Clara and Wilhelm Dreyfuss letters

Clara Dreyfuss (1900-1942) was born Clara Pollak on 17 February 1900 in Olnhausen, Germany. She married Wilhelm Dreyfuss and they had two children: Bertha (later Bertha Strauss, b. 1936) and Leo (b. 1937). In October 1940 Clara and Wilhelm were deported from Karlsruhe to the Gurs concentration camp in France. In September 1942 they were deported to Rivesaltes and Drancy and then Auschwitz on 16 September 1942 where they perished. Their children were hidden by Œuvre de secours aux enfants (France) (OSE) in France. Later the children were smuggled to Switzerland, and after World War II, the orphaned children immigrated to the United States. They were raised by Clara’s sister Recha Reutlinger and her husband Wilhelm Reutlinger.

Wilhelm Dreyfuss (1898-1942) was born on 25 November 1898 in Malsch, Germany. He had at least one sister, Irma (later Irma Klanfield). He married Clara Pollak and they had two children: Bertha (later Bertha Strauss, b. 1936) and Leo (b. 1937). During Kristallnacht Wilhelm was arrested and imprisoned in Dachau. In October 1940 Wilhelm and Clara were deported from Karlsruhe to the Gurs concentration camp in France. In September 1942 they were deported to Rivesaltes and Drancy and then Auschwitz on 16 September 1942 where they perished. Their children were hidden by Œuvre de secours aux enfants (France) (OSE) in France. Later the children were smuggled to Switzerland, and after World War II, the orphaned children immigrated to the United States. They were raised by Clara’s sister Recha Reutlinger and her husband Wilhelm Reutlinger.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Clara and Wilhelm Dreyfuss wrote the letters to Clara's sister and her husband, Recha and Wilhelm Reutlinger. Bertha and Leo, children of Clara and Wilhelm Dreyfuss, were hidden by Œuvre de secours aux enfants (France) (OSE) in France. Later the children were smuggled to Switzerland, and after World War II, the orphaned children emigrated to the United States. They were brought up by Recha Reitlinger. Recha Reutlinger gave the letters to Bertha Dreyfuss (now Bertha Strauss). She donated the collection to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Archives in June 2003.