Princess Maria Karoline of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Princess Maria Karoline of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha 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.

Early life and family

Princess Maria Karoline born on 10 January 1899 in Pula, Austria-Hungary, 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.
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.

Hartheim

Maria Karoline had learning difficulties. In 1938, her family placed her in a religious institution. 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.
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.
Her ashes were returned to her family and interred in the crypt of St Augustine's Church in Coburg.