Group photograph in a forest in Sianki
Object numberM1993/013
TitleGroup photograph in a forest in Sianki
DescriptionPhotograph of a group of men and women in a forest in Sianki, south-eastern Poland, on the border with Ukraine, c1943/44. The men wear the uniform of a Hungarian forced labour brigade. The woman in the centre wears a Star of David armband on her right arm.
John Weiner was born 20 June 1926 in Szombathely, Hungary, to Vilmos and Ilona Weiner (nee Hacker). His brother Miklos, who was forced to join the munkaszolgálat (Hungarian forced labour) in March 1944, was never seen again. The family owned a seed mill and two shops. Due antisemitism his parents sent him to a Jewish secondary school in Debrecen. He was still at the school when the Nazis occupied Hungary. He was not permitted to finish his high school education. From 1 May 1944 they had to move into the ghetto. On 29 June 1944, Hungarian gendarmes started to interrogate Jews to discover where they had hidden their valuables. He and his parents were interrogated, thrown in the back of a wagon and taken to a disused car factory. Joining all the Jews from the ghetto and surrounding villages.
On 4 July 1944 they were ordered into cattle cars, and travelled for three days until arriving at Auschwitz. Never to set eyes on his mother again, he and his father were ‘selected’ to live. They were shaved, showered, disinfected and given prison attire. They remained in Auschwitz for one week, then transported to Buchenwald, and from there sent to Magdeburg to repair factories bombed by the Allies. They worked carrying 40-50 kilo bags of cement and bricks. Cement powder got into their shoes, clothes and wounds they acquired in the process. John’s toes and finger nails became infected. They learned that a transport was to take sick prisoners back to Buchenwald. John qualified and his father accompanied him.
A few days later on another selection, his father was taken away - murdered in Auschwitz. John was assigned work in the nearby forest, chopping and carting logs. He left Buchenwald in April 1945, with thousands of inmates, marched out in the face of approaching American forces. Many couldn’t keep up and were shot by SS guards. He tried to escape but was caught. The SS handed him and 12 other prisoners over to local SS policeman, Max Maurer, allegedly with the order to shoot them. Maurer took the prisoners to the property of Anna Gnadl, where a day later they were liberated by the American advancement. According to John Weiner, one of the 13, Maurer saved their lives. This was recognised in 1997, when Yad Vashem acknowledged his bravery with a Righteous among the Nations award.
In 1946 he returned to Szombathely. Due to the Soviet occupation of Hungary he was unable to reclaim the family home. He organised to be smuggled out to Austria. He was able to acquire a permit for Australia, arriving landing on 30 January 1950. He settled in Sydney, initially working in a factory sweeping floors. He joined an amateur theatre group and won a scholarship from the Academy of Dramatic Art. Later, he pursued a career as a professional photographer.
John Weiner was born 20 June 1926 in Szombathely, Hungary, to Vilmos and Ilona Weiner (nee Hacker). His brother Miklos, who was forced to join the munkaszolgálat (Hungarian forced labour) in March 1944, was never seen again. The family owned a seed mill and two shops. Due antisemitism his parents sent him to a Jewish secondary school in Debrecen. He was still at the school when the Nazis occupied Hungary. He was not permitted to finish his high school education. From 1 May 1944 they had to move into the ghetto. On 29 June 1944, Hungarian gendarmes started to interrogate Jews to discover where they had hidden their valuables. He and his parents were interrogated, thrown in the back of a wagon and taken to a disused car factory. Joining all the Jews from the ghetto and surrounding villages.
On 4 July 1944 they were ordered into cattle cars, and travelled for three days until arriving at Auschwitz. Never to set eyes on his mother again, he and his father were ‘selected’ to live. They were shaved, showered, disinfected and given prison attire. They remained in Auschwitz for one week, then transported to Buchenwald, and from there sent to Magdeburg to repair factories bombed by the Allies. They worked carrying 40-50 kilo bags of cement and bricks. Cement powder got into their shoes, clothes and wounds they acquired in the process. John’s toes and finger nails became infected. They learned that a transport was to take sick prisoners back to Buchenwald. John qualified and his father accompanied him.
A few days later on another selection, his father was taken away - murdered in Auschwitz. John was assigned work in the nearby forest, chopping and carting logs. He left Buchenwald in April 1945, with thousands of inmates, marched out in the face of approaching American forces. Many couldn’t keep up and were shot by SS guards. He tried to escape but was caught. The SS handed him and 12 other prisoners over to local SS policeman, Max Maurer, allegedly with the order to shoot them. Maurer took the prisoners to the property of Anna Gnadl, where a day later they were liberated by the American advancement. According to John Weiner, one of the 13, Maurer saved their lives. This was recognised in 1997, when Yad Vashem acknowledged his bravery with a Righteous among the Nations award.
In 1946 he returned to Szombathely. Due to the Soviet occupation of Hungary he was unable to reclaim the family home. He organised to be smuggled out to Austria. He was able to acquire a permit for Australia, arriving landing on 30 January 1950. He settled in Sydney, initially working in a factory sweeping floors. He joined an amateur theatre group and won a scholarship from the Academy of Dramatic Art. Later, he pursued a career as a professional photographer.
Production date 1943 - 1944
Object namephotographs
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mr. John Weiner