Alfred Schwarzbaum collection: Two letters to him in Lausanne, 1942, 1943

The Alfred - Alf Schwarzbaum collection: Two letters that Alfred Schwarzbaum, received from senders in Zuerich whose name is difficult to decipher. The letters were written at the following dates: Oct 14, 1942, March 15, 1943. The letters relate to Alfred Schwarzbaum's involvement in sending packages. Mentioned in the first letter, among others are Gold, Mila & Schneider. Two pages, typewritten original in German. Background about Alfred