Posie album belonging to Gerda Pus
Object numberM2021/027:003
TitlePosie album belonging to Gerda Pus
Description"Posie" album, belonged to Gerda Pus containing entries from Vienna, Austria and Sydney, Australia between 1933 and 1943.
Posie albums were popular with young people in 20th century Germany and were used to record quotes, verses, drawings and photos of friends, classmates and other acquaintances. Such albums were a reminder of the people who shared in one's life stages, particularly school and further study.
Notably, this album contains poems, sayings and well wishes from Gerda's relatives, friends and teachers in Vienna prior to her family's escape from Austria in 1939 and includes the names of individuals who were murdered during the Holocaust. It also contains various illustrations, some of which are signed by Gerda and her mother, Nelly.
This is part of a collection of passports, documents, booklets, prayer books and autograph books donated by Peter Haining pertaining to the life of his mother, Gerda Haining (nee Pus), and his grandmother, Nelly Pus (nee Kormas).
Nelly was born in Vienna, Austria on 8 May 1896 to Adolf and Charlotte Kormos (nee Steinmann). Nelly had five siblings; Olga, Irene, Camilla, Friedrich and Melanie. Although Nelly was Jewish, she married Friedrich Ludwig Pus (formerly Pusch) who was Catholic. Friedrich was the manager of a car dealership in Vienna. Their daughter Gerda, was born in Vienna on 8 March 1923. According to Peter, his mother, Gerda, witnessed German troops march into Vienna after annexing Austria on 12 March 1938. He recalled that from this moment, 'things became difficult, my Mother had a Star of David on her clothes and had to stand in the back of her classroom at school".
Nelly's father, Adolf, passed away prior to Kristallnacht on 3 November 1938. Peter recalled that his grandfather, Friedrich, had a childhood friend in the Gestapo who gave him a badge which he wore under his lapel, and enabled him to avoid deportation. This same friend aided the Pus family in their escape from Austria in 1939.
According to Peter, Nelly had to leave her mother, Charlotte, by the side of the road with her furniture. Charlotte remained in Vienna until 1942. She was deported via transport IV/1, no. 771 from Vienna to Theresienstadt on 20 June 1942. She was murdered 8 days later on 28 June 1942.
Nelly's brother, Friedrich Kormos, survived the Holocaust, leaving Austria on 3 September 1938 and arriving in Bolivia in March 1939. Nelly's sister, Olga Beckova (nee. Kormos), was deported from Prague on transport X, no. 219 to Theresienstadt on 12 February 1942. She was then deported on transport AAk, no. 214 to Sobibor Death Camp in Poland on 12 June 1942 where she was subsequently murdered. The fate of Nelly's other siblings is not known.
The family arrived to Sydney, Australia on the RMS Strathnaver on 21 March 1939. Following their arrival, Friedrich began work as a door to door salesman selling underwear, whilst Nelly worked in a glove factory. Nelly passed away on 26 August 1940, just over one year after she had arrived to Australia.
Gerda married an Australian Agnostic, William Franklyn Haining, in Sydney on 27 August 1942. Her marriage to an Australian citizen meant that she was no longer regarded as an enemy 'Alien" having to report to the Police every week. Their son, Peter, was born on 21 February 1945.
According to Peter, Gerda continued to fear the rise of antisemitism in Australia and had him christened to avoid possible persecution. Her experiences leading up to World War II also meant that she continued to have an aversion to black or brown uniforms for the rest of her life. Despite the persecution she had faced, Gerda continued to identify as Jewish, particularly in the later stages of her life.
William passed away on 23 November 1966. Gerda passed away on 19 September 2015, aged 92.
Posie albums were popular with young people in 20th century Germany and were used to record quotes, verses, drawings and photos of friends, classmates and other acquaintances. Such albums were a reminder of the people who shared in one's life stages, particularly school and further study.
Notably, this album contains poems, sayings and well wishes from Gerda's relatives, friends and teachers in Vienna prior to her family's escape from Austria in 1939 and includes the names of individuals who were murdered during the Holocaust. It also contains various illustrations, some of which are signed by Gerda and her mother, Nelly.
This is part of a collection of passports, documents, booklets, prayer books and autograph books donated by Peter Haining pertaining to the life of his mother, Gerda Haining (nee Pus), and his grandmother, Nelly Pus (nee Kormas).
Nelly was born in Vienna, Austria on 8 May 1896 to Adolf and Charlotte Kormos (nee Steinmann). Nelly had five siblings; Olga, Irene, Camilla, Friedrich and Melanie. Although Nelly was Jewish, she married Friedrich Ludwig Pus (formerly Pusch) who was Catholic. Friedrich was the manager of a car dealership in Vienna. Their daughter Gerda, was born in Vienna on 8 March 1923. According to Peter, his mother, Gerda, witnessed German troops march into Vienna after annexing Austria on 12 March 1938. He recalled that from this moment, 'things became difficult, my Mother had a Star of David on her clothes and had to stand in the back of her classroom at school".
Nelly's father, Adolf, passed away prior to Kristallnacht on 3 November 1938. Peter recalled that his grandfather, Friedrich, had a childhood friend in the Gestapo who gave him a badge which he wore under his lapel, and enabled him to avoid deportation. This same friend aided the Pus family in their escape from Austria in 1939.
