Our Path February 1937 issue of Unser Weg owned by a Jewish Austrian émigré Die Pfadfinderzeitung

Identifier
irn734589
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2019.605.4
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • German
Source
EHRI Partner

Creator(s)

Biographical History

John Honig (1923-2020) was born Gerhart Honig on October 30, 1923 in Vienna, Austria. He is the only son of Walter Honig (1896-1952) and Gertrude (Trude) Weiss Honig (1901-1953). Walter was the son of Michael Honig (d. 1927) and Ottilie Lorch (d. 1937), and had one brother, Fritz (1897-1977). Trude was the daughter of the physician Dr. Julius Weiss (1864-1943) and Cecilie Theumann (1871-1920), and had two siblings: Franz (1897-1975) and Liesl (1905-1980, later Liesl Lictenstein and Lester). Walter owned a printing shop established by his grandfather. The firm, Jakob Honig and Sohn, was one of the largest printers in Vienna, and it was assumed that John would inherit the firm when he grew up. The family lived in a large apartment in a house owned by operetta composer, Franz Lehar, who lived above them. John attended the Real Gymnasium and was active in the Austrian Boy Scouts (Österreichischer Pfadfinderbund). After the German annexation of Austria in March 1938, the Honigs immediately felt the effects of antisemitism. John had to attend separate classes from his Christian schoolmates. Walter could not conduct business with non-Jewish customers, and was later forced to shut down the business and turn it over to a non-Jewish competitor. The family began to make plans to emigrate. Trude’s sister, Liesl and her husband Josef (Pepi) had already immigrated to England and made arrangements for John to go to England. In September 1938 he flew to England and his aunt and uncle brought him to stay at the home of Reverend Arthur G. Parry, a Baptist minister, who was caring for several other Austrian and German boys. They were also able to bring over Trude’s father Julius Weiss to England. Trude’s uncle, Samuel Theumann (or Thewman) previously immigrated to the United States and worked as the director of the Metropolitan Opera of New York. He approached all his friends and asked them to send affidavits for the Honigs. In early spring, Walter and Trude obtained an affidavit of support from one of Samuel’s contacts and finalized their plans to emigrate. They first flew to England where they visited John, Liesl and Pepi. From there they sailed in April 1939 to New York on board the RMS Aquitania. Walter found work in the printing business. In April 1940 John (who by now went by John rather than Gerhart) sailed to the United States aboard the MV Britannic. He enrolled in Stuyvesant High School and graduated in 1941. He received a full scholarship to Drew University. He was drafted into the United States Army in January 1943 and was stationed in a Signal Base Maintenance Company in Hawaii. After he was discharged in 1946 he resumed his studies. He graduated from Drew University in 1947, and then earned his Masters’ degree from the University of Michigan. He later received his Ph.D from Georgetown University in 1956 and had a successful chemistry career.

Archival History

The journal was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2019 by Dr. John Honig.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum collection, gift of John Honig

Scope and Content

February 1937 issue of the Boy Scout journal, Unser Weg, related to the Holocaust-era experiences of John Honig (born Gerhart Honig) and his parents Gertrude and Walter Honig, including their flight from Vienna, Austria to England in September 1938, their immigration to the United States in 1939, and John’s enlistment in the United States Army in 1943.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Boy Scout journal, Unser Weg, February 1937 issue

People

Corporate Bodies

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.