Sydney Jewish Museum
    M2007.007.022a.jpg; M2007/007:022; ;
    Номер объектаM2007/007:022
    Создатель Mr. Joseph Hersch Wiesner
    ОписаниеPostcard to Gisela Wiesner in Ljubljana, from her father in Brussels, dated 23 April 1942. He writes that he is happy to hear that Gisela was able to celebrate Pesach as he spent it doing the same as on any other day. He received mail from his children Leo and Fridel from England and grandmother from Leipzig. Neither grandmother nor anyone else has heard from Gisela’s mother and he is therefore deeply concerned

    Gisela Wiesner was born on 19 April 1924, in Kiel, Germany to Josef Hersch Wiesner and Zirel nee Heller. At the beginning of 1939, the large family all lived in a ‘Judenhaus’ in Kiel, including Gisela’s elder sisters Charlotte and Regina (Ruth), younger twins Frieda and Leopold, and toddler Selma. Within months the family was separated. Leopold and Frieda escaped on a Kindertransport to England. In July, Charlotte escaped to eastern Europe and later attempted to immigrate to Palestine, while Josef fled to Belgium to attain US visas for his family. In September, the rest of the family remaining in Kiel were deported to Leipzig. Zirel, Gisela and Selma were confined to a collection camp there, while Ruth was hospitalised for mental illness.

    In September 1940, Ruth was deported to Brandenburg Euthanasia Centre and murdered on arrival. Shortly after in November, Charlotte was killed on board the SS Patria, which suffered an explosion and sank while trying to divert Jewish immigrants from Palestine. Gisela did not learn of their fates until after the war. In 1941, she managed to escape the Leipzig collection camp and, with the help of a Zionist organisation, fled via Zagreb to Italy and later Switzerland.

    This card is part of a collection of postcards which were sent regularly to Gisela from Joseph and Zirel during 1941 and 1942. They are filled with news of family, messages of love and advice, and document the last contact between a father, mother and their daughter. By the end of 1942, Gisela had no further signs of life from her parents. In January 1942, Zirel and Selma were deported to Riga where they were murdered. Joseph was deported from Belgium to Auschwitz. He survived Auschwitz and a death march to Neuengamme concentration camp in Germany, but died there of hunger and exhaustion on 11 May 1945, three days after the war had ended.
    Место изготовленияBelgium
    Дата 1942-04-23
    Темаhuman communication, signs of life, genealogy
    Наименованиеpostcards
    Размерность
    Язык
      German Brussels 23 April 1942 My dear child Gisela! Received your cards from 23th of the previous month and 6th and I am very happy that you wrote the address. Hopefully we will be successful with it, I am happy that you had a good Pesach (Passover) as I spent it the same as the other days but hopefully next year will be better. Me and Mendel are doing well and Mendel is no longer working. From Leo and Fridel I received mail who in return received mail from Lotty. I also received mail from Omma from Leipzig who did not have any mail from Mutti and grandfather. The things from Mutti I have here but what use as there is nothing I can do concerning Mutti, unfortunately I am very worried and wonder but unfortunately (pity). Otherwise nothing important than sending you regards and kisses, Mendel sends his regards too. From me your father, Hermann.
    Кредитная линияSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mr Fritz Adler