Object numberM2011/028:015
DescriptionRed Cross message dated 30 June 1941 sent by Theodor Gruschka in Palestine to his wife Helene Gruschka in Prague. In the message Theodor writes that ‘all of us are well’. He regularly hears news from their son John in England who is doing excellently at school and is in good health. A reply dated 13 0ctober 1941 is handwritten on the back of the letter. Helene states that: ‘friends probably to Uncle Glatter, not me so far.’ 'Uncle Glatter' is here used as code for 'Poland' (where 'uncle Glatter' lived). Red Cross messages were censored and meant for 'family news only.'
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 placePalestine, Prague, Czech Republic
Production date 1941-06-30 - 1941-10-13
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