Manelewitsh-Zarwanitzer family. Collection

Nuta Manelewitsh was born in Kuchary, Poland, on 4 February 1902. In 1930 he married Chana Zarwanitzer, born on 26 December 1904 in Nowy Kalusz (or Kałusz Nowy), formerly Poland (now Ukraine). Their son Nochem alias Norbert Manelewitsh was born in Essen on 14 October 1938. Eleven months later the orthodox Jewish family fled to Belgium and settled in Brussels, where they still lived when Nazi-Germany invaded Belgium on 10 May 1940. Nuta Manelewitsh was arrested upon denunciation by "le gros Jacques" (fat Jack) and was taken to the Dossin barracks on 28 August 1943. After escaping from transport XXIIA to Auschwitz-Birkenau, Nuta, his wife Chana Zarwanitzer and their son Nochem (Norbert) were arrested together. Again they had been denounced by "le gros Jacques". The family was brought to the Dossin barracks on 3 August 1944 after having spent a night in the cells of the Sicherheitspolizei-Sicherheitsdienst (Sipo-SD) at Avenue Louise. Chana was so severely mistreated that she was sent to the infirmary upon arrival at the Dossin barracks. All family members were then registered for deportation on transport XXVII. The Dossin barracks, however, were liberated on 3 September 1944 and the Manelewitsh-Zarwanitzer family survived the war. They returned to Brussels and Nuta Manelewitsh became a member of the Association of former prisoners of the Dossin barracks (L'Association des Anciens Détenus de la Caserne Dossin de Malines). Chana Zarwanitzer passed away in Anderlecht in 1980, Nuta Manelewitsh in 1984. Their son Nochem alias Norbert Manelewitsh still lives in Brussels.

These documents were saved by the Manelewitsh-Zarwanitzer family.

Nochem Manelewitsh, 1995