fritz wegner was born in vienna on 15 september 1924 into a family of assimilated jews. following the anschluss, a drawing he made of adolf hitler to amuse his classmates enraged a nazi-supporting teacher at his school. as a result he suffered a terrible beating. his parents arranged for the 13-year-old fritz to leave austria, alone, in august 1938 for london. they and his sister were later able to join him in exile.