Object numberM2007/007:005
Creator Mr. Joseph Hersch Wiesner
DescriptionPostcard to Gisela Wiesner in Yugoslavia, from her father in Brussels, dated 24 May 1941. The postcard has been passed by the censor and is also stamped with 'Fulfil your duty. Support the Winter Relief' in Flemish and French. He writes that he receives post from her mother every week. He also received mail from her grandmother who is doing fine but worries about the children. He sends her the address of her Uncle in Palestine and Otto in America.
Gisela Wiesner was born on 19 April 1924, in Kiel, Germany to Josef Hersch Wiesner and Zirel nee Heller. At the beginning of 1939, the large family all lived in a ‘Judenhaus’ in Kiel, including Gisela’s elder sisters Charlotte and Regina (Ruth), younger twins Frieda and Leopold, and toddler Selma. Within months the family was separated. Leopold and Frieda escaped on a Kindertransport to England. In July, Charlotte escaped to eastern Europe and later attempted to immigrate to Palestine, while Josef fled to Belgium to attain US visas for his family. In September, the rest of the family remaining in Kiel were deported to Leipzig. Zirel, Gisela and Selma were confined to a collection camp there, while Ruth was hospitalised for mental illness.
In September 1940, Ruth was deported to Brandenburg Euthanasia Centre and murdered on arrival. Shortly after in November, Charlotte was killed on board the SS Patria, which suffered an explosion and sank while trying to divert Jewish immigrants from Palestine. Gisela did not learn of their fates until after the war. In 1941, she managed to escape the Leipzig collection camp and, with the help of a Zionist organisation, fled via Zagreb to Italy and later Switzerland.
This card is part of a collection of postcards which were sent regularly to Gisela from Joseph and 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.
Gisela Wiesner was born on 19 April 1924, in Kiel, Germany to Josef Hersch Wiesner and Zirel nee Heller. At the beginning of 1939, the large family all lived in a ‘Judenhaus’ in Kiel, including Gisela’s elder sisters Charlotte and Regina (Ruth), younger twins Frieda and Leopold, and toddler Selma. Within months the family was separated. Leopold and Frieda escaped on a Kindertransport to England. In July, Charlotte escaped to eastern Europe and later attempted to immigrate to Palestine, while Josef fled to Belgium to attain US visas for his family. In September, the rest of the family remaining in Kiel were deported to Leipzig. Zirel, Gisela and Selma were confined to a collection camp there, while Ruth was hospitalised for mental illness.
In September 1940, Ruth was deported to Brandenburg Euthanasia Centre and murdered on arrival. Shortly after in November, Charlotte was killed on board the SS Patria, which suffered an explosion and sank while trying to divert Jewish immigrants from Palestine. Gisela did not learn of their fates until after the war. In 1941, she managed to escape the Leipzig collection camp and, with the help of a Zionist organisation, fled via Zagreb to Italy and later Switzerland.
This card is part of a collection of postcards which were sent regularly to Gisela from Joseph and 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 placeBelgium
Production date 1941-05-24
Subjectsigns of life, genealogy
Object namepostcards
Dimensions
Language
- German Sender J.H Wiesner,
To Gisela Wiesner, Grad Turu (?) Leskovespri, Yougoslavia, German censored.
Brussels, 24/03/1941
(From Leo and Friedel 124 Kingsbury Road W9)
My dear child Gisela,
With thanks got your letter of 12th this month as well as the one before and I am already writing the third card and I am surprised that you don’t get them also. In the one before I advise that I am keeping well and got mail from Mutti every week. Don’t worry too much, all will be well and again I am writing the address of Otto Staug Farmingdale, West Farms, New Jersey Rd 1 America and from Uncle David, Herzlia street 1, apart from that nothing important, so very deep regards 1000 kisses from your father who was hoping to enjoy meeting you all even heard from grandma I got mail she is in good health, only she is thinking about the children. Regards from Uncle Mendel and again good wishes and kisses, only not too worry, Father.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mr Fritz Adler