Object numberM2019/064:005
DescriptionCertificate from the German State Institute of Textile Industry in Brünn, Czechoslovakia, recording Kurt Neubauer’s grades at graduation in 1928. He received the overall highest grade and ‘excellent’ or ‘commendable’ in all subjects. Kurt’s father had died in 1926 leaving Kurt as the primary breadwinner of the family. Instead of pursuing higher studies as he originally wished, he went to the Textile Industry institute for one year and became a textile engineer. This certificate was re-issued in November 1947 to replace the original that was lost when Kurt was deported to concentration camps.
In January 1942, Kurt was sent to Theresienstadt. His mother soon followed in March 1942. She died there from tuberculosis on 25 May 1944. Soon after, Kurt was sent by cattle train to Auschwitz. In October, he was transferred to the Meuselwitz concentration camp, where he worked in a factory cleaning ammunition using cleaning fluid that was poisonous. He also worked to diffuse unexploded bombs.
As Meuselwitz was a frequent target of Allied bombing, many of its buildings were ruined and eventually the camp was rendered unliveable. In April 1945, all the inmates were sent away. They were transported on a train for four days without food or drink before it was attacked by the Allied Air Force, who mistook it for a military transport. Of the 2500 people who were loaded on to the train, the mere 400 or so who survived the days of freezing starvation and bombing were forced to go on by foot. Kurt managed to escape while on this death march, near the Czech border. “We were on our way… and as we came closer to a bend in the road, we quickly disappeared into the heavy timber forest.” Kurt remained there for a few days and eventually managed to find a US tank brigade.
After the war, Kurt managed to find his sister who had survived Bergen-Belsen. He returned to Theresienstadt to retrieve some belongings then went to work in Prague. There he met Rose Kučer, who he married in February 1946. In December 1950, Kurt and Rose crossed the Czechoslovakian border illegally, successfully obtained a visa from the Australian Consul in Cologne, and departed from Marseille to Australia by ship. They arrived in Sydney on 24 January 1951.
In January 1942, Kurt was sent to Theresienstadt. His mother soon followed in March 1942. She died there from tuberculosis on 25 May 1944. Soon after, Kurt was sent by cattle train to Auschwitz. In October, he was transferred to the Meuselwitz concentration camp, where he worked in a factory cleaning ammunition using cleaning fluid that was poisonous. He also worked to diffuse unexploded bombs.
As Meuselwitz was a frequent target of Allied bombing, many of its buildings were ruined and eventually the camp was rendered unliveable. In April 1945, all the inmates were sent away. They were transported on a train for four days without food or drink before it was attacked by the Allied Air Force, who mistook it for a military transport. Of the 2500 people who were loaded on to the train, the mere 400 or so who survived the days of freezing starvation and bombing were forced to go on by foot. Kurt managed to escape while on this death march, near the Czech border. “We were on our way… and as we came closer to a bend in the road, we quickly disappeared into the heavy timber forest.” Kurt remained there for a few days and eventually managed to find a US tank brigade.
After the war, Kurt managed to find his sister who had survived Bergen-Belsen. He returned to Theresienstadt to retrieve some belongings then went to work in Prague. There he met Rose Kučer, who he married in February 1946. In December 1950, Kurt and Rose crossed the Czechoslovakian border illegally, successfully obtained a visa from the Australian Consul in Cologne, and departed from Marseille to Australia by ship. They arrived in Sydney on 24 January 1951.
Production placeBrno, Czech Republic
Production date 1947-11-25 - 1947-11-25
Subjectsurvivors
Object nameacademic transcripts
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 210.00 mm
height: 300.00 mm
Language
- German
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Kurt Neubauer