Wartime Contract for Dr Franz Buchbinder
Object numberM2010/128:001
TitleWartime Contract for Dr Franz Buchbinder
DescriptionTyped contract between the South-West China Relief Organization of the British Relief Fund of Hong Kong and Doctor Franz Buchbinder. It was signed in Hong Kong on 1 July 1939. The contract states that Buchbinder will serve as Surgeon-Assistant in return for lodging and pocket money.
Dr. Franz Buchbinder fled in 1939 To China and was able to obtain work at a mission hospital run by the South-West China Relief Organization based in Hong Kong. He worked for board and lodging for no salary. He then came to Shanghai and then Australia in the 1940s.
Collection of correspondence between Helene and Josef Buchbinder, Vienna and Mr and Mrs Hans Sonnenschein, New York.
Josef and Helene Buchbinder married in 1912 and had two children; Franz Joachim (b. 1914) and Liselotte (Lisel) (b.1923). They lived in Vienna. In 1939, the family separated, with the Buchbinder children escaping overseas after increased antisemitic measures whilst the parents stayed behind. Franz fled to China, obtaining work at a mission hospital run by the South-West China Relief Organisation in Hong Kong. During this time Franz worked for board and lodging only, receiving no additional salary. Letters sent by his mother, Helene, display her concern for his mental welfare and attempts were made to gain passage to America. This was ultimately unsuccessful. According to family, Lisel travelled to England through the Kindertransport scheme in May 1939. Lisel began a hairdressing and salon apprenticeship as well as volunteering for the Women's Land Army in 1943.
During the separation, Helene writes of her family and loneliness to the Sonnenschein family; "We had a change as Lieserl is away and she's in England. We're already four weeks alone and very lonely. Friends and relatives are becoming as well less and less, so that we feel very lonely. Lies wrote that she's well; hopefully it's true and continues..." (3 July 1939). In her letters to her children, she repeatedly states she is not happy with their lack of details regarding their new lives. In a letter to Franz she states; "... I can't help myself, I am not happy with your letters. You are not writing in detail." (24 July 1939)
Throughout her correspondence with the Sonnenschein's, she asks for favours relating to forwarding letters to her daughter in England or advocating on behalf of Franzi for an American visa. All attempts for visas fail for Franzi.
Throughout the period of 1939-1942, Helene and Josef are housebound due to Josef's increasingly failing health. Helene writes reassuringly to both her children stating their father's condition was improving slightly with rest and new injections. She writes to Lisel; "You don't have to worry about us. After all, all of us are in God's hands. You are surrounded by good friends, follow their advice and what is the main thing, look after yourself..." (29 August 1939). In her letters to the Sonnenschein family, she is less reserved in her worry and health specifics; "My husband has got again very high blood pressures above 200 so that his puffing very much from dizziness." (3 July 1939) Josef would pass away on 22 February 1942.
On 29 May 1942, Helene wrote a postcard to her brother-in-law, Dr Rudolf Buchbinder (b.1872). She writes of her intention to move to be with her sisters and asks her family to send her love to her children. Three days later (2 June 1942), Helene was deported on Transport No.24 from Vienna to Blagovshchina Forest Area (near Maly Trostenets), Belorussia. By 9 June, all individuals who had not been selected for forced labour were murdered.
Immediately after the war, the Buchbinder siblings continued living and working in England and Shanghai until the late 1940s. Franz continued to work as a doctor, marrying Ruth and immigrating to Australia in January 1949. He continued to practice medicine and passed away on 12 August 2007. Lisel immigrated to Australia at the end of the 1940s and married Rabbi Rudolph Brasch in 1952. She passed away aged 91 in 2015.
Lisel and her brother would continue to inquire about their parents' final years, writing to acquaintances overseas and eventually formally requesting information internationally in 1990.
Dr. Franz Buchbinder fled in 1939 To China and was able to obtain work at a mission hospital run by the South-West China Relief Organization based in Hong Kong. He worked for board and lodging for no salary. He then came to Shanghai and then Australia in the 1940s.
Collection of correspondence between Helene and Josef Buchbinder, Vienna and Mr and Mrs Hans Sonnenschein, New York.
Josef and Helene Buchbinder married in 1912 and had two children; Franz Joachim (b. 1914) and Liselotte (Lisel) (b.1923). They lived in Vienna. In 1939, the family separated, with the Buchbinder children escaping overseas after increased antisemitic measures whilst the parents stayed behind. Franz fled to China, obtaining work at a mission hospital run by the South-West China Relief Organisation in Hong Kong. During this time Franz worked for board and lodging only, receiving no additional salary. Letters sent by his mother, Helene, display her concern for his mental welfare and attempts were made to gain passage to America. This was ultimately unsuccessful. According to family, Lisel travelled to England through the Kindertransport scheme in May 1939. Lisel began a hairdressing and salon apprenticeship as well as volunteering for the Women's Land Army in 1943.
During the separation, Helene writes of her family and loneliness to the Sonnenschein family; "We had a change as Lieserl is away and she's in England. We're already four weeks alone and very lonely. Friends and relatives are becoming as well less and less, so that we feel very lonely. Lies wrote that she's well; hopefully it's true and continues..." (3 July 1939). In her letters to her children, she repeatedly states she is not happy with their lack of details regarding their new lives. In a letter to Franz she states; "... I can't help myself, I am not happy with your letters. You are not writing in detail." (24 July 1939)
Throughout her correspondence with the Sonnenschein's, she asks for favours relating to forwarding letters to her daughter in England or advocating on behalf of Franzi for an American visa. All attempts for visas fail for Franzi.
Throughout the period of 1939-1942, Helene and Josef are housebound due to Josef's increasingly failing health. Helene writes reassuringly to both her children stating their father's condition was improving slightly with rest and new injections. She writes to Lisel; "You don't have to worry about us. After all, all of us are in God's hands. You are surrounded by good friends, follow their advice and what is the main thing, look after yourself..." (29 August 1939). In her letters to the Sonnenschein family, she is less reserved in her worry and health specifics; "My husband has got again very high blood pressures above 200 so that his puffing very much from dizziness." (3 July 1939) Josef would pass away on 22 February 1942.
On 29 May 1942, Helene wrote a postcard to her brother-in-law, Dr Rudolf Buchbinder (b.1872). She writes of her intention to move to be with her sisters and asks her family to send her love to her children. Three days later (2 June 1942), Helene was deported on Transport No.24 from Vienna to Blagovshchina Forest Area (near Maly Trostenets), Belorussia. By 9 June, all individuals who had not been selected for forced labour were murdered.
Immediately after the war, the Buchbinder siblings continued living and working in England and Shanghai until the late 1940s. Franz continued to work as a doctor, marrying Ruth and immigrating to Australia in January 1949. He continued to practice medicine and passed away on 12 August 2007. Lisel immigrated to Australia at the end of the 1940s and married Rabbi Rudolph Brasch in 1952. She passed away aged 91 in 2015.
Lisel and her brother would continue to inquire about their parents' final years, writing to acquaintances overseas and eventually formally requesting information internationally in 1990.
Production placeHong Kong
Production date 1939-07-01
Subjectrefugees, doctors, migrants, escape pre-war, surgeons
Object namecontracts
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 217.00 mm
height: 275.00 mm
Language
- English
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Ruth Buchbinder