Object numberM2007/007:023
Creator Mr. Joseph Hersch Wiesner
DescriptionPostcard to Gisela Wiesner in Ljubljana, from her father in Brussels, dated 8 April 1942. He writes to wish Gisela a happy birthday and hopes that next year they will be able to celebrate together. He informs her that he is very bored but that one should not lose hope.
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. In January 1942, 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. In January 1942, 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 1942-04-08
Subjecthuman communication
Object namepostcards
Dimensions
Language
- German Brussels, 8 April 1942
My dear child Gisela!
I was rejoiced to have received your card from the 24th and firstly my dear child my whole-hearted congratulations for your birthday, our dear God should help us so that next one we will be celebrating in joy together. From Mutti I have not yet received any mail, me and Mendel are doing well and hoping to receive good news from you. I am very bored but what should one do, let's not lose hope. From Leo and Fridel I have not yet received any mail. Greetings and kisses from me your father, hopefully with luck we will see everyone in joy, greetings from Mendel
signature
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mr Fritz Adler