Object numberM1993/061
DescriptionChild's Identity card issued to Wolfgang Sorauer.
Wolfgang Sorauer was born 5 December 1929 in Beuthen, in southern Poland (also called Bytom).
The Child Identity Document (Kinderausweis) was issued by the Police in Upper Silesia on 12 July 1937, when he was eight years old. The reverse side features a portrait of the child, aged around eight.
The red letter ‘J’ (for Jew) was stamped on his ID card on 18 December 1939. Then when Wolfgang was evacuated (transported) from Brno, Czechoslovakia, to Terezin on 28 January 1942, the card was stamped with the word ‘Evakuiert’ - evacuated. He was 13-years-old at the time.
Jews were deported from across Europe to concentration and death camps, involving a massive bureaucratic apparatus both in Germany and the occupied territories. Appointed Judenräte (Jewish Councils) were forced to compile deportation lists and assist in what were disguised as ‘evacuations’, ‘resettlements’ or orders for ‘work deployment in the East’.
Wolfgang’s (known as Wally) mother died during the birth of his youngest sister in 1936. His father was not a well man at the time, so Wolfgang was sent to live with an aunt in Brno, Czechoslovakia. From Brno he was deported to Theresienstadt where he remained for the duration of the war. He worked for one of the German officers, and apparently did a good job grooming his horse and polishing the officer's boots, which earned him the officer's support; every time he was ‘selected’ for transport to Auschwitz, his officer had him pulled out and didn't let him go.
After liberation, he went to an orphanage in Prague. In 1947 he arrived in Australia, together with other war orphans, organised by the Australian Jewish Welfare Society, who allocated him to the Mann family who became his guardians.
He died in March 1984 in London. It is not known what happened to Wolfgang’s father or siblings, other than one sister, who left for Israel before the war.
Wolfgang Sorauer was born 5 December 1929 in Beuthen, in southern Poland (also called Bytom).
The Child Identity Document (Kinderausweis) was issued by the Police in Upper Silesia on 12 July 1937, when he was eight years old. The reverse side features a portrait of the child, aged around eight.
The red letter ‘J’ (for Jew) was stamped on his ID card on 18 December 1939. Then when Wolfgang was evacuated (transported) from Brno, Czechoslovakia, to Terezin on 28 January 1942, the card was stamped with the word ‘Evakuiert’ - evacuated. He was 13-years-old at the time.
Jews were deported from across Europe to concentration and death camps, involving a massive bureaucratic apparatus both in Germany and the occupied territories. Appointed Judenräte (Jewish Councils) were forced to compile deportation lists and assist in what were disguised as ‘evacuations’, ‘resettlements’ or orders for ‘work deployment in the East’.
Wolfgang’s (known as Wally) mother died during the birth of his youngest sister in 1936. His father was not a well man at the time, so Wolfgang was sent to live with an aunt in Brno, Czechoslovakia. From Brno he was deported to Theresienstadt where he remained for the duration of the war. He worked for one of the German officers, and apparently did a good job grooming his horse and polishing the officer's boots, which earned him the officer's support; every time he was ‘selected’ for transport to Auschwitz, his officer had him pulled out and didn't let him go.
After liberation, he went to an orphanage in Prague. In 1947 he arrived in Australia, together with other war orphans, organised by the Australian Jewish Welfare Society, who allocated him to the Mann family who became his guardians.
He died in March 1984 in London. It is not known what happened to Wolfgang’s father or siblings, other than one sister, who left for Israel before the war.
Production date 1937-07-12
Object nameidentity cards
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 105.00 mm
height: 147.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mr. Wolfgang Sorauer