Jakob Zelnik collection

Kamilla and Jakob (Kuba) Zelnik, married in Vienna in 1936. Jakob was born in 1909 in Lvov (Lemberg) in what was then the Austrian province of Galicia which became Poland. His family came to Vienna in 1914 because Lvov was close to the Austro-Russian during World War I. Kamilla was born in 1910 in Vienna. They lived in the second district or Leopoldstadt, which had a high proportion of Jews living there. On the night that Austria was incorporated by the Anschluss Jakob was taken into 'protective custody' as a “Schutzhaftjude” and sent to Dachau concentration camp. Kamilla very bravely confronted the Gestapo and effected her husband's release, who subsequently came to Great Britain and spent time in the Kitchener Camp, Kent. Before Kamilla rejoined her husband she went on to save another forty victims.

Eventually the couple were reunited and settled in Tunbridge Wells where they remained for the rest of thier lives.

via Clare Ungerson

Donated 16.16.2016

Donor: Peter Zelnik