Schenck Family Genealogy & History

Ernst-Günther Schenck was a German medical doctor and SS member during Nazi Germany, known for his encounter with Adolf Hitler in the final days of World War II. His historical accounts were valuable to authors Joachim Fest and James P. O'Donnell, and featured in the film Downfall. Schenck developed a protein sausage for SS troops and worked on a large herbal plantation at Dachau concentration camp. During the Battle of Berlin, he assisted in surgeries at an emergency casualty station near Hitler's bunker, despite lacking surgical training. He was captured by the Soviet Army, released in 1953, and worked at Chemie Grünenthal in West Germany.

Schenck was born in Marburg, Hesse-Nassau. His father was a professor at Muenster University, specializing in classical literature and the humanities.

Ferdinand Schureman Schenck was a prominent 19th-century American physician and politician, representing New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1833 to 1837. As a Jacksonian, he served two terms in Congress. Schenck's illustrious career included roles as a New Jersey General Assembly member, trustee of Rutgers College, and judge of the New Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals. He was also engaged in New Jersey's banking and manufacturing sectors and participated in the state's constitutional convention in 1844. Schenck studied medicine at Columbia University, graduating in 1814, and practiced medicine until his retirement in 1859.

Ferdinand Schureman Schenck was born on February 11, 1790, in Millstone, New Jersey. He had at least one son, J. V. Schenck, with whom he resided in Camden, New Jersey, until his death on May 16, 1860.

Nicholas M. Schenck was a prominent Russian-American film studio executive and businessman known for his influential role in the entertainment industry. As vice president and general manager of Loew's Inc., he played a crucial part in the growth of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), managing a vast theater chain and creating a successful studio system. Under his stringent management, MGM thrived during the Great Depression, producing films with stars like Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, and Judy Garland. His business acumen made him a wealthy figure in Hollywood, with significant contributions to the industry's expansion.

Born in Rybinsk, Russia, Nicholas Schenck was one of seven children in a Jewish family. Alongside his parents and brothers, he emigrated to the United States in 1892, settling in New York's Lower East Side. Schenck's early life was marked by entrepreneurial ventures with his older brother Joseph, eventually leading to their success in the theater and film industry.

August Friedrich Albrecht Schenck (1828–1901) was a renowned painter born in Glückstadt, Duchy of Holstein. Known for his evocative landscapes and animal paintings, Schenck was both French and German by nationality. His career highlights include training under Léon Cogniet in Paris and debuting at the World Exhibition in 1855. His poignant work, "Anguish," depicting a ewe mourning her lamb, cemented his reputation and is housed in the National Gallery of Victoria. Schenck was honored with the Legion of Honour in 1885 and his paintings are globally recognized, with pieces like "Lost" exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.