| Princess Maria Karoline | |
| Birth Place: | Pula, Austria-Hungary |
| Death Place: | Hartheim killing centre, Alkoven, Reichsgau Oberdonau |
| Burial Place: | St Augustin's Church, Coburg |
| Full Name: | German: Maria Karoline Philomena Ignatia Pauline Josepha Michaela Gabriela Raphaela Gonzaga |
| House: | Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry |
| Father: | Prince August Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha |
| Mother: | Archduchess Karoline Marie of Austria |
Princess Maria Karoline of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (German: Maria Karoline Philomena Ignatia Pauline Josepha Michaela Gabriela Raphaela Gonzaga Prinzessin von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha; 10 January 1899 – 6 June 1941) was a German princess from the Brazilian branch of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry. She was killed at the Hartheim killing centre as part of the Nazi Aktion T4 program.[1] [2]
Princess Maria Karoline born on 10 January 1899 in Pula, Austria-Hungary (modern day Croatia), a popular vacation site for the Austro-Hungarian imperial and royal family. She was the second daughter of Prince August Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Archduchess Karoline Marie of Austria. She was a great-granddaughter of Pedro II of Brazil and a fourth cousin of George VI of the United Kingdom. Her family formed what was known as the Brazilian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry[3]
After the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian and German Empires, the family was able to retain some of their wealth thanks to the Koháry estates. They resided throughout Hungary and in Schladming, Austria.[4]
Maria Karoline had learning difficulties. In 1938, her family placed her in a religious institution.[5] In 1941, she was forcibly removed from the institution by the Nazis and taken to the killing centre at Hartheim Castle where she was killed as part of the Aktion T4 program.[6] [7]
There are questions about whether her relatives, including her brother Prince Rainer of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and head of the family, Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, did anything to protect her.[8]
Her ashes were returned to her family and interred in the crypt of St Augustine's Church in Coburg.[9]