Номер объектаM2019/064:004
ОписаниеSchool certificate for Kurt Neubauer from the First German State Secondary School in Brünn, where Kurt was one of the few Jewish students to attend up until he was 17 years old. It certifies his completion of his primary studies in the 1920-21 school year and secondary studies in the 1926-27 school year. Based on the quality of his grades he was invited to attend a technical college. However, Kurt’s father died in 1926 leaving Kurt as the primary breadwinner of the family. Instead of pursuing higher studies as he originally wished, he went to the High Textile Industry School for one year and became a textile engineer. This certificate was issued in 1954 to replace the original which was lost when Kurt was deported to Theresienstadt.
Kurt was sent to Theresienstadt in January 1942. His mother Erna soon followed in March 1942. She died there from tuberculosis on 25 May 1944. Soon after, Kurt was sent by cattle train to Auschwitz. In October, he was transferred to the Meuselwitz concentration camp, where he worked in a factory cleaning ammunition using cleaning fluid that was poisonous. He also worked to diffuse unexploded bombs.
As Meuselwitz was a frequent target of Allied bombing, many of its buildings were ruined and eventually the camp was rendered unliveable. In April 1945, all the inmates were sent away. They were transported on a train for four days without food or drink before it was attacked by the Allied Air Force, who mistook it for a military transport. Of the 2500 people who were loaded on to the train, the mere 400 or so who survived the days of freezing starvation and bombing were forced to go on by foot. Kurt managed to escape while on this death march, near the Czech border. “We were on our way… and as we came closer to a bend in the road, we quickly disappeared into the heavy timber forest.” Kurt remained there for a few days and eventually managed to find a US tank brigade.
After the war, Kurt managed to find his sister who had survived Bergen-Belsen. He returned to Theresienstadt to retrieve some belongings then went to work in Prague. There he met Rose Kučer, who he married in February 1946. In December 1950, Kurt and Rose crossed the Czechoslovakian border illegally, successfully obtained a visa from the Australian Consul in Cologne, and departed from Marseille to Australia by ship. They arrived in Sydney on 24 January 1951.
Kurt was sent to Theresienstadt in January 1942. His mother Erna soon followed in March 1942. She died there from tuberculosis on 25 May 1944. Soon after, Kurt was sent by cattle train to Auschwitz. In October, he was transferred to the Meuselwitz concentration camp, where he worked in a factory cleaning ammunition using cleaning fluid that was poisonous. He also worked to diffuse unexploded bombs.
As Meuselwitz was a frequent target of Allied bombing, many of its buildings were ruined and eventually the camp was rendered unliveable. In April 1945, all the inmates were sent away. They were transported on a train for four days without food or drink before it was attacked by the Allied Air Force, who mistook it for a military transport. Of the 2500 people who were loaded on to the train, the mere 400 or so who survived the days of freezing starvation and bombing were forced to go on by foot. Kurt managed to escape while on this death march, near the Czech border. “We were on our way… and as we came closer to a bend in the road, we quickly disappeared into the heavy timber forest.” Kurt remained there for a few days and eventually managed to find a US tank brigade.
After the war, Kurt managed to find his sister who had survived Bergen-Belsen. He returned to Theresienstadt to retrieve some belongings then went to work in Prague. There he met Rose Kučer, who he married in February 1946. In December 1950, Kurt and Rose crossed the Czechoslovakian border illegally, successfully obtained a visa from the Australian Consul in Cologne, and departed from Marseille to Australia by ship. They arrived in Sydney on 24 January 1951.
Место изготовленияBrno, Czech Republic
Дата 1954-11-05 - 1954-11-05
Темаsurvivors, immigration
Наименованиеacademic certificates
Материалpaper
Размерность
- width: 210.00 mm
height: 295.00 mm
Язык
- German Partial translation:
First German State Secondary School in Brünn
Kurt Neubauer, who was born 22 January 1909 in Brünn in Moravia, of the Jewish religion, has completed his studies in the 1920-21 school year at the First German State Secondary School in Brünn. He finished his examinations in the 1926/27 school year. On the basis of this examination, he was invited to a technical college.
Signed by the chairman and director of the school.
This duplicate was issued at the request of the appointed in replacement for lost original
5 November 1954
Кредитная линияSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Kurt Neubauer