Prisoner of war account by Istvan Berger
Номер объектаM2021/044:001
НазваниеPrisoner of war account by Istvan Berger
ОписаниеBook compiled by Hungarian army captain Istvan Berger writing an account of his captivity as a Prisoner of War (POW) during World War One in England. Istvan details the journey from the front in Italy, to his capture by the British and his time in England as a POW. The diary was written between 1917-1918 and includes various drawings and paintings by Istvan.
Istvan Berger (also known as Istvan Berendi) was born in Budapest on 17 May 1898 to Benjamin Bela and Jolal/Jolan Berger (nee Wildmann). The Berger family ran a menswear and cloth business in Budapest. With the outbreak of World War One, Istvan enlisted in the Hungarian army around 1917 as an officer. He was captured as a prisoner of war in October 1918 by the British forces and taken from Italy to England. Throughout his incarceration, he wrote of his time in captivity and filled his time with artistic pursuits including many drawings. Due to governmental upheaval in Hungary at the end of the war, he was not able to return immediately but was eventually repatriated after October 1919. After his release, Istvan returned to Budapest and married Isabella Feldmann. The couple had two children, Mira and Tamas.
The family appears to have changed their name from Berger to Berendi from 1929. After war began, Istvan’s family relate he and his brother György (George) were transported to Mauthausen as forced labourers. In 1945 at the final weeks of the war in Europe, the brothers fled, separating as they believed they would have a better chance at survival. George was captured but later released and survived. It is believed however that Istvan was captured and along with 25 other prisoners, was murdered along the Danube River and buried in a mass grave.
Isabella and their children survived. Isabella immigrated to Australia via the Hungarian Refugee Assisted Scheme. Their daughter, Mira Szerdahely (Serda), moved with her family to Israel in 1953 before also travelling to Sydney, Australia in April 1957.
Istvan Berger (also known as Istvan Berendi) was born in Budapest on 17 May 1898 to Benjamin Bela and Jolal/Jolan Berger (nee Wildmann). The Berger family ran a menswear and cloth business in Budapest. With the outbreak of World War One, Istvan enlisted in the Hungarian army around 1917 as an officer. He was captured as a prisoner of war in October 1918 by the British forces and taken from Italy to England. Throughout his incarceration, he wrote of his time in captivity and filled his time with artistic pursuits including many drawings. Due to governmental upheaval in Hungary at the end of the war, he was not able to return immediately but was eventually repatriated after October 1919. After his release, Istvan returned to Budapest and married Isabella Feldmann. The couple had two children, Mira and Tamas.
The family appears to have changed their name from Berger to Berendi from 1929. After war began, Istvan’s family relate he and his brother György (George) were transported to Mauthausen as forced labourers. In 1945 at the final weeks of the war in Europe, the brothers fled, separating as they believed they would have a better chance at survival. George was captured but later released and survived. It is believed however that Istvan was captured and along with 25 other prisoners, was murdered along the Danube River and buried in a mass grave.
Isabella and their children survived. Isabella immigrated to Australia via the Hungarian Refugee Assisted Scheme. Their daughter, Mira Szerdahely (Serda), moved with her family to Israel in 1953 before also travelling to Sydney, Australia in April 1957.
Место изготовленияEngland
Дата 1917 - 1919
Темаprisoners of war, writing, drawings, art
Наименованиеjournals
Материалpaper
Техникаhandwritten
Размерность
- width: 165.00 mm
height: 203.00 mm
Язык
- Hungarian
Кредитная линияSydney Jewish Museum Collection, donated by Steven Serda. This collection is donated in memory of Istvan Berger.
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.