Object numberM2011/028:001
DescriptionRed Cross message dated 20 May 1940, sent by John (Hans) Gruschka, in Manchester, England to his mother, Helene Gruschka in Prague. In the message John wishes his mother a happy birthday. Handwritten on the back of the letter is a reply dated 20 June 1940. Helene thanks John for his letter, she writes that it is ‘still impossible to get to father’, but that she is glad to hear from him that John’s studies are going well.
This correspondence forms part of a collection of nineteen Red Cross messages sent during 1940-1943 between John and his parents Theodor and Helene Gruschka. The Gruschka family came from the town of Aussig in Czechoslovakia, they were forced to separate during the war to escape the Nazi threat. In 1939 John was sent to Manchester in England. He stayed with distant relatives (the Meeks - formerly Mackaborsky), completed high school, then qualifying as an industrial chemist. Theodor was a Professor of medicine; he escaped to Palestine, joining John's sister. Helene remained in Prague to care for her sick mother. On 8 September 1942 she was transported to Terezin concentration camp. On 1 February 1943 she was sent in transport ‘Cu-618’ (‘death transport’) to Auschwitz where she was murdered, age 53.
This correspondence forms part of a collection of nineteen Red Cross messages sent during 1940-1943 between John and his parents Theodor and Helene Gruschka. The Gruschka family came from the town of Aussig in Czechoslovakia, they were forced to separate during the war to escape the Nazi threat. In 1939 John was sent to Manchester in England. He stayed with distant relatives (the Meeks - formerly Mackaborsky), completed high school, then qualifying as an industrial chemist. Theodor was a Professor of medicine; he escaped to Palestine, joining John's sister. Helene remained in Prague to care for her sick mother. On 8 September 1942 she was transported to Terezin concentration camp. On 1 February 1943 she was sent in transport ‘Cu-618’ (‘death transport’) to Auschwitz where she was murdered, age 53.
Production placeManchester, England, Prague, Czech Republic
Production date 1940-05-20 - 1940-06-20
Subjectloved ones' contact, signs of life
Object nameRed Cross message service
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 150.00 mm
height: 225.00 mm
Language
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mr John Gruschka