According to Peter, Nelly had to leave her mother, Charlotte, by the side of the road with her furniture. Charlotte remained in Vienna until 1942. She was deported via transport IV/1, no. 771 from Vienna to Theresienstadt on 20 June 1942. She was murdered 8 days later on 28 June 1942.
Nelly's brother, Friedrich Kormos, survived the Holocaust, leaving Austria on 3 September 1938 and arriving in Bolivia in March 1939. Nelly's sister, Olga Beckova (nee. Kormos), was deported from Prague on transport X, no. 219 to Theresienstadt on 12 February 1942. She was then deported on transport AAk, no. 214 to Sobibor Death Camp in Poland on 12 June 1942 where she was subsequently murdered. The fate of Nelly's other siblings is not known.
The family arrived to Sydney, Australia on the RMS Strathnaver on 21 March 1939. Following their arrival, Friedrich began work as a door to door salesman selling underwear, whilst Nelly worked in a glove factory. Nelly passed away on 26 August 1940, just over one year after she had arrived to Australia.
Gerda married an Australian Agnostic, William Franklyn Haining, in Sydney on 27 August 1942. Her marriage to an Australian citizen meant that she was no longer regarded as an enemy 'Alien" having to report to the Police every week. Their son, Peter, was born on 21 February 1945.
According to Peter, Gerda continued to fear the rise of antisemitism in Australia and had him christened to avoid possible persecution. Her experiences leading up to World War II also meant that she continued to have an aversion to black or brown uniforms for the rest of her life. Despite the persecution she had faced, Gerda continued to identify as Jewish, particularly in the later stages of her life.
William passed away on 23 November 1966. Gerda passed away on 19 September 2015, aged 92.
Production placeVienna, Austria
Production date 1933-02-09 - 1943-06-17
Object nameautograph books
Materialpaper
Techniquehandwritten
Dimensions
- a width: 125.00 mm
a width: 236.00 mm
a height: 184.00 mm
Language
- German Autograph book, Vienna, starting in 1933 with pictures and phrases, ends in 1942 Australia.
Page 1
Vienna. February 9. 1933.
May heaven save you from dying pain and anguish, may always a good angel be your guardian of your dear life.
Mother.
Page 3
Good luck and a lot of blessings on your lifestyle.
Your father.
Vienna. 20. May. 1933.
Page 5
….*
Freedom and luck, and…* bring you every in every moment.
From your dear
Grandmother Komas
9.02.1933.
*translators note: ineligible
*translators note: ineligible
Page 7
…..*
Learn lots, and pray daily.
From your dearest
Grandfather Kormas
Vienna. February 9. 1933.
Translators note: *ineligible.
Page 9
Two buds bloom, one is red, the other is blue. The one is called ‘forget me not’ the other is called ‘I love you’
In memory.
On your friend
Vera Lessmann.
1933.
Page 13**
**translator’s note: difficult to read
Page 15
Have the sun in the heart, if it storms and snows, is the sky is full of clouds, the end is full of sorrow. Have he sun in the heart. Never lose the courage. And everything will be well.
My dear Gerda,
For remembrance from your piano teacher
Stella Rosenheck.
April. 1933.
Page 19**
**translator’s note: difficult to read
Page 21
Weak…*, cowardly…. *, will never catch the luck, but…* and earnest struggle can bring heartfelt accomplishes.
In friendly memory
Of your religion teacher
…* Rosenblum
Vienna in year 1933.
Translators note: *ineligible.
Page 25
You may enter, a blossoming spring, with constant pleasures that change you
Your friend
Ilse Ornstein.
Vienna. 15. March, 1933
Page 27
For remembrance be like the violet in the moss, modestly modest and pure, not like the proud rose, who wants to always be admired.
Your friend
Doris
Rutter
Vienna 27. February. 1933.
Page 29.
Who looks for roses without thorns, is a fool’s errand, since one never finds those roses in life.
In memory of your friend
Hedwig Wintery.
Vienna. 20. February 1933.
Page 31
In between today and tomorrow, a long time wins; learn quickly to provide,
So that you are still cheerful. A friendly thought from your
Ever loving
Mitzi Ederer.
Page 33
In friendly memory of
….*
14/04/1933
Translators note: *ineligible.
Page 35**
**translator’s note: difficult to read
Page 39**
**translator’s note: difficult to read
Page 43
In memory of your friend
Ere Pekarek
25. 4. 1933
Page 47
Three angels should accompany you. Through your whole life time, and the three angels should be called, health, luck and freedom,
In friendly memory of
Your friend
Edith Chrobak.
Page 49
O’ youth, a golden age with your rich gifts until the last day…. *you from the heart
Your aunt Hilde.
Vienna, 14. April 1933.
Translators note: *ineligible.
Page 51
When you look for a friend, then under 100 friends are only 99 bad ones
In memory of your real friend
Eva Nottes
17. 5. 1933
Page 55
S.N.D
Like our friendship!!!
In friendly memory
Of your friend Lolly Schiller
Page 57**
**translator’s note: difficult to read
Page 59**
**translator’s note: difficult to read
Page 63
Who looks for friends, is worth finding, who doesn’t, has no desire.
Your friend,
Eva Gerbel
Vienna 3. April. 1933.
Page 65**
**translator’s note: difficult to read
English
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Peter Haining
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.