Walter Saunders papers

Identifier
irn519366
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 1995.A.0383
Dates
1 Jan 1914 - 31 Dec 1944, 1 Jan 1938 - 31 Dec 1944
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • English
  • German
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

folders

3

Creator(s)

Biographical History

Walter Saunders (1922-1996) was born Walter Schatzker in Vienna, Austria, to Paul and Klara Schatzker. He had one brother, Kurt, born in 1919. Walter grew up to become an electrician, while Kurt became a tailor. Soon after the Kristallnacht, the brothers obtained visas to the United States. They traveled first to Merksplas, Belgium, where Walter volunteered his serves at the refugee camp there. They later traveled to England, where again Walter served at first as an electrician and later a nurse at the Kitchener camp for refugees. In 1940, the brothers sailed on the Volendam to New York City in 1940. There Walter would meet Mildred Goldstein, whom he later married. While Walter was living in the United States, his parents, who remained behind in Europe, were arrested and placed in Les Milles and Gurs concentration camps, before being sent to Auschwitz in 1942, where they both were killed.

Archival History

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Acquisition

Walter Saunders donated his papers to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1994.

Scope and Content

The Walter Saunders papers contains correspondence with Walter’s parents while they were in Marseille and Les Milles. The documents contain reference letters, naturalization certificate, and an Austrian citizenship certificate. The photographs include portraits of Paul and Klara while at Auschwitz, a group photo with Paul at Camp Gurs, a young Walter with his brother Kurt, and a younger Paul while serving in the Austrian Army during World War I.

System of Arrangement

The Walter Saunders papers are arranged as a single series.

People

Subjects

Genre

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.