Suitcase used by Ruth Rack
Object numberM2020/034
TitleSuitcase used by Ruth Rack
DescriptionSuitcase donated by Ruth Rack (nee Landesberg) that was carried with her from London to Australia, likely belonging to her husband, Peter Rack.
Ruth Rack (nee Landesberg) was born on 3 April 1928 in Leipzig, Germany, a city with a Jewish population of approximately 13,000.
Ruth's father, Bernhard Landesberg, was born on 29 July 1882 in Brody (which was then jointly held between Poland and Russia). He was one of five children. Classically trained as an opera singer, Bernhard worked as a chazzan (cantor) at the local Orthodox Synagogue. He also worked in the family's textile business. Following Kristallnacht, Bernhard was arrested and later murdered at Sachsenhausen concentration camp on 7 June 1940.
Ruth's mother Anna Landesberg was born in 1895. She was one of 16 children, only 11 of whom survived infancy. Before she was able to escape Germany, she was incarcerated in the Leipzig Judenhaus before being deported to Belzec on 10 May 1942, where she was murdered.
Documents M2020/026:001 and M2020/026:002 show that Bernhard and Anna had been able to secure visas for themselves for the Dominican Republic as early as January 1939. However, they were unable to secure transportation and visas for their two youngest children, Bob and Ruth. The two older children, Charlotte (Lottie) and Estelle (Esther), travelled to England soon after to work as au pairs in London.
After Ruth's two older sisters had left for England, a family friend, Joseph Borg, secured passage for Leon (Bob) and Ruth (then aged 13 and 11) on a Kindertransport to England via the Netherlands on 3 May 1939.
During her time in England, Ruth was billeted to six different temporary lodgings in order to escape the bombings in London. She was then sent to elementary boarding school, where she remained until she was 13.
In November 1949, Ruth married Peter Rack. Peter was born in Britain in 1920 to Polish-Jewish parents. During the war, he served in the Royal Australian Airforce. Soon after their marriage, the couple immigrated to Australia, arriving in Sydney in January 1950.
Ruth and Peter had two children, Roslyn and Phillip, and settled in Maroubra, where they lived from 1956 to 2002.
Ruth Rack (nee Landesberg) was born on 3 April 1928 in Leipzig, Germany, a city with a Jewish population of approximately 13,000.
Ruth's father, Bernhard Landesberg, was born on 29 July 1882 in Brody (which was then jointly held between Poland and Russia). He was one of five children. Classically trained as an opera singer, Bernhard worked as a chazzan (cantor) at the local Orthodox Synagogue. He also worked in the family's textile business. Following Kristallnacht, Bernhard was arrested and later murdered at Sachsenhausen concentration camp on 7 June 1940.
Ruth's mother Anna Landesberg was born in 1895. She was one of 16 children, only 11 of whom survived infancy. Before she was able to escape Germany, she was incarcerated in the Leipzig Judenhaus before being deported to Belzec on 10 May 1942, where she was murdered.
Documents M2020/026:001 and M2020/026:002 show that Bernhard and Anna had been able to secure visas for themselves for the Dominican Republic as early as January 1939. However, they were unable to secure transportation and visas for their two youngest children, Bob and Ruth. The two older children, Charlotte (Lottie) and Estelle (Esther), travelled to England soon after to work as au pairs in London.
After Ruth's two older sisters had left for England, a family friend, Joseph Borg, secured passage for Leon (Bob) and Ruth (then aged 13 and 11) on a Kindertransport to England via the Netherlands on 3 May 1939.
During her time in England, Ruth was billeted to six different temporary lodgings in order to escape the bombings in London. She was then sent to elementary boarding school, where she remained until she was 13.
In November 1949, Ruth married Peter Rack. Peter was born in Britain in 1920 to Polish-Jewish parents. During the war, he served in the Royal Australian Airforce. Soon after their marriage, the couple immigrated to Australia, arriving in Sydney in January 1950.
Ruth and Peter had two children, Roslyn and Phillip, and settled in Maroubra, where they lived from 1956 to 2002.
Subjectestablishing new life, escape
Object namesuitcases
Materialleather
Dimensions
- width: 450.00 mm
height: 145.00 mm
depth: 298.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Ruth Rack
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.