Lee Comer (née Sanders): family papers

Her father, Hermann Schleifer, managed to emigrate to England in 1939 whilst his brother Erwin was shot during an attempt to flee the country. Their mother perished at Auschwitz concentration camp. The family of Lee Comer's mother, Gina Manning (née Bäumlova), was deported to Auschwitz concentration camp. Whilst Gina managed to flee the country, her sister and mother survived the dreadful living conditions at Auschwitz. Her father perished in the Holocaust.

Fanny Schleifer (1881-1944) and Jacob Schleifer lived in Vienna. They had two sons: Hermann (1909-1985) and Erwin (1911-1941). Hermann Schleifer emigrated to England as a Jewish refugee in 1938. He was recruited into the Pioneer Corps and changed his name to Harry Thomas Sanders. He married Gina Manning (1922-1982, née Bäumlova) a Jewish refugee from Czechoslovakia, with whom he had a daughter, Lee Comer (née Sanders), in 1943. Harry Sanders was naturalised in 1947.
Erwin Schleifer was shot whilst trying to escape to Israel in 1941. Fanny Schleifer was deported to Terezin concentration camp in 1942. She was moved to Auschwitz concentration camp in 1944, where she perished shortly after arrival. 
Gina Manning grew up in Vrchlabi, Czechoslovakia. Her parents were Herta (1901-1969, née Kornfeldova) and Frantisek Bäuml (1895-1945). Gina was sent to England as a 16-year-old girl in 1938. Her parents and sister Inge (born 1929) were unable to leave the country in time. They were deported to Auschwitz concentration camp. Whilst Herta and Inge survived, Frantisek died on the death march in 1945.

2 folders

Donated April 2012

Donor: Lee comer