Blanket belonging to László Sarkadi
Object numberM2021/028:001
TitleBlanket belonging to László Sarkadi
DescriptionChequered, knitted blanket that belonged to László Sarkadi c. 1940.
According to László's granddaughter, Ester Sarkadi-Clarke, this blanket belonged to László during his internment at various forced labour camps between 1939 and 1945.
In 1944, László's was conscripted into the Jewish Labour Service and worked as a locksmith in Csepel, Hungary. He was then transferred to a labour camp in Domsod where he was crammed into an overcrowded truck and deported to the Carpathian Mountains.
Whilst being forcibly marched to Auschwitz in 1944, László escaped with three other Jewish men. They were captured shortly after by Hungarian army guards and were punished by being hung from a tree by their arms. László and the men escaped a second time and with the help of a Russian Jewish officer, László travelled back to Budapest and was reunited with his wife, Ilona and their children.
Part of a collection of items donated by Ester Sarkadi-Clarke, granddaughter of Holocaust survivors Ilona Sarkadi (nee Reisz) and László Sarkadi (formerly Spitzer).
László was born on 30 November 1907 to Joszef and Etelka (Etel) Spitzer (nee. Weiss) in Kunszentmiklós, Hungary. Ilona was born in the same village on 30 March 1916 to Ignacz and Margit Reisz.
Ilona and László were married in Kunszentmiklós on 18 March 1934. They had three children; Joseph (b.1934), Stephen (b. 1938) and Emily (b.1947).
In 1939, László was drafted into forced labour and worked on series of projects related to heavy construction, earthworks and anti-tank installations for the duration of the war.
After they were crammed into a multi-storied “Jewish House” in early 1944, Ilona and her two young sons fled Kunszentmiklós and survived the war in hiding, in and around Budapest.
After the liberation of Hungary by the Russian forces in 1945, Ilona, her parents, and her sons returned to Budapest where they reunited with László who had escaped from the Jewish Labour Service.
In their search for living family members, László discovered that his sisters Ilonka, and Margit, and their children had been murdered at Auschwitz. László’s brother, Jenö, and his father, Joszef, were also murdered at Auschwitz. Ilona’s brothers Feri, and Emil, had died as forced labourers. Ilona’s Uncle Josef Herceg was also murdered. László’s sister Margit and her husband Miklos both survived.
The Sarkadi family rebuilt their lives in Budapest and Ilona gave birth to their daughter, Emily, in 1947. The family were eventually persecuted by the Communist government, having their property in Budapest and Kunszentmiklos confiscated.
In December 1956 Joseph and Stephen fled, having been involved in student demonstrations associated with the Hungarian Revolution. After moving around Europe, they made their way to Melbourne.
In 1957, Laszlo, Ilona and Margit obtained passports from a government minister in exchange for allowing him to move into their apartment. Early in 1958 they travelled to Vienna, then to Trieste, Italy, where they boarded the ‘Toscana’ ship to Australia.
Settling in Melbourne, they purchased the Wachtel Restaurant at 319 Barkly Street, Elwood. Though László and Ilona had no experience as restaurateurs, the business thrived with the help of Ilona’s mother, Margit, who was a talented cook. Joseph and Stephen, who harboured dreams of moving to America, successfully campaigned to rename the restaurant “Manhattan”. They served mainly Hungarian cuisine to fellow ex-patriots and migrants from elsewhere in Europe.
Shortly after Margit’s death in 1963, Joseph was killed in a car accident on 11 December 1963. Following their deaths, the family never reopened their restaurant.
In 1972, after a lengthy legal process, László, Ilona and Stephen received reparations from the Federal Republic of Germany.
Laszlo passed away in 1986. Stephen passed away in 2004. Ilona outlived both of her sons, passing away in 2010.
According to László's granddaughter, Ester Sarkadi-Clarke, this blanket belonged to László during his internment at various forced labour camps between 1939 and 1945.
In 1944, László's was conscripted into the Jewish Labour Service and worked as a locksmith in Csepel, Hungary. He was then transferred to a labour camp in Domsod where he was crammed into an overcrowded truck and deported to the Carpathian Mountains.
Whilst being forcibly marched to Auschwitz in 1944, László escaped with three other Jewish men. They were captured shortly after by Hungarian army guards and were punished by being hung from a tree by their arms. László and the men escaped a second time and with the help of a Russian Jewish officer, László travelled back to Budapest and was reunited with his wife, Ilona and their children.
Part of a collection of items donated by Ester Sarkadi-Clarke, granddaughter of Holocaust survivors Ilona Sarkadi (nee Reisz) and László Sarkadi (formerly Spitzer).
László was born on 30 November 1907 to Joszef and Etelka (Etel) Spitzer (nee. Weiss) in Kunszentmiklós, Hungary. Ilona was born in the same village on 30 March 1916 to Ignacz and Margit Reisz.
Ilona and László were married in Kunszentmiklós on 18 March 1934. They had three children; Joseph (b.1934), Stephen (b. 1938) and Emily (b.1947).
In 1939, László was drafted into forced labour and worked on series of projects related to heavy construction, earthworks and anti-tank installations for the duration of the war.
After they were crammed into a multi-storied “Jewish House” in early 1944, Ilona and her two young sons fled Kunszentmiklós and survived the war in hiding, in and around Budapest.
After the liberation of Hungary by the Russian forces in 1945, Ilona, her parents, and her sons returned to Budapest where they reunited with László who had escaped from the Jewish Labour Service.
In their search for living family members, László discovered that his sisters Ilonka, and Margit, and their children had been murdered at Auschwitz. László’s brother, Jenö, and his father, Joszef, were also murdered at Auschwitz. Ilona’s brothers Feri, and Emil, had died as forced labourers. Ilona’s Uncle Josef Herceg was also murdered. László’s sister Margit and her husband Miklos both survived.
The Sarkadi family rebuilt their lives in Budapest and Ilona gave birth to their daughter, Emily, in 1947. The family were eventually persecuted by the Communist government, having their property in Budapest and Kunszentmiklos confiscated.
In December 1956 Joseph and Stephen fled, having been involved in student demonstrations associated with the Hungarian Revolution. After moving around Europe, they made their way to Melbourne.
In 1957, Laszlo, Ilona and Margit obtained passports from a government minister in exchange for allowing him to move into their apartment. Early in 1958 they travelled to Vienna, then to Trieste, Italy, where they boarded the ‘Toscana’ ship to Australia.
Settling in Melbourne, they purchased the Wachtel Restaurant at 319 Barkly Street, Elwood. Though László and Ilona had no experience as restaurateurs, the business thrived with the help of Ilona’s mother, Margit, who was a talented cook. Joseph and Stephen, who harboured dreams of moving to America, successfully campaigned to rename the restaurant “Manhattan”. They served mainly Hungarian cuisine to fellow ex-patriots and migrants from elsewhere in Europe.
Shortly after Margit’s death in 1963, Joseph was killed in a car accident on 11 December 1963. Following their deaths, the family never reopened their restaurant.
In 1972, after a lengthy legal process, László, Ilona and Stephen received reparations from the Federal Republic of Germany.
Laszlo passed away in 1986. Stephen passed away in 2004. Ilona outlived both of her sons, passing away in 2010.
Production placeunknown
Production date 1940 - 1940
Subjectforced labour camps, forced labour, survival
Object nameblankets
Materialfibres (fabrics)
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Ester Sarkadi-Clarke
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.