In 1926 Martin started school. After four years in the protestant elementary school, he transferred to the Gymnasium. After 1933, many Jewish students were excluded from secondary schools throughout Germany.

Since Martin's father had fought as a soldier in World War I, Martin was still allowed to attend the Gymnasium for the time being. At that time, there were only three Jewish children left at the school: Martin, his friend Manfred Bernheim, and Heinz Schwab. Most of the non-Jewish students joined the Hitler Youth. Nevertheless, he seems to have been a well-respected student at that time. He was elected class president by his classmates in the 1933/34 school year.