Object numberM2018/004:002
DescriptionLetter addressed to ‘My Dear Ones’, presumably the Gilden family in Australia, sent from Elazar in Krakow, 22 November, 1938. The correspondence conveys a personal experience of the expulsion of Polish Jewry from Germany in October 1938. The ordeal, explained in detail, covers the round up, journey and subsequent chaos of trying to cross into Poland: “You can imagine our very depressed mood about this sudden deportation...some were wandering about in desperation or were crying about their large fortunes that they had to leave behind at home; the whole thing was a mood of resignation, despair and silent anger”. The writer describes being marooned at the border for days in the rain and cold; shot at and chased “like cattle with little rubber truncheons”. At the end of the letter, Elazar relays information about family and laments the events of Kristallnacht in Germany.
The letter is part of a collection of correspondence donated to the Museum by Phillip Palmer. His mother, Miriam (Minni) Gilden, her parents Isaak Awigdor and Chana (Hanna) Gilden and her brother Louis, emigrated from Germany to Australia, arriving 16 December 1938. Minni, who was born 12 May 1923, was 16 at the time and her brother was 12. Most of the letters are dialogue between maternal family and friends, spanning 1937 through to the early years of WWII; however, there is one letter written to Madam Gilden (presumably Hanna Gilden) in 1947 pertaining to inquiries about her parent’s property in Poland.
Phillip’s parents, Minni and Fritz Palmbaum (who later became Fred Palmer), were married on 9 January 1944. Fred emigrated from Hildesheim in the North of Germany on 3 November 1938, via a sponsorship by NAJEX; he was 15 at the time. After a few years working with sheet metal at J. Goldstein & Co, he enlisted with the Australian Army in 1942 as a member of the 3rd Australian Employment Company.
The letter is part of a collection of correspondence donated to the Museum by Phillip Palmer. His mother, Miriam (Minni) Gilden, her parents Isaak Awigdor and Chana (Hanna) Gilden and her brother Louis, emigrated from Germany to Australia, arriving 16 December 1938. Minni, who was born 12 May 1923, was 16 at the time and her brother was 12. Most of the letters are dialogue between maternal family and friends, spanning 1937 through to the early years of WWII; however, there is one letter written to Madam Gilden (presumably Hanna Gilden) in 1947 pertaining to inquiries about her parent’s property in Poland.
Phillip’s parents, Minni and Fritz Palmbaum (who later became Fred Palmer), were married on 9 January 1944. Fred emigrated from Hildesheim in the North of Germany on 3 November 1938, via a sponsorship by NAJEX; he was 15 at the time. After a few years working with sheet metal at J. Goldstein & Co, he enlisted with the Australian Army in 1942 as a member of the 3rd Australian Employment Company.
Production date 1938-11-22 - 1938-11-22
Subjectfamilies, immigration, signs of life, WWII, expulsion, Kristallnacht (9-10 November 1938), persecution
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 210.00 mm
height: 298.00 mm
Language
- Hebrew My Dear Ones, Krakow, 22/11/1938
For the second time, I am picking up the pen to write to you. I actually lost the first one. I am now the second week in Krakow because nothing was happening in Dynów. They have got a Help Committee here where they serve food, supply as well soles for shoes, laundry etc. We have endured a lot with our adventure-full journey. On Thursday 27/10/1938 we were (14 Polish associates) brought to the prison at Halle where we were checked out for money (10- was allowed) and where full records where collected. There we spent a sleepless night. The whole following day we were travelling till evening, about 8½ hours, arriving in Hindenburg (border town Oberschlesien) where we were sitting around till 1.00. There were 120 people in the group from the Halle area: men, women children and infants. We had ½ hour to pack our things, but could not take a lot, partly because there was no time and partly it was too heavy. I have left behind the quilt, books some underwear, a pair of shoes etc. Most people were taken as they stood there and were not allowed to take anything (one 85-year old was taken in her house slippers, quite damp by now). You can imagine our very depressed mood about this sudden deportation. And so we were sitting in the hall; the children were put to sleep on suit cases and a blanket. We too were sitting on suit cases or crouching on the floor. Some were wandering about in desperation or were crying about their large fortunes that they had to leave behind at home; the whole thing was a mood of resignation, despair and silent anger. At 1 o’clock we were split up into two groups as many with luggage were hoarded on police wagons. We were passing dark search lights. Suddenly the car was made to veer to the right and nearly toppled with many yelling and shouting, but the police tried to calm us down and got off. In complete darkness we were in the middle of the fields. We dragged along ½ km stopping from time to time. The chief commandant advised us that there was a Polish border village over there. We were advised that we should register there and after crossing the border would arrive in the concentration camp. We were now crossing the “Green Border” and dragged along another ½ km. When the Polish border guard saw that many people he started shooting into the air. We thought that we too were being shot at and an awful panic followed. They were running in all directions, dropped to the ground till we realized that it was only warning shots. We were dragged along again for 1 km by the military, who had arrived by now (we were very tired by now…no sleep) with the town mayor. He let us be sent away again as we had crossed the border illegally. So they chased us back like cattle with rubber truncheons. We settled down at the border
(2)
as we of course were not allowed back and remained there in the rain and cold for the rest of the night and completely exhausted. At 6 in the morning a German police squad, who knew nothing about the whole incident, took us to Hindenburg. Half way there we came across another police squad who allowed us to be chased back. So it started we were chased back. When the Poles saw us arriving they closed the border with dogs, rifles and bayonets and started to fire warning shots. The Germans too shot into the air. We knew they could be shooting in earnest and implored them in tears to exercise mercy. Finally we were jostled together into 2m, surrounded by police from all sides. We stood there for 3 hours with shooting stopped for a long time. Then an officer told us that all those with a valid pass would be allowed across the border. After ½ hour we went up to Customs where our luggage was re-checked. The police stamped the passes. In the evening we travelled to Katowice where the Committee gave us some food. In the communal house, about 1.30 AM, they gave us travel tickets. Several hundred people were there. At 1.30 AM (it was the third sleepless night), completely exhausted, I lay down on the floor (lack of space) to sleep. The following day I travelled to Dynów. At the major railway stations they gave us food. I am now in Krakow and registered for a Certificate (1½ years) -Last sentence crossed out - I am staying with T.Ressel. Zvi, until now, has been in a training camp for young people in Blankenese. You have probably heard already about the disgraceful pogroms in Germany. The parents, Thank God, are alright. Jonni Tiger is at the border in a military camp (with a few thousand more). T. Er….? Thank God, with his 3 children is keeping well In Berlin. The parents are writing from Berlin that for they have barely left the apartment. In Berlin they have only arrested men (15 and above). Papa went into hiding. Have received the 10 Shillings with thanks. By the way this whole expulsion happened because the Poles wanted to make the Jews stateless abroad and Germany did not want to be landed with thousands of stateless. Apart from that, nothing new; best of luck in the new home! The relatives send regards! Shalom and Bracha, Eliezer (?) Luzer
German
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Phillip Palmer