Rozenberg-Lipszyc family. Collection

Tauba Rela Rozenberg, born on May 15, 1911, in Ujazd, was a seamstress by profession. She arrived in Antwerp in 1930. On June 5, 1934, she married Nuchem Lipszyc, born on June 16, 1906, in Lowicz, who had arrived in Belgium in 1920 and worked as a tailor in Borgerhout. The couple resided in Antwerp at Kroonstraat 178. Between 1936 and 1939, Nuchem was active in Spain among Jewish resistance fighters. He was previously involved in the clandestine organization of foreign communists, known as M.O.I. (Main d'Oeuvre Immigrée). He participated in the "Patronati," an organization linked to the International Red Aid, aimed at supporting political prisoners in Poland. In late 1936, he left for Spain with a group of Antwerp Jews to volunteer for the International Brigades, initially joining the 11th and later the 13th Brigade. During World War II, Tauba Rela and Nuchem were reportedly recruited by Felix Vinikas as members of the Armed Partisans in early July 1942. According to Felix, both Tauba Rela and Nuchem were involved in actions such as sabotage in Hoboken in July 1942, distributing underground press, and collecting money and ration stamps for members of the Armed Partisans. Tauba Rela was also allegedly a courier. However, Felix Vinikas' statement regarding their activities may be inaccurate, as the group in which Tauba Rela and Nuchem were active did not exist at that time. The false declaration may have been made because the couple was active in the Communist Party, which was not favorable during the Cold War era to gain recognition or status as political prisoners. The couple was arrested during the fourth raid in Antwerp in September 1942. They were both detained by the Sicherheitspolizei in Kroonstraat. Felix Vinikas reported that they were carrying packs with weapons, intending to hand them over to him at Koxplein, where they had arranged to meet. He witnessed their arrest while riding his bicycle to Kroonstraat. The SIPO (Sicherheitspolizei) record states that they were arrested as Jews, suggesting that Felix Vinikas may not have been truthful in his statement. Tauba Rela and Nuchem were placed on the list at the Dossin Barracks on September 23, 1942. They departed from Mechelen on September 26, 1942, on Transport XI. Tauba had transport number 1624, and Nuchem had transport number 1623. Nuchem also received prisoner number 66286 in Auschwitz, where he died in the "hospital" on November 2, 1942. Tauba Rela and Nuchem Lipszyc did not survive the war. The couple had a son, François Lipszyc, born on January 30, 1935, in Antwerp. François survived and later adopted the surname Hollants. Shortly before Tauba Rela's arrest in September 1942, she entrusted François to the care of the Hollants-Lievens family (Arthur Hollants and Alice Lievens) in Sint-Antonius-Zoersel, residing at R. Delbekestraat 85. Arthur Hollants was also involved in the resistance, with the Armed Resistance. François himself recalls being placed with the Hollants-Lievens family since early 1942 to avoid danger, and every other month he was taken by Alice Lievens to Antwerp where he met his mother Tauba Rela at a pre-arranged place and could stay with her for an hour. He remained indoors from mid-1942 to protect himself and his foster parents from harm. Only after the war was François able to attend school, having avoided going outside since mid-1942.

In December 2023, Eva Wagemans, widow of François Hollants/Lipszyc, donated the items in this collection to Kazerne Dossin on behalf of her deceased life partner François Hollants/Lipszyc.

Eva Wagemans, widow of François Hollants/Lipszyc, in his name