Object numberM2007/020:019
DescriptionPostcard written to Gisela Wiesner in Ljubljana by her mother Zirel in Leipzig, dated 12 December 1941. She informs Gisela that she does not work as a receptionist anymore and is trying to find another job. She asks Gisela to write a letter to her father telling him to provide a document for her and to let him know he can pay for the journey. Then she can try to visit him, although she doesn't believe their efforts will be successful.
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 placeGermany
Production date 1941-12-12
Subjectseparation, human communication, signs of life
Object namepostcards
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- length: 105.00 mm
width: 150.00 mm
Language
- German Translation by Sigrid Summers, October 2013:
Postcard with reply card. Stamp: German. Place: Leipzig, City of Exhibitions
Leipzig, 12.12.41
My dear Gisela! Your dear card of 28.11 I received with thanks and I really enjoyed it very much. Letting you know that I already sent your things last week and I hope you will get them soon. Unfortunately I could not send you everything. I have finished with peeling potatoes and have to look for something else (?), Manu is very sweet, pretty and clever and very cute. The darling amongst all the children and the darling of Mrs Levi at the kindergarten. She is going to recite a poem for Chanukah. I am glad that you are, thank G-d, healthy and can tell you the same about us. Write to Dad to provide me with a document that he will vouch for me then I can organize from here and perhaps go there, but it is not certain. Be greeted and kissed 1000 times by your Mum and Manu.
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mr Fritz Adler