav and Frieda Diekwisch from Bielefeld-Kammeratsheide/Heepen.The Spruch and Diekwisch families in Bielefeld belonged to a staunchly social democratic community in Westphalia and risked their lives by retaining SPD party membership, opposing the Nazis, and supporting the Allies during World War II.Other members of the Spruch family emigrated to Israel after 1933.