In October 1938 Rudolf Flesch fled Vienna, the city his family had called home for over 70 years, leaving behind three elderly grandparents, his mother, his friends and most of his possessions. The apartment building he and his sister had inherited from their uncle was appropriated by the Nazi state. With his promising career as a lawyer abruptly cut short he faced an uncertain future.

This is the story of Rudolf's parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. But it is also a story of his aunts, uncles and cousins - whose lives were closely intertwined and whose stories are fascinating in their own right.

Thankfully Rudolf survived, but there were many who did not. If we step back and view the family's history from a wider perspective, the story of what happened during the Holocaust must be reappraised. Many emigrated but some branches of the family tree were wiped out entirely. Who would grieve for them? Who would treasure their memory and pass down their stories? Their stories must be included alongside that of Rudolf's so that they are not forgotten.