Walter was a refugee from Austria. He came to the Netherlands at an unknown date. He stayed first at the Kleine Haar in Gorssel, went to the Vondelhof in Amsterdam, quarantine station Beneden Heijplaat in Rotterdam and to the Achterklooster in Rotterdam. In April 1940 he moved to the refugee home "Westersingel" in Rotterdam. He was learning to be a baker. His parents did not want him to go to Pale…
Walter Basch zat in het eerste transport naar Auschwitz van 15 juli 1942. Hij behoorde tot de groep van 100 'Alte Lagerinsassen' van Westerbork die voor dit eerste transport werden geselecteerd.