Abram Hofnung. Collection

Abram Hofnung was born on 2 July 1908 in Warsaw, Poland, as the son of Aron Hofnung and Ruchla Bender. Abram became a leather worker and migrated to Belgium in August 1926. After spending a few months in Blankenberge, Abram settled in Schaerbeek. The following years he changed addresses often, moving from the Brussels region to Charleroi and back, and changing residencies within the capital. On 20 July 1939 Abram married Bajla Taszman, born on 14 July 1910 in Warsaw. Bajla had migrated to Belgium with her parents in 1930 and earned a living as a seamstress. The couple still lived in Anderlecht, Brussels, when Nazi-Germany invaded Belgium on 10 May 1940. Abram and Bajla obeyed the anti-Jewish decrees and registered in the municipal Jewish register. When their daughter Sara was born on 23 April 1942 her name was added to Abram’s form. In August 1942 Abram Hofnung received an Arbeitseinsatzbefehl, a convocation summoning him for forced labour. Although Bajla also received a letter, she was exempted since she had a four month old baby to take care of. Therefore, Abram was alone when he presented himself at the Dossin barracks on 17 August 1942. He was able to send several postcards to his wife Bajla before he was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau via Transport V on 25 August 1942. Abram Hofnung did not survive. Daughter Sara was hidden as Suzy Dradon at the Beau Séjour Home located at the Chateau de Linden, led by Madeleine Sorelle. Both Sara and her mother survived the war. In 1950 Abram Hofnung was officially declared deceased.

In 2018 Sara Hofnung, daughter of Abram Hofnung and Bajla Taszman, kindly donated the original postcards to Kazerne Dossin.

Sara Hofnung, daughter of Abram Hofnung and Bajla Taszman, 2018