Ghetto Theresienstadt Arbeitsausweis
Object numberM2019/064:012
TitleGhetto Theresienstadt Arbeitsausweis
DescriptionWork identification card confirming that Erna Neubauer was designated as a warehouse worker in Theresienstadt from 10 June 1942. Arnostka (Erna) Neubauerova (nee Munk-ova) was born in 1879 in Czechoslovakia. She was sent to Theresienstadt in March 1942, where she joined her son Kurt Neubauer who had arrived in the ghetto in January. 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 returned to Theresienstadt where he collected as much as he could of his mother’s belongings. He brought them with him to Australia when he and his wife Rose immigrated in 1951.
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 returned to Theresienstadt where he collected as much as he could of his mother’s belongings. He brought them with him to Australia when he and his wife Rose immigrated in 1951.
Production placeTheresienstadt ghetto
Production date 1942-06-10 - 1942-06-10
Subjectsurvivors, ghettos, ghetto labour
Object namework cards
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 149.00 mm
height: 105.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Kurt Neubauer