Object numberM2007/007:001
Creator Ms. Charlotte Wiesner
DescriptionPostcard written in tentative English from Charlotte (Lotti) Wiesner to her uncle, David Heller in Haifa, Palestine. She wrote it on board the SS Patria stationed in Haifa on 8 November 1940, “My dear Uncles, Aunts and Cousins! I hope you all to see very soon…”. Charlotte had escaped Germany in July 1939 and attempted to immigrate to Palestine, but she never made it. The Patria was diverted to Mauritius as the 1,770 Jewish refugees from Nazi occupied Europe did not possess entry permits for Palestine. Shortly after sending this postcard, on 25 November, 19-year-old Charlotte was killed on board the Patria, which suffered an explosion and sank while on route to Mauritius.
This postcard was kept by Charlotte’s sister Gisela. Before Charlotte left Germany, the sisters along with six other members of the Wiesner family had lived in a ‘Judenhaus’ in Kiel. In September 1939, Gisela, her mother and youngest sister Selma were deported to Leipzig and confined to a collection camp. In 1941, Gisela managed to escape the Leipzig collection camp and, with the help of a Zionist organisation, fled via Zagreb to Italy and later Switzerland. She did not learn of the fates of her family until after the war.
This card is part of a collection of correspondence treasured by Gisela, including a series of postcards which were sent to her from her father Joseph and mother Zirel during 1941 and 1942. They are filled with news of family, messages of love and advice, and document the last contact between a father, mother and their daughter. By the end of 1942, Gisela had no further signs of life from her parents. Zirel and Selma were deported to Riga where they were murdered. Joseph was deported from Belgium to Auschwitz. He survived Auschwitz and a death march to Neuengamme concentration camp in Germany, but died there of hunger and exhaustion on 11 May 1945, three days after the war had ended.
This postcard was kept by Charlotte’s sister Gisela. Before Charlotte left Germany, the sisters along with six other members of the Wiesner family had lived in a ‘Judenhaus’ in Kiel. In September 1939, Gisela, her mother and youngest sister Selma were deported to Leipzig and confined to a collection camp. In 1941, Gisela managed to escape the Leipzig collection camp and, with the help of a Zionist organisation, fled via Zagreb to Italy and later Switzerland. She did not learn of the fates of her family until after the war.
This card is part of a collection of correspondence treasured by Gisela, including a series of postcards which were sent to her from her father Joseph and mother Zirel during 1941 and 1942. They are filled with news of family, messages of love and advice, and document the last contact between a father, mother and their daughter. By the end of 1942, Gisela had no further signs of life from her parents. Zirel and Selma were deported to Riga where they were murdered. Joseph was deported from Belgium to Auschwitz. He survived Auschwitz and a death march to Neuengamme concentration camp in Germany, but died there of hunger and exhaustion on 11 May 1945, three days after the war had ended.
Production placeat sea
Production date 1940-11-08
Subjectimmigration, Zionism, shipwrecks, Patria, loved ones' final contacts
Object namepostcards
Materialpaper
Dimensions
Language
- English From: Ms. Lotti Wiesner
Haifa on board the “Patria”
To: Mister David Heller
Haifa
Hadar Hakarmid
Herzlia Street 1
8th Nov. 1940
My Dear Uncles, Aunts and Cousins!
I will shortly write to you that I am here, and I hope you all to see very soon. I am well and I hope you also. The best greetings and all goods wish for you. Your faithful niece Lotti. Greetings for aunt Frieda Uncle Karl and all children. Yours Lotti. My parents send you the best greeting. Shalom, L’Hitraot [goodbye in Hebrew] . Your niece Lotti.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mr Fritz Adler