Object numberM2020/025:003
DescriptionPostcard from Anschel Kanner in the Tarnow Ghetto in April 1942 to Adolf and Emilie Korn in Theresienstadt. Anschel writes to his daughter Emilie to reassure her of his good health and urges her to write as often as possible. This postcard is one of his last signs of life; in July 1942 he was executed in the town square in Tarnow.
Part of a collection of 75 items including photographs, postcards, personal papers and restitution and compensation documents donated by Eva Green (nee Korn), which relate to the Holocaust experiences of her parents, Adolf and Emilie Korn.
Adolf Korn was born on 22 December 1910, in Brno, Czechoslovakia, to Wilhelm and Charlotte Korn. On 25 July 1937 he married Emilie Kanner, born 16 November 1913 in ?eský T?ín, Silesia, Czechoslovakia, to Ansel and Berta Kanner. Prior to their marriage Emilie had worked as a German-Czech correspondent and secretary. The couple lived in Brno.
From 1939 following the German invasion of Czechoslovakia, all Jewish assets were eventually seized, including the Korn family business, Adolf and Emilies savings, apartment and household effects, as well as those of both parents. In November 1939, Wilhelm and Charlotte Korn were sent to the Bochnia ghetto, near Krakow in Poland. Around the same time, Ansel Kanner was deported to Tarnow ghetto, but Berta had managed to flee to her eldest daughter Sary Kohn (nee Kanner) in Turcianske, Teplice and went into hiding with her there. In mid-1940, Adolf and Emilie were forced by the Gestapo to move into a smaller apartment in Brno, and again in January 1941 into shared accommodation. On 5 December 1941, they were deported to Theresienstadt.
In August 1942, Wilhelm and Charlotte Korn were deported together with several thousands of Jews to Belzec concentration camp, where they were murdered. In October 1944, Berta Kanner was arrested and deported to Sered camp and from there to Auschwitz. She was sent to the gas chambers on the same day.
Emilie and Adolf remained in Theresienstadt until the end of the war. Adolf was asked to present himself for transportation from Theresienstadt two or three times. He talked to the Gestapo and told them he was a skilled carpenter and could make them a boat. They agreed to let him do that, so he was not sent to another concentration camp.
In 1949, Emilie and Adolf immigrated with her daughter Eva to Australia.
Part of a collection of 75 items including photographs, postcards, personal papers and restitution and compensation documents donated by Eva Green (nee Korn), which relate to the Holocaust experiences of her parents, Adolf and Emilie Korn.
Adolf Korn was born on 22 December 1910, in Brno, Czechoslovakia, to Wilhelm and Charlotte Korn. On 25 July 1937 he married Emilie Kanner, born 16 November 1913 in ?eský T?ín, Silesia, Czechoslovakia, to Ansel and Berta Kanner. Prior to their marriage Emilie had worked as a German-Czech correspondent and secretary. The couple lived in Brno.
From 1939 following the German invasion of Czechoslovakia, all Jewish assets were eventually seized, including the Korn family business, Adolf and Emilies savings, apartment and household effects, as well as those of both parents. In November 1939, Wilhelm and Charlotte Korn were sent to the Bochnia ghetto, near Krakow in Poland. Around the same time, Ansel Kanner was deported to Tarnow ghetto, but Berta had managed to flee to her eldest daughter Sary Kohn (nee Kanner) in Turcianske, Teplice and went into hiding with her there. In mid-1940, Adolf and Emilie were forced by the Gestapo to move into a smaller apartment in Brno, and again in January 1941 into shared accommodation. On 5 December 1941, they were deported to Theresienstadt.
In August 1942, Wilhelm and Charlotte Korn were deported together with several thousands of Jews to Belzec concentration camp, where they were murdered. In October 1944, Berta Kanner was arrested and deported to Sered camp and from there to Auschwitz. She was sent to the gas chambers on the same day.
Emilie and Adolf remained in Theresienstadt until the end of the war. Adolf was asked to present himself for transportation from Theresienstadt two or three times. He talked to the Gestapo and told them he was a skilled carpenter and could make them a boat. They agreed to let him do that, so he was not sent to another concentration camp.
In 1949, Emilie and Adolf immigrated with her daughter Eva to Australia.
Production placeTarnow, Poland
Production date 1942-04-01 - 1942-04-01
Object namepostcards
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 148.00 mm
height: 105.00 mm
Language
- German Date of issue: 1.4.1942 / Send in: 13.04.1942 ; 14.04.1942 (there are two send in stamps)
Place of issue: Magdeburger Pl. 13/6, Tarnów, Poland.
Sender: Anschel Kanner (Adolf Kanner)
Addressee: Emilie Korn (nee Kanner), K 653, Room No. 213. Theresienstadt, Dresdner Kaserne (casern of Dresden)
(Note: The letter was not written in perfect German. Presumably German was not Adolf Kanner’s mother language, but maybe Czech. He must had someone who wrote his letter for him.)
Translation:
DEAR CHILDREN, 1/IV. 1942. [Date]
THANK YOU FOR THE GREETINGS,
I AM PLEASED THAT YOU ARE HEALTHY
THAT ALSO IS BY ME
AND MAMA
WRITE AS OFTEN AS
POSSIBLE WONDERFUL
GREETINGS
YOUR FATHER
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Eva Green
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.