Object numberM2011/028:013
DescriptionRed Cross message dated 29 May 1941 sent by Theodor Gruschka in Palestine to his wife Helene Gruschka in Prague. In the message Theodor wishes Helene a happy birthday: ‘all our thoughts are with you.’ He and Ruth (their daughter) are well. A reply from Helene dated 18 November 1941 is handwritten on the back of the letter. Helene writes: that her brother, Erni is at ‘Uncle Glatter’s’ (this is probably code for ‘Poland’ where uncle Glatter lived). She writes that ‘Inka’s mother’ (code for herself, Inka was the nickname of her daughter) ‘probably soon’.
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 but they were forced to seperate during the war to escape the Nazi threat. In 1939 John was sent to Manchester in England. He stayed with distant relatives (the Meeks) and received an education, qualifying as an industrial chemist. Theodor was a Professor of medicine; he escaped to Palestine taking his daughter with him. Helene had to remain 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 died at the age of 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 but they were forced to seperate during the war to escape the Nazi threat. In 1939 John was sent to Manchester in England. He stayed with distant relatives (the Meeks) and received an education, qualifying as an industrial chemist. Theodor was a Professor of medicine; he escaped to Palestine taking his daughter with him. Helene had to remain 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 died at the age of 53.
Production placePrague, Czech Republic, Palestine
Production date 1941-05-29 - 1941-11-18
Subjectloved ones' contact, families, coded message
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