Номер объектаM2009/066:011
ОписаниеLetter from Gyürel Andor, the Postmaster in Sárosd, Hungary, 21 February 1946, to George Medak, Sydney, in response to his letters searching for information about what happened to his family. Excerpt: "But, unfortunately, Mr Medák, I can’t communicate you any good news. Mr Goldner Imre is back home in Sárosd, and I spoke to him several times, and I got from him the sad news that stomach cancer caused Dr. Medák Ernö passing away in Auschwitz."
Part of a collection of letters related to George and Iren Medák. George was born in Ercsi, Hungary on 26 February 1900. He viewed with alarm the success of Hitler’s territorial expansion as well as the radicalisation of German antisemitism. The Anschluss in 1938 was the catalyst that prompted him to put into action plans that resulted in his family’s successful emigration to Australia. He immigrated with his wife, Iren (nee Revesz) and six-year-old daughter, Veronica. They arrived in 1939. George tried desperately and repeatedly, albeit unsuccessfully, to get permission for his brother Dr Erno Medák, his wife Boriska and their young daughter Magdalene, to join them in Australia.
In December 1941 George was arrested as an ‘enemy alien’. Detectives took him away from his home to Liverpool internment camp, and from there to Tatura. He was released after about five weeks, and in February 1942 he joined the Australian Army. He had nothing but praise for the quality of care whilst in detention. During this time, his wife “walked the streets of Lane Cove” obtaining character references from friends, neighbours, work colleagues and the church ministry in order to petition for her husband’s release.
After the German occupation of Hungary—March 1944— letters from Erno stopped arriving. George’s quest to discover the fate of his family resulted in 22 letters of response from friends, neighbours and officials such as the Post Master in the villages of Sárosd and Seregélyes. They offer rare insight into the experiences of Jews living in rural Hungary, as well as the Nazi-allied Hungarian regime’s anti-Jewish laws, its forced labour service (munkaszolgálat), ghettoization, searching for “hidden Jewish wealth”, despair, suicide, deportation, and the decimation of rural Jewry. Through the letters he learned that his brother Dr Erno Medák and Erno’s wife Boriska, their young daughter Magdalena (Magdi) were murdered in Auschwitz in 1944; George’s mother Gisella Medák was also murdered.
George died June 1955. Veronica’s parents had hidden the knowledge that they were Jewish and she only found out in 1972 when her mother died. The collection includes copies of the letters of reference and a travel permit allowing Iren to travel for her dressmaking business and her daughter’s music lessons.
Part of a collection of letters related to George and Iren Medák. George was born in Ercsi, Hungary on 26 February 1900. He viewed with alarm the success of Hitler’s territorial expansion as well as the radicalisation of German antisemitism. The Anschluss in 1938 was the catalyst that prompted him to put into action plans that resulted in his family’s successful emigration to Australia. He immigrated with his wife, Iren (nee Revesz) and six-year-old daughter, Veronica. They arrived in 1939. George tried desperately and repeatedly, albeit unsuccessfully, to get permission for his brother Dr Erno Medák, his wife Boriska and their young daughter Magdalene, to join them in Australia.
In December 1941 George was arrested as an ‘enemy alien’. Detectives took him away from his home to Liverpool internment camp, and from there to Tatura. He was released after about five weeks, and in February 1942 he joined the Australian Army. He had nothing but praise for the quality of care whilst in detention. During this time, his wife “walked the streets of Lane Cove” obtaining character references from friends, neighbours, work colleagues and the church ministry in order to petition for her husband’s release.
After the German occupation of Hungary—March 1944— letters from Erno stopped arriving. George’s quest to discover the fate of his family resulted in 22 letters of response from friends, neighbours and officials such as the Post Master in the villages of Sárosd and Seregélyes. They offer rare insight into the experiences of Jews living in rural Hungary, as well as the Nazi-allied Hungarian regime’s anti-Jewish laws, its forced labour service (munkaszolgálat), ghettoization, searching for “hidden Jewish wealth”, despair, suicide, deportation, and the decimation of rural Jewry. Through the letters he learned that his brother Dr Erno Medák and Erno’s wife Boriska, their young daughter Magdalena (Magdi) were murdered in Auschwitz in 1944; George’s mother Gisella Medák was also murdered.
George died June 1955. Veronica’s parents had hidden the knowledge that they were Jewish and she only found out in 1972 when her mother died. The collection includes copies of the letters of reference and a travel permit allowing Iren to travel for her dressmaking business and her daughter’s music lessons.
Место изготовленияHungary
Дата 1946-02-21 - 1946-02-21
Наименованиеletters
Материалpaper
Размерность
- width: 170.00 mm
height: 210.00 mm
Язык
- Hungarian
Esteemed Mr Medák!
I reply wholeheartedly to your letter. It would also give me a good feeling, if my reply would cause solace to Mr Medák. From my point of view I understand perfectly Mr Medák’s situation and state of mind. I know very well the significance of a mother or a brother when destiny takes one to foreign lands. But, unfortunately, Mr Medák, I can’t communicate you any good news. Mr Goldner Imre is back home in Sárosd, and I spoke to him several times, and I got from him the sad news that stomach cancer caused Dr. Medák Ernö passing away in Auschwitz.
The poor departed and his family were taken from Székesfehérvár to Germany. I could not get any additional information about them.
During my local enquiries came to my knowledge that the Sárosdians were taken from Sárosd to Sárbogárd, including Mr Medák Nándor and family. I couldn’t find any data about where were they taken from Sárbogárd.
As I already mentioned it, I spoke with Mr Goldner Imre several times and I asked him many times, what happened to your esteemed family, but unfortunately he too lacks any knowledge and couldn’t get any data. Mr Goldner was taken earlier from Sárosd, for forced labour and thus he could save himself from the bandits.
I am sorry that I didn’t get to know Mr Medák’s esteemed family. I only was sent to Sárosd in September, before that I was in Baranya. When I moved here, the house only had 1 room,1 kitchen and 1 office open. The rest of the house was sealed by the council, in April or May. I don’t know any further details, because the council managed the house. I heard that they put the furniture in the sealed rooms. I could save the house from further lodgments until the front arrived, stating that the whole house was leased to the Post Office. The front arrived here on the 11th of December, and later the whole village was evacuated, because the front stopped here. Unfortunately this difficult situation lasted 3 months, and during this time everything was destroyed. The house was so damaged by direct hits and the air pressure of close explosions, that now it is inhabitable. Unfortunately from my belongings also everything was lost, but not only mine, but also all the other inhabitants of the village, because during the evacuation one was allowed to take only the minimum. Imagine, 90% of the village suffered losses/damages.
Dear Mr Medák, I am really sorry that I can’t report more details of your esteemed family, but if I learn anything else in the future, I will willingly report it to you.
Yours truly,
Gyürel Andor
Postmaster
Sárosd, ‘946, Feb. the 21st
Кредитная линияSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Dr Veronica Goldrick