Heinz Wallach, a middle child with two sisters, was born in Soest, Westphalia, Germany, on 24 January 1916 to Ernst and Clara Wallach. His father was a grain merchant.

As conditions in Germany worsened in 1936 Heinz and his sister Elsbeth manage to immigrate to Johannesburg, South Africa.

His first job was at the Coligny Granary in the Western Transvaal, where he worked from 1936-1938. After which he went back to Johannesburg and studied at night school. He then worked for Domestic and Foreign Trade, an importing house established by a German Jew , until the mid sixties, except for the period during World War II , in which he fought in the South African army.

In October 1948 Heinz met Ida Kooperberg, whose family had been hidden from the Nazis in Holland and had immigrated to Johannesburg after the war.

They were married in April 1949 and had two children, Charles (1950) and Ruth(1954).

Source

Http://www.goethe.de/ins/za/pri/jue/bfx/BMW/en1642883.htm