Номер объектаM2018/004:007
ОписаниеLetter, presumably to the Gilden family in Australia, 20 February 1943, from Zvi Szyiowicz in Pardess Hana, Palestine. Zvi (previously named Hermann) is cousin to Minni and Louis and nephew to Isaak and Hanna. It is a long, only partially translated letter, detailing the situation for their family left in Berlin. He is very concerned about his brother Luser (Lazar) and shares excerpts from his brother’s letters and his struggle to escape. The last part of the letter, which begins anew on the 22 February, appears to be later and is in different ink. Zwi thinks he may have heards his brother is alive in a refugee camp.
The letter is part of a collection of correspondence donated to the Museum by Phillip Palmer. His mother, Miriam (Minni) Gilden, her parents Isaak Awigdor and Chana (Hanna) Gilden and her brother Louis, emigrated from Germany to Australia, arriving 16 December 1938. Minni, who was born 12 May 1923, was 16 at the time and her brother was 12. Most of the letters are dialogue between maternal family and friends, spanning 1937 through to the early years of WWII; however, there is one letter written to Madam Gilden (presumably Hanna Gilden) in 1947 pertaining to inquiries about her parent’s property in Poland.
Phillip’s parents, Minni and Fritz Palmbaum (who later became Fred Palmer), were married on 9 January 1944. Fred emigrated from Hildesheim in the North of Germany on 3 November 1938, via a sponsorship by NAJEX; he was 15 at the time. After a few years working with sheet metal at J. Goldstein & Co, he enlisted with the Australian Army in 1942 as a member of the 3rd Australian Employment Company.
The letter is part of a collection of correspondence donated to the Museum by Phillip Palmer. His mother, Miriam (Minni) Gilden, her parents Isaak Awigdor and Chana (Hanna) Gilden and her brother Louis, emigrated from Germany to Australia, arriving 16 December 1938. Minni, who was born 12 May 1923, was 16 at the time and her brother was 12. Most of the letters are dialogue between maternal family and friends, spanning 1937 through to the early years of WWII; however, there is one letter written to Madam Gilden (presumably Hanna Gilden) in 1947 pertaining to inquiries about her parent’s property in Poland.
Phillip’s parents, Minni and Fritz Palmbaum (who later became Fred Palmer), were married on 9 January 1944. Fred emigrated from Hildesheim in the North of Germany on 3 November 1938, via a sponsorship by NAJEX; he was 15 at the time. After a few years working with sheet metal at J. Goldstein & Co, he enlisted with the Australian Army in 1942 as a member of the 3rd Australian Employment Company.
Дата 1943-02-20 - 1943-02-22
Темаfamilies, immigration, signs of life, WWII, persecution, escape, aliyah, settlements, kibbutz
Наименованиеletters
Материалpaper
Размерность
- width: 140.00 mm
width: 280.00 mm
height: 207.00 mm
Язык
- German My Dear Ones, Shalom,
I got your communication through the Chever (?) Shlichut (do write to me how you got through to them) together with your telegram through Keren Kayemet and actually got a bit of surprise. I admit that I haven’t often written to you all (the excuse is with you), but all the same you must have got a few letters. But I assume that the few got lost on the way. After all, we are at war. On the next…You about the family...three reports. And this is all I know about the parents… outbreak of the German – Polish fled from Berlin to Krakow. With the invasion of the Nazis they tried, like others, to escape, but had to turn back (Their former address was 5 Sz at Fiel, Krakow, Lima Kiege 12/10). Their belongings were all burnt during the bombings. On 23/08/1940 my Elazar wrote that the parents after all did leave Krakow and are staying at Debi... (In mother’s house of birth). Since the outbreak of the German-Russian war I have not received further word. And now something about your position at the time? I am writing to you word for word something from Luser’s letter 21/05/1941: Things are not going well for them. I have lately sent them a food parcel of 10kg, fat, beef drippings, butter, sausages, sugar, tea, cocoa. They haven’t got the first two, the tea and cocoa they sold and got…for it. They used it up over 4 weeks (1½ kg)! Can you grasp their position? This was Luser with all the? Don’t be surprised that I am reporting all this in a matter of fact way (as in a newspaper). But I think it is enough this way, everything else one can do without. It is depressing enough. I could not of course write to them directly but as long as Russia was neutral I did so through Luser. And now just to Elasar. In the course of my reports I shall always write about his letters and put them in brackets ((...)) so that you can tell the difference. You will know a lot but there is no harm if I write again in greater detail. On 28/10/1938 he was taken with others from B…to Poland. On 27/10/40 he wrote a detailed letter.
It was a review of the past about the last two years in this letter: ((29/10 1940, Today was the day in which we started our lives as refugees in Poland. In the previous night was the start where for the first time I experienced the fate of other Jews. On my own body which in the past I only gleaned from books. This whole time appears to me like a sinister but adventurous dream. And I dream this dream by now a full 2 years, even today, how much longer?))
After spending some time in Krakow and Dynów he went to Novo sidki (near Bialystok) on Hachsharah (training in Hebrew). He felt quite happy there and was expecting to go on Aliyah. And then came the German-Poland war. And here again, at best, something from his letter:
((I am going through a cold shudder when I think about the artillery bombardment, of the Jewish refugees, expelled from the German lands, the hunger, sleepless nights and the indescribable experiences of that time)). On the 27/10/1939 he arrives at Vilna ((Two months again of doing without, shortages of the very necessities. No bed, no accommodation, no decent food, no change of under garments (and louse ridden as a result etc.)) And it goes on till the Committee puts things into order. And after half a year he goes on to the country side to Ąžuolų Būda. There he gets an Affidavit to America (Uncle Berisch) as well as a Certificate for here. But ((Our new house boss won’t let us leave the house and so we stay living there. It is a solid stone building, resembling (?). You would know you would see it when passing the railway station with the local tram)) after joining (?) to USSR. After some time it became clear that Aliyah was available. From a letter of 08/04/1941 ((there’s nothing to report from me. There were 2 (?)out of 60 people, out of which all of our 5 went to Palestine).
Together with these 5 (?) I am too, about which I cannot complain (?) However we have altogether come to terms (?), this we (?) And would have gone like the rest if our documents had not been lost by the emigration office . Something special applies in my case, which could cause that we can never get away from here. It is possible that I will have to sit a few weeks of the month behind Swedish screens (behind bars?) until my innocence has been established. I am expecting this daily. The Swedish screen curtain prison, as it is called, you probably still recognize the name. This peculiarity I found from the people who were here together with me. I will tell you all about it at a more convenient opportunity. The last letter I got from him was on the 7 July 1941. It was posted on 21 May 1941. And then, in the meantime in June, war broke out between Germany and Russia. Since then there’s no news about what happened to him, whether he escaped or stayed behind! And if he stayed behind, where is he now? How is he keeping? No idea. I assume that had been in Russia (and free) would have written to me. Or is he a prisoner in Russia? Or somewhere in Germany (which is now very large). In any case, from here there is no contact with Lithuania. The best proof is that members of the administration of our movement (Hapoel Hamizrachi) don’t have any contact. How is it from your end? Please do try all possible. His last address was L.sz Ąžuolų Būda. Marijampoles. Apskr. Lithuania.L.T.S.R. I won’t of course have to write to you that the whole of time he was in a leading position. For this reason they didn’t want to lose him from there.
(Page V, very pale writing, continuation of sentence…)
…apart from this, I believe he has been here for a very long time. It is a pity, alas, I can’t report any more (?) Is completely helpless in the face of (?). Don’t let us forget that this is not an isolated case because thousands upon thousands are in the same position. This of course cannot be a consolation, and if you think about it a little you feel like being hit on the head. Have you perhaps from somewhere else more detailed news? When did you get the last post? (?) too have been to Krakow lately.
(Page VI, continuation of sentence…)
…Brith Shmuel (a place) is in the Haifa Bay, half an hour by car away from town. We didn’t have our own plot there and lived in rented houses. This isn’t of course is not a healthy situation for a young (?). (Sentence here untranslated) We took the opportunity to take our group to Petach Tikvah. This was during Passover 1942. We don’t of course have the whole of the earlier camp from Roger (?), only part of it. But we are cultivating the area (about 350 dunam). This is a big lot for such a small group. After all we are not (?) on a settlement. This we believe, when a (?) with an administration (?) of the Jewish Agency and the KKL etc., are moving across to a training camp. This of course is not a conquest when gaining (?) in an unsettled area.) Our financial position is good. About half of us work within the farm (that is to say the housekeeping section) and in the servicing (i.e. running of the kitchen, clothing, store room etc) And the second half in outside work (that is working outside and in other type pf work). The latter of course does not apply when in a settlement.
There the Kibbutz is dependent on doing its own work. Eight of our members are sent away on Defence duties (the army, police support and others). This is a high percentage. The exact number is always determined by the Jewish Agency and the religious (?). On top of that of course we are sending representatives to different occasions; for example, now for refugee children from Poland, Russia, Persia, India, Egypt, Palestine, we are sending two instructors. Of course, all these things are a social and financial burden for such a small group. (By the way, there is now a proposition under way to combine with another) but more important of course are the tasks which we have to complete and even more (all in time). On top of that we are of course preparing for Settlement. We are always sending a few people to a Settlement (complete training in an agricultural school or land settlement communities in a definite work plan i.e. garden, vegetable), acre-ridge, wheat, dairy, chickens etc. This again will take away a few people from our work and earnings. I am singled out in our group for Settlement in the cow sheds but will only go when another member is coming up from training in gardening. I have already worked in the cow sheds for 4 months in Rodgers (?). Also at the moment I am already working for 5 months in outside work for a wage in the cow sheds in Givath of the Three. This is a Kibbutz of the Meuchad, Chadasha Chalutz movement in the Germany movement in Habonim. This is a Kibbutz of 350 people (men and women) without children or parents amongst them. It already exists for 17 years and is quite close to Petach Tikvah. I get there in quarter of an hour on the bicycle. I have learnt a lot there and am regarded well with the people there. I am not even aware this is paid work having worked 1 ½ years earlier and am feeling like a member. I like this type of work. There in the cow sheds about half members, male and female work there. So this is all about me. Here in the country it is as (?) because of the situation of Jews in Europe. Everything possible is done in order to help. Unfortunately it is not in our hands. For example in respect of what I have written to you, with us here there is a large shortage of working people (in particular on the land). We need a large immigration (young pioneers). But with God’s help (and even better in England) there is for the time being the White Paper to be taken into account before any immigration in abundance. Anyhow, more about this at a better opportunity.
How are things with you? Are there any practical aims or are they all asleep? Any Zionist activity? Are you learning Hebrew? I would love to talk to you in that language. (You would know that overseas too you can learn Hebrew, e.g. Louis (?) was already near perfect in Berlin, and from Poland and Lithuania he wrote to me 7 long pages in Hebrew. You only have to want to. Every day on the go (?) one hour. I believe it is the task of every Jew in the meantime. My dear Mimmi, the letter is probably arriving in time for your birthday; in any case I am wishing you all the best etc. Good Heavens, 20 years! I haven’t seen you for 4 years. You would be thinking that I have no idea how you have turned out. After all I still remember you as a 15 ½ year old girl and the 4 years from 15-19 (?) are after all the years of development. What are you doing? Where are you working? What are your different attitudes and final results? Are you a member of a movement or club? Do write something about yourself. Are we able to communicate through correspondence? On top of that, send snaps of you. I too will send you one in the next letter. Have you got a library in your place? What has happened about your cultural activity?
Dear Louis, 16 years already (1927 was it?) What are you doing now? Dear aunt, please write the correct address of the Old Age house in Debica (?) Perhaps I will lodge an enquiry through the Red Cross. I still have my doubts because I assume that they are hiding there and I won’t want to (?) What do you think about this? I also heard that the Red Cross as (?) connection with Poland. So now I have to close. I believe the latter has been very detailed. I wish you a pleasant Passover and the letter will arrive before Shavuoth. Let us hope that that the parents too and Louis, together with the other Jews will keep on living content. Kind regards, Zwi
SECONDARY LETTER ON PAGE V IN DIFFERENT INK. DATED 22/02/1943
I heard a rumour today, sayin that Luser is amongst the refugees, possibly in Tehran (Persia). What is correct about this, obviously, will be difficult to to check out. In any case I live in hopes again. In the next few days I will be in Tel Aviv and find out in greater detail about different positions. And now for me personally. I don't know which of my letters you got (it seems none of them) and will therefore catch up a bit. In March 1941 my membership in the Naor (Hebrew for youth group) has expired. About half of our people (21) and about 30 from the Noar group who were in Sde Yaakov, have come here together with many others who were with them in a preparation camp and few othes from Batei Zeir and Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Three too from Ramat Hasharon (one of our Kibbutz settlements) and 2 from Ahavah in Berlin (this is a continuation of the Ähava in Berlin in the (?) of Youth Aliyah), who altogether have founded the present group.
Кредитная линияSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Phillip Palmer