Object numberM2012/005:006
DescriptionPostcard written by Leo Rosenbaum, born 28 May 1892, on the official stationery for Dachau concentration camp prisoners, to his wife Gertrud in Vienna, dated 1 January 1939. Leo writes about plans to depart and that overseas departure has been booked, mentions that he was questioned by the Gestapo, and enquires whether ‘Papa’ has any prospects to get away. “… I am healthy and have no more urgent longing than to be with you again."
This is the last communication from Leo as he was murdered in Dachau the following day, 2 January 1939, 47 years old.
This item is part of a collection of letters, documents and photographs belonging to Gertrud Rosenbaum, a Viennese Jew who escaped to England in July 1939. After the war she immigrated to Australia. Included in the collection are letters from her husband, Leo Rosenbaum, murdered in Dachau concentration camp; Red Cross messages of 25 words only to and from Gertrud in Cambridge to her mother Ida Deutsch, her sister Valerie (Vally) Darebnik, Rudi (her brother), and Quicki (unknown) in Vienna, spanning the years 1939 to 1943; and Red Cross communications between Leo Rosenbaum and his father Adolph in Vienna during Leo’s military service in WWI, including a photo of him in Egypt in front of a pyramid.
This is the last communication from Leo as he was murdered in Dachau the following day, 2 January 1939, 47 years old.
This item is part of a collection of letters, documents and photographs belonging to Gertrud Rosenbaum, a Viennese Jew who escaped to England in July 1939. After the war she immigrated to Australia. Included in the collection are letters from her husband, Leo Rosenbaum, murdered in Dachau concentration camp; Red Cross messages of 25 words only to and from Gertrud in Cambridge to her mother Ida Deutsch, her sister Valerie (Vally) Darebnik, Rudi (her brother), and Quicki (unknown) in Vienna, spanning the years 1939 to 1943; and Red Cross communications between Leo Rosenbaum and his father Adolph in Vienna during Leo’s military service in WWI, including a photo of him in Egypt in front of a pyramid.
Production placeDachau concentration camp
Production date 1939-01-01 - 1939-01-01
Object namepostcards
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- length: 105.00 mm
width: 150.00 mm
Language
- German 1.01.1939
"My dearest!
(I have) received your card of 28th of December. I am happy about your well-being as well as of your news that the overseas departure has been booked, though you have not mentioned the destination. In any case, I am happy that you got this far. Yesterday I was interviewed (?) (interrogated?) about your application and asked to send you military papers, which is a different story (which is a separate matter). How is Papa going? (What's with dad?) Is there any chance that he can leave? [or, differently translated as 'any prospects that he will get away?'] What's with all the others? I am healthy and have no more urgent desire/longing than to be with you again. I am kissing you and dear Papa. Dearly/heartfelt greetings to Vally, Rudl, Gustl, Schorschi, Grete."
[Konrad Kwiet translation, August 2014]
[Johannes Unger and John Gruschka complementary translations, September 2014]
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Patricia Bull