Identification Card issued to Magda Bognar
Object numberM2021/019:004
TitleIdentification Card issued to Magda Bognar
DescriptionIdentification card in both English and German issued to Magda (formerly Magdalene) Bognar (nee Löwinger). This card, issued on 21 May 1945 by the Mayor of Waldenburg, Germany, identifies Magda as having been deported from Hungary to Germany and interned in the concentration camp at Auschwitz because she is Jewish. It also states that on 13 April 1945, she was brought by the SS to Waldenbuurg before being liberated by American troops. A physical description of Magda's appearance is also included. This identification card also states that all documentation had been taken away at the concentration camp and that all authorities should give the utmost help to the person in possession of the card.
"Part of a collection of personal documents and correspondence relating to the experience of donor George Bognar's father Ernest (Ernö) Bognar, mother Magda (Magdalene) Bognar (nee Löwinger), and their family between 1928 and c. 1945. Ernest was born in February 1920 in Sopron, Hungary to Maurice and Melanie Bognar. He had three siblings; Nicholas (Miklos), Dessider and Margaret. Ernest met Magda in Hungary when he was just 12 years old. She was born on 10 April 1921 in Savar, Hungary, and was the youngest of 11 children of Jacob and Josephine Löwinger (nee Spitzer).
In 1942, Ernest joined the Hungarian army. In 1943, he was called upon for 'military service' and was forced to work in labour camps in Hungary, and Jugoslavia before being sent to Galicia, Poland. Ernest recalled his experience building tank traps and mine wells, ""Here we got the first real taste of what it meant to be in a forced-labour camp...It was torture - like hell"". He was then sent to Satoraljaujhely, Hungary, before being forced to retreat to the Austrian border to escape the oncoming Russian Army. Here he was handed over to the German military authorities.
Ernest was transported to Dachau concentration camp on 24 November 1944. He recalled his thoughts upon arrival to Dachau, ""I saw people in striped clothes carrying things, or four or six pulling a little cart. All these, even though the guards were belting them, were walking slowly, dragging themselves. Why don't they go faster; why don't they run away from the belting? It didn't take long till I got the answer"".
Ernest recalled the moment that he heard about the fate of his family, ""One of the inmates in striped clothing stood on a case and made a speech.... That's when we found out that they had been taken to Auschwitz. There the old ones, the mothers with children, and the children were all gassed and cremated. 'We would never see them again'... How that moment affected me I can never describe"".
In April 1945 the prisoners were round up and forced to evacuate from Dachau. Ernest recalled the moment that they were liberated on 1 May 1945 stating, ""We fell into each other's arms and all we could do was cry"". Ernest returned to Hungry post-war to confirm that his entire family had been murdered during the Holocaust.
Magda was sent to Altenburg, a sub-camp of Ravensbruck concentration camp, in November 1944, aged 23. Though little is known of her experience, Magda did write poetry during this time which was donated to the Sydney Jewish Museum in 2011. She was liberated in 1945. According to her son, George Bognar, Magda and her sisters; Ella and Irene, were the only survivors of the Holocaust in their family.
After the war, Ernest returned to Sopron, Hungary where he reunited with Magda Löwinger. Ernest and Magda were married on 23 December 1945 in Sarvar, Hungary. Their first son, George, was born on 14 October 1946. They travelled through Austria and Paris in late 1949 before migrating to Australia, arriving to Melbourne on the Cyrenia in 1950. They had two more children; Michael in1950 and Susan in 1952. Together they established a new life, both finding work and saving to buy their own house. Magda passed away on 22 February 1980 and - Ernest on 17 January 1995."
"Part of a collection of personal documents and correspondence relating to the experience of donor George Bognar's father Ernest (Ernö) Bognar, mother Magda (Magdalene) Bognar (nee Löwinger), and their family between 1928 and c. 1945. Ernest was born in February 1920 in Sopron, Hungary to Maurice and Melanie Bognar. He had three siblings; Nicholas (Miklos), Dessider and Margaret. Ernest met Magda in Hungary when he was just 12 years old. She was born on 10 April 1921 in Savar, Hungary, and was the youngest of 11 children of Jacob and Josephine Löwinger (nee Spitzer).
In 1942, Ernest joined the Hungarian army. In 1943, he was called upon for 'military service' and was forced to work in labour camps in Hungary, and Jugoslavia before being sent to Galicia, Poland. Ernest recalled his experience building tank traps and mine wells, ""Here we got the first real taste of what it meant to be in a forced-labour camp...It was torture - like hell"". He was then sent to Satoraljaujhely, Hungary, before being forced to retreat to the Austrian border to escape the oncoming Russian Army. Here he was handed over to the German military authorities.
Ernest was transported to Dachau concentration camp on 24 November 1944. He recalled his thoughts upon arrival to Dachau, ""I saw people in striped clothes carrying things, or four or six pulling a little cart. All these, even though the guards were belting them, were walking slowly, dragging themselves. Why don't they go faster; why don't they run away from the belting? It didn't take long till I got the answer"".
Ernest recalled the moment that he heard about the fate of his family, ""One of the inmates in striped clothing stood on a case and made a speech.... That's when we found out that they had been taken to Auschwitz. There the old ones, the mothers with children, and the children were all gassed and cremated. 'We would never see them again'... How that moment affected me I can never describe"".
In April 1945 the prisoners were round up and forced to evacuate from Dachau. Ernest recalled the moment that they were liberated on 1 May 1945 stating, ""We fell into each other's arms and all we could do was cry"". Ernest returned to Hungry post-war to confirm that his entire family had been murdered during the Holocaust.
Magda was sent to Altenburg, a sub-camp of Ravensbruck concentration camp, in November 1944, aged 23. Though little is known of her experience, Magda did write poetry during this time which was donated to the Sydney Jewish Museum in 2011. She was liberated in 1945. According to her son, George Bognar, Magda and her sisters; Ella and Irene, were the only survivors of the Holocaust in their family.
After the war, Ernest returned to Sopron, Hungary where he reunited with Magda Löwinger. Ernest and Magda were married on 23 December 1945 in Sarvar, Hungary. Their first son, George, was born on 14 October 1946. They travelled through Austria and Paris in late 1949 before migrating to Australia, arriving to Melbourne on the Cyrenia in 1950. They had two more children; Michael in1950 and Susan in 1952. Together they established a new life, both finding work and saving to buy their own house. Magda passed away on 22 February 1980 and - Ernest on 17 January 1995."
Production placeGermany
Production date 1945-05-21 - 1945-05-21
Object nameidentity cards
Materialpaper
Techniquehandwritten
Dimensions
- width: 210.00 mm
height: 295.00 mm
Language
- English
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by George Bognar
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.