Object numberM1992/011:006
DescriptionPostcard with image of a woman holding long stemmed roses. It was given to Harry Fransman on the occasion of his 21st birthday by a Polish girl, Zosia Iberschitz (sp ?) who was working in the camp as a kitchen hand, "dishing out the cabbage soup. She used to give me the thicker soup from the bottom of the barrel." The postcard is inscribed Blechhammer, 16 September 1943 and reads: "Dear Harry, Many thanks for your thoughtfulness and I reciprocate my heartiest wishes for you. My best regards and kisses from my heart. Yours, Zosia."
Harry J Fransman was born in Rotterdam on 16 September 1922 to parents Paulina and Bernard. He was the youngest of five children (Bep, Bella, Jonas and Caroline). His father was a pastry chef and had a cake shop. In May 1940 when the Germans invaded the Netherlands, Harry was working at Magazijn Nederland-Kattenburg & Company – a large menswear store – where he was learning the menswear trade. On 14 May 1940, while in the department store, he survived the German bombing of Rotterdam and the Dutch surrender. Soon after the Germans occupied Holland, they instituted anti-Jewish measures: Jews were required to wear the yellow Star of David, a ‘J’ was printed on Jewish passports and Jews were not allowed into cinemas, theatres, cafes, dances or trains. In 1941 all Jewish firms were taken over by the German administrators.
On 19 June 1942, Harry was required to report to the police station together with other youths. The Green Police (Grüne Polizei – uniformed police force in Nazi Germany) supervised their transport to Ybenheer camp (work camp in the province of Friesland). From there he was sent to a number of camps and ultimately Blechhammer, a sub-camp of Auschwitz. In January 1945 the camp was evacuated and he was sent on the Death March. He later escaped from a train on 9 February 1945 near the town of Leipzig. In Leipzig he was issued a Free Worker’s Passport which allowed him freedom and employment. He was liberated by the Americans in April 1945 while working on a farm near Penig, Germany. He returned to Holland and after recuperating at Huize Zorgfliet Convalescent Home, near The Hague in Scheveningen, Harry joined the Dutch Army. After the war he learned that only his sister Bep and Caroline survived the war. In December 1948 he immigrated to Australia on the SS Volendam.
Harry J Fransman was born in Rotterdam on 16 September 1922 to parents Paulina and Bernard. He was the youngest of five children (Bep, Bella, Jonas and Caroline). His father was a pastry chef and had a cake shop. In May 1940 when the Germans invaded the Netherlands, Harry was working at Magazijn Nederland-Kattenburg & Company – a large menswear store – where he was learning the menswear trade. On 14 May 1940, while in the department store, he survived the German bombing of Rotterdam and the Dutch surrender. Soon after the Germans occupied Holland, they instituted anti-Jewish measures: Jews were required to wear the yellow Star of David, a ‘J’ was printed on Jewish passports and Jews were not allowed into cinemas, theatres, cafes, dances or trains. In 1941 all Jewish firms were taken over by the German administrators.
On 19 June 1942, Harry was required to report to the police station together with other youths. The Green Police (Grüne Polizei – uniformed police force in Nazi Germany) supervised their transport to Ybenheer camp (work camp in the province of Friesland). From there he was sent to a number of camps and ultimately Blechhammer, a sub-camp of Auschwitz. In January 1945 the camp was evacuated and he was sent on the Death March. He later escaped from a train on 9 February 1945 near the town of Leipzig. In Leipzig he was issued a Free Worker’s Passport which allowed him freedom and employment. He was liberated by the Americans in April 1945 while working on a farm near Penig, Germany. He returned to Holland and after recuperating at Huize Zorgfliet Convalescent Home, near The Hague in Scheveningen, Harry joined the Dutch Army. After the war he learned that only his sister Bep and Caroline survived the war. In December 1948 he immigrated to Australia on the SS Volendam.
Production date 1943-09-18
SubjectHolocaust, concentration camps, love, presents
Object namepostcards
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- whole width: 88.00 mm
whole height: 138.00 mm
Language
- German Dear Harry, Many thanks for your thoughtfulness and I recipricate my heartiest wishes for you. My best regards and kisses from my heart. Yours, Zosia
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Harry Fransman