Object numberM2019/010:001
DescriptionUndated postcard sent form Lajos Kallai, to his wife Theresa and daughter Kallai in Budapest. He writes of the difficulties in communicating and asks his wife not to exhaust herself.
Lajos Kallai was born in 1902 in Hungary, to Joseph and Gisella Kallai. He married Theresa, (Terka) Kallai (nee Hutzler) and they had a daughter Mary (also referred to as Maika). Lajos was one of six children and Mary one of five; they were social, mixing in both Jewish and non-Jewish circles.
Prior to WWII, Lajos and Theresa owned a successful manufacturing business, she managed the design and he managed finances. They lived a comfortable life in Budapest and considered themselves Hungarian first and Jewish second.
In late 1940, Lajos was conscripted into the Hungarian labour service – munkaszolgálat. Assigned to the army units involved in war-related projects, he worked on road repairs, clearing forests, digging trenches and eventually, fought on the Eastern front.
Lajos’ family had few details of his whereabouts. He constantly reassured them he was well, sparing them the obvious hardships of his situation. During her Visual History Archive (VHA) interview in 1995, Mary recalls her husband was a very considerate, selfless and loving man, concerned primarily with the wellbeing of his family. On a few occasions he requests they send him warm clothing, but the majority of his correspondence is focussed on his concern for Terka and Maika.
Lajos sent his last postcard on 3 January 1943. He died in a labour camp in Kiev, Russia in March 1943.
Lajos Kallai was born in 1902 in Hungary, to Joseph and Gisella Kallai. He married Theresa, (Terka) Kallai (nee Hutzler) and they had a daughter Mary (also referred to as Maika). Lajos was one of six children and Mary one of five; they were social, mixing in both Jewish and non-Jewish circles.
Prior to WWII, Lajos and Theresa owned a successful manufacturing business, she managed the design and he managed finances. They lived a comfortable life in Budapest and considered themselves Hungarian first and Jewish second.
In late 1940, Lajos was conscripted into the Hungarian labour service – munkaszolgálat. Assigned to the army units involved in war-related projects, he worked on road repairs, clearing forests, digging trenches and eventually, fought on the Eastern front.
Lajos’ family had few details of his whereabouts. He constantly reassured them he was well, sparing them the obvious hardships of his situation. During her Visual History Archive (VHA) interview in 1995, Mary recalls her husband was a very considerate, selfless and loving man, concerned primarily with the wellbeing of his family. On a few occasions he requests they send him warm clothing, but the majority of his correspondence is focussed on his concern for Terka and Maika.
Lajos sent his last postcard on 3 January 1943. He died in a labour camp in Kiev, Russia in March 1943.
Production date 1940 - 1940
Object namepostcards
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 146.00 mm
height: 105.00 mm
Language
- Hungarian Undated – and no Post Office stamp either, indicating that it may have been hand delivered
My Dear Terka and Maika,
I was very glad that I could talk with you in Pest (Budapest). Unfortunately, it was very difficult. Please thank Hubert at (?) Kovacs and tell him that it is very difficult to write. I’ll write to you when I can. How are you my sweetheart, I hope the very best. Thank God I’m well and I’d like to hear the same from you. Please be careful my dear one and don’t exhaust yourself because there is no sense in that. I send my love to our little darling and you together with Mami (?) and (?) and (?) and Jeno.
Lajos
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mary Silvers