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[nb-NO]Object number[nb-NO]M2009/098:007
[nb-NO]Description[nb-NO]Telegram written in Polish by Felix Gryff during his incarceration in the Gulag to his wife Halina in Poland. Felix Gryff, a Polish Jew, was arrested in 1943 as a spy. He was tortured and forced to admit to political crimes that he had never committed. He was deported to a Kushmangor, a Russian Gulag, for forced labour, for 12 years, until his release in September 1955. His son Stefan was two years old at the time of his father’s arrest.
Felix immigrated to Australia in 1956. The telegrams are written in Polish and in Russian with Latin letters, for example, "I am leaving Brest. Wait for me at home. Feliks" and "I am travelling to you my dearest. Birthday I will celebrate with you and Stefan. I kiss you. Feliks".
Part of a collection of 31 letters dated 1955, 7 telegrams, 6 photographs and 1 letter from the US Escapee Program Division dated 1956. Written by Felix Gryff to his wife Halina Gryff and his son Stefan, from the Karaganda region of Kazakhstan which was a Republic of the Soviet Union, to No 6 University Street, apartment No 9 Warsaw, Poland. Some of the letters are responses back to him from his mother and his wife.
The collection was donated by Yola Schneider (nee Rawdin). Feliks Gryff was her mother’s brother, a Polish Jew arrested as a spy in 1943 and deported to the Russian Gulag for 12 years. Many of the letters contain pressed flowers. Incomplete accession. Needs translation - Polish to English.
Felix immigrated to Australia in 1956. The telegrams are written in Polish and in Russian with Latin letters, for example, "I am leaving Brest. Wait for me at home. Feliks" and "I am travelling to you my dearest. Birthday I will celebrate with you and Stefan. I kiss you. Feliks".
Part of a collection of 31 letters dated 1955, 7 telegrams, 6 photographs and 1 letter from the US Escapee Program Division dated 1956. Written by Felix Gryff to his wife Halina Gryff and his son Stefan, from the Karaganda region of Kazakhstan which was a Republic of the Soviet Union, to No 6 University Street, apartment No 9 Warsaw, Poland. Some of the letters are responses back to him from his mother and his wife.
The collection was donated by Yola Schneider (nee Rawdin). Feliks Gryff was her mother’s brother, a Polish Jew arrested as a spy in 1943 and deported to the Russian Gulag for 12 years. Many of the letters contain pressed flowers. Incomplete accession. Needs translation - Polish to English.
[nb-NO]Date[nb-NO] 1955
[nb-NO]Subject[nb-NO]gulag, communism, forced labour, loved ones' contact
[nb-NO]Object name[nb-NO]telegrams
[nb-NO]Dimensions[nb-NO]
- height: 150.00 mm
width: 205.00 mm
[nb-NO]Language[nb-NO]
- Russian Telegram I written in Polish and sent from Brest USSR
“I am leaving Brest. Wait for me at home. Feliks”
Telegram II written in Russian with Latin letters and sent from Rybnoe USSR
“I am traveling Brest-Terespol. I kiss you & Stefan strongly. Feliks”
Telegram III written in Russian with Latin letters and sent from Tcheliabinsk USSR
“Have a wonderful trip home my beloved Stefan – hot kiss – Feliks”
Telegram IV written in Russian with Latin letters and sent from Potma Mordovskoi USSR
“My arrival will take approximately two months – be calm my dear – I kiss you strongly. Feliks Stefan”
Telegram V written in Russian with Latin letters and sent from Minsk USSR
“I am leaving Minsk today. Feliks”
Telegram VI written in Russian with Latin letters and sent from Karaganda USSR
“I am traveling to you my dearest. Birthday I will celebrate with you and Stefan. I kiss you. Feliks”
Telegram VII written in Russian with Latin letters and sent from Ruzaevka Mordovskaia USSR
“Have a wonderful return journey I sent you my dear and Stefan strong kisses. Felix”
[nb-NO]Credit line[nb-NO]Sydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mrs Yola Schneider