Object numberM1993/020:002
DescriptionHandwritten letter in Hungarian from Bela Reisz in Rumanian Block-Lager, Dachau, Germany, to his brother Szruli in Palestine, dated 30 January 1945. Extract: "I survived. I am here ... I can only state and tell you, that it was a miracle that I survived, this terrible annihilation, you surely are aware about these sad events and the circumstances. Together with my fellow survivor friends we peacefully and orderly are anxious to be repatriated home. But to whom will we return? Not one of us knows. All of us dread the unexpected!"
Production date 1945-06-30
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 297.00 mm
height: 210.00 mm
Language
- Hungarian M1993.020.002
Letter from Dachau dated 30 January 1945
Written by Bela Reisz to his brother Szuli in Palestine
My dear (young) brother Szuli
I cannot remember the time, maybe years have passed, since we have written to each other. I have been through countless events since then.
I survived, I am here.
All is sad around me, a constant heartache. Szuli, I will write to you about all in the near future and will report in detail. This is an unusual opportunity given to me, to be able get in touch with you by writing this letter, to let you know that I am well.
It was arranged here, to form a group of young boys for a transport to emigrate to Palestine. They will be leaving shortly. This gave me the opportunity to send this letter to you. I am waiting and waiting to be allowed to be returned home and to be myself again, to be free and to be able to write to you, to use my old address once again.
You will probably realise where I am writing to you from: “The famous Dachau Concentration camp.”
They brought us here only two weeks ago, the Rumanian Jews together with the ones from Erdely. We hope and are awaiting now to be sent home from here shortly.
I left home in April last year. At the time I was enlisted to serve as a forced labourer I lived through countless different situations in Hungary as well, mainly throughout September and October. Finally we were moved to Germany, there I landed in a concentration camp. I will report and write separately about that particular time. I can only state and tell you, that it was a miracle that I survived, this terrible annihilation, you surely are aware about these sad events and the circumstances.
Together with my fellow survivor friends we peacefully and orderly, are anxious to be repatriated home. But to whom will we return? Not one of us knows. All of us dread the unexpected! From Emile (?) I heard in April. He was last heard of, having been in a Galician war zone, in a military hospital in August. No news since then. Contact could not be established, in any case. Nothing, nothing I heard nor know for more than a year about my beloved ones who lived in Varad. Everyone who lived there was deported. It will take time, maybe life in Varad will be restored again? Maybe?... The minute I had the opportunity I was ready to give you a sign of my life, however short. I hope that you can relax, now, that you know of my survival.
I am happy dear Szuli, that you were saved from all these events and that you survived under humane conditions. I got to know and received news that you have married. Together with our dear mother we could have been very happy. I would love to know about your wife, but I am convinced that you have found the right (soul mate) partner for the rest of your life.
For the time being, write to me to this place as there is no postal service outside the camp yet.
With many many best regards,
REISS BELA
DACHAU
RUMANIAN BLOCK 54 LAGER
GERMANY
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Ms. Ecaterina Varga