Pages from two passports issued to Gusta Snyde
ObjektnummerM2021/021:006
TitelPages from two passports issued to Gusta Snyde
BeskrivelseM2021/021:006a Partial page from a passport issued to Gusta Snyde (nee Teiber) which expired on 9 July 1947. This page features a photograph of Gusta, taken two years after she was liberated from Lichtewerden in May 1945. Between 1945 and 1949, Gusta aided with caring for, and transporting 100 Jewish orphans to safety. Gusta assisted with transporting these children from Poland to Czechoslovakia, and eventually to France. This passport was likely used during this time.
M2021/021:006b Pages from passport no. K172676 issued to Gusta Snyde (nee Teiber) at Brisbane on 19 January 1976.
Gusta Snyde (nee Teiber) was born in Tarnopol, Poland on 24 December 1915 to Simon (Shimon) and Anna (nee Eeling) Teiber. Gusta had three siblings; Sabena (Sabinka) born in 1927, Yanka born in 1913, and Reuben (Romek) born in 1921. Though Gusta had aspired to become a surgeon, anti-Jewish laws prevented her from studying medicine. Instead, she studied nursing at a private Jewish Hospital in Krakow, Poland. In 1939, she began to work at the hospital and became an Operating Room Sister. Whilst working, she recalled watching the walls be built for Krakow Ghetto.
Gusta was forced into Krakow Ghetto c. 1941 where she continued to work as a nurse at the ghetto hospital. In 1943, she was forced to march to Plaszow concentration camp, leaving all sick patients behind at the ghetto hospital. At Plaszow, Gusta used her skills as a nurse to help as many interns as possible. She regularly treated interns who were randomly attacked by commandant Amon Göth. When travelling to another camp to operate, Gusta risked her life to carry small notes from other interns to give to their loved ones.
In 1944, Gusta was forced onto an overcrowded truck for four days of travel in which many died of starvation and suffocation – she arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Upon arriving, Gusta recalled that she was beaten, stripped and forced to stand for 48 hours without food or water for Josef Mengele to decide who would live and who would die. She recalled, “He was playing God”.
When Gusta was spared, her hair was unevenly cut and she was issued ill-fitting clothing and wooden clogs. She was tattooed with the number “A27538” and was forced to take part in a medical experiment in which an unknown substance was injected into her upper arm. Whilst at the camp, Gusta believed that the sun had disappeared due to the consistent smoke in the sky. Gusta stated in an interview in 1996, “When I wake up now every morning and I can see the sun, I am the happiest person in the world”.
At Auschwitz-Birkenau, Gusta joined an all-female Underground resistance group. With this group, she assisted with blowing up a gas chamber by collecting gunpowder underneath her fingernails. In November 1944, Gusta was sent to participate in forced labour at a thread factory in Lichtewerden. She was liberated there on 6 May 1945 by the Soviets.
Gusta walked back to Krakow to discover that her entire family had been murdered during the Holocaust. Despite hearing that her youngest sister had escaped, she was unable to find her. Gusta spent the next four years rehabilitating and caring for 100 Jewish orphans. She aided with establishing a home for them in Rabka. Following a string of violent acts towards the orphanage by Polish fascists, Gusta used a food truck to sneak the children to Zakopane. Eventually the children moved to a house in Paris. The children were finally transported to the State of Israel in 1949. She remained in contact with some of the children and staff of the orphanage throughout her life.
Gusta chose to travel with a close friend to Australia, arriving in Melbourne in May 1949. She met William (Bill) Francis Snyde (formerly Ladislaus Franza Schneid) who had served in the Polish Forces in Great Britain during World War II. Gusta and William were married on 27 November 1953. Following the death of her husband on 20 August 1996, Gusta was cared for by Marie Young who documented her day-to-day life and recollections of the Holocaust. Gusta Snyde passed away on 11 April 2006.
M2021/021:006b Pages from passport no. K172676 issued to Gusta Snyde (nee Teiber) at Brisbane on 19 January 1976.
Gusta Snyde (nee Teiber) was born in Tarnopol, Poland on 24 December 1915 to Simon (Shimon) and Anna (nee Eeling) Teiber. Gusta had three siblings; Sabena (Sabinka) born in 1927, Yanka born in 1913, and Reuben (Romek) born in 1921. Though Gusta had aspired to become a surgeon, anti-Jewish laws prevented her from studying medicine. Instead, she studied nursing at a private Jewish Hospital in Krakow, Poland. In 1939, she began to work at the hospital and became an Operating Room Sister. Whilst working, she recalled watching the walls be built for Krakow Ghetto.
Gusta was forced into Krakow Ghetto c. 1941 where she continued to work as a nurse at the ghetto hospital. In 1943, she was forced to march to Plaszow concentration camp, leaving all sick patients behind at the ghetto hospital. At Plaszow, Gusta used her skills as a nurse to help as many interns as possible. She regularly treated interns who were randomly attacked by commandant Amon Göth. When travelling to another camp to operate, Gusta risked her life to carry small notes from other interns to give to their loved ones.
In 1944, Gusta was forced onto an overcrowded truck for four days of travel in which many died of starvation and suffocation – she arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Upon arriving, Gusta recalled that she was beaten, stripped and forced to stand for 48 hours without food or water for Josef Mengele to decide who would live and who would die. She recalled, “He was playing God”.
When Gusta was spared, her hair was unevenly cut and she was issued ill-fitting clothing and wooden clogs. She was tattooed with the number “A27538” and was forced to take part in a medical experiment in which an unknown substance was injected into her upper arm. Whilst at the camp, Gusta believed that the sun had disappeared due to the consistent smoke in the sky. Gusta stated in an interview in 1996, “When I wake up now every morning and I can see the sun, I am the happiest person in the world”.
At Auschwitz-Birkenau, Gusta joined an all-female Underground resistance group. With this group, she assisted with blowing up a gas chamber by collecting gunpowder underneath her fingernails. In November 1944, Gusta was sent to participate in forced labour at a thread factory in Lichtewerden. She was liberated there on 6 May 1945 by the Soviets.
Gusta walked back to Krakow to discover that her entire family had been murdered during the Holocaust. Despite hearing that her youngest sister had escaped, she was unable to find her. Gusta spent the next four years rehabilitating and caring for 100 Jewish orphans. She aided with establishing a home for them in Rabka. Following a string of violent acts towards the orphanage by Polish fascists, Gusta used a food truck to sneak the children to Zakopane. Eventually the children moved to a house in Paris. The children were finally transported to the State of Israel in 1949. She remained in contact with some of the children and staff of the orphanage throughout her life.
Gusta chose to travel with a close friend to Australia, arriving in Melbourne in May 1949. She met William (Bill) Francis Snyde (formerly Ladislaus Franza Schneid) who had served in the Polish Forces in Great Britain during World War II. Gusta and William were married on 27 November 1953. Following the death of her husband on 20 August 1996, Gusta was cared for by Marie Young who documented her day-to-day life and recollections of the Holocaust. Gusta Snyde passed away on 11 April 2006.
ProduktionsstedPoland, France, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Produktionsdato 1947-07-09 - 1976-01-19
Emneaid giving, post-liberation recovery, establishing new life, post-World War II, migrant experiences
Objektnavnpassports
Teknikstapled
Mål
- a width: 69.00 mm
a height: 83.00 mm
b width: 155.00 mm
b height: 91.00 mm
Sprog
- Polish
French M2021/021:006a Passport page contains statement on verso, "All Polish authorities are asked to provide help and name to the person in the passport".
English
French
KreditrammeSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Marie Young
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.