Arnost Polak: family correspondence and papers

Identifier
WL1615
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 70999
Dates
1 Jan 1942 - 31 Jan 1999
Level of Description
Collection
Languages
  • German
Source
EHRI Partner

Biographical History

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Gerta and Rudolf Pollak were assimilated Jews from Prague, a middle class family, relatively well off and not particularly religious. Their two sons, Felix and Arnost, managed to flee to Great Britain on one of the Kindertransporte. Gerta and Rudolf were murdered in Sobibor death camp some time after the last communication in August 1942.

Acquisition

Family correspondence

Donated March 2005

Donor: Arnost Polak

Scope and Content

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This collection comprises original postcards and letters from Gerta and Rudolf Pollak, Jewish inmates of Terezin concentration camp in former Czechoslovakia and Siedliszcze, a forced labour camp in the Lublin area, Poland. Also included are some recent photographs of Terezin and memorial stones. The letters are particularly significant for historians of the period because they provide a detailed insight into ghetto life and shed light on the fate of one transport from Terezin to Lublin District in Poland. The first postcard is from Gerta Pollak and the remaining 22 postcards and letters are from her husband, Rudolf, to a family friend in Prague, Hans Turnovsky.

System of Arrangement

The items are arranged chronologically by material type.

Conditions Governing Access

Open

Conditions Governing Reproduction

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Related Units of Description

  • An abridged version of an article by Peter Witte, "Last Communications from Siedliszcze- The AX Transport from Terezin to the Lublin District is published in the following book.

    For a detailed history of the family, English translations and copies of these letters see A Memorial to our Parents, by Arnost Polak, London, 2001.

People

  • Pollak, Gerta
  • Pollak, Rudolf

Subjects

  • Terezin (memorial site)
  • Letters
  • Terezin (ghetto)
  • Postcards
  • Siedliszcze (slave labour camp for Jews)

Places

  • Czech Republic [1993-]
  • Czechoslovakia [1918-1992]
  • Poland
This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.