Object numberM1992/031:005
DescriptionPostcard to Greta Albera (née Pollak) from her mother Erna Pollak in Vienna, dated 5 May 1939 and written in German. In the postcard, Erna thanks her daughter for a recent portrait she has sent and passes on greetings from her Grandmother (Grossmama) and Grandfather (Grossmutti).
Greta Mirjam Albera (née Pollak), was born in Linz, Austria on 9 September 1920. She was the only child of Erna Pollak, born on 15 March 1895, and Isidor Pollak, born on 18 December 1879. Greta successfully emigrated to the United Kingdom in January 1939 where she worked as a governess, a home helper, and later as a nurse until the war ended. During her time in England, she was able to communicate with her parents who remained in Vienna. This contact was made possible through family friends living in Switzerland, who would pass on the messages and later through the Red Cross letter system. Greta's parents Isidor and Erna were transported to the Theresienstadt Ghetto in Terezin, Czechoslovakia on 9 October 1942. Both were murdered there, Erna on 9 May 1944 and Isidor on 16 May 1944. While living in England, Greta married Bedrich Albera, before emigrating to Israel, and later settling in Australian in 1954. She was the only member of her family to survive.
This letter is part of a collection of personal correspondence donated by Greta Mirjam Albera (née Pollak). The correspondence was sent during 1939 - 1942, between Greta and various members of her family.
Greta Mirjam Albera (née Pollak), was born in Linz, Austria on 9 September 1920. She was the only child of Erna Pollak, born on 15 March 1895, and Isidor Pollak, born on 18 December 1879. Greta successfully emigrated to the United Kingdom in January 1939 where she worked as a governess, a home helper, and later as a nurse until the war ended. During her time in England, she was able to communicate with her parents who remained in Vienna. This contact was made possible through family friends living in Switzerland, who would pass on the messages and later through the Red Cross letter system. Greta's parents Isidor and Erna were transported to the Theresienstadt Ghetto in Terezin, Czechoslovakia on 9 October 1942. Both were murdered there, Erna on 9 May 1944 and Isidor on 16 May 1944. While living in England, Greta married Bedrich Albera, before emigrating to Israel, and later settling in Australian in 1954. She was the only member of her family to survive.
This letter is part of a collection of personal correspondence donated by Greta Mirjam Albera (née Pollak). The correspondence was sent during 1939 - 1942, between Greta and various members of her family.
Production placeVienna, Austria
Production date 1939-05-05
Subjectkeeping in touch, signs of life, children
Object namepostcards
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 148.00 mm
height: 105.00 mm
Language
- German Vienna, Friday, 5th of May [1939]
My heartiest beloved child,
Your photo that arrived today brought us tremendous blissful joy. It is very good and I will enlarge it at Kilophat studio. Grandma ["Grossmama"] and Grandma ["Grossmutti"] were also glad; the latter said you became a "beauty". You shall stay healthy my darling and have much fortune, that's what I pray for! Father and I will also go to a photographer to get photographs of us; me in my good clothes and father looks better and has his old, nice head of hair. Today was the "Lieben I. Teil" (first part of "Lieben"?). Tomorrow she won't be here, she'll probably return on Sunday, Monday and possibly Tuesday. She'll get a very posh set of beach clothes, consisting of three pieces, as the fabric was big enough. A long, coat shaped like a bell, a low-necked "Leibchen" [vest] and a pleated skirt combined with a light blue fabric, that I saw in Graben Street. The skirt looks better than trousers, when you are stout. I hope you will be glad and satisfied. I like it a lot! Just imagine! I would like to act as a model; otherwise she won't be able to work. But don't be frightened, it will fit, otherwise you can change the seams. Father is washing "la vaiselle" [the dishes] and thinking a lot about you and I will be rushing to the post office so the postcard will leave soon.
I hug you my darling, your mother
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mrs Greta Albera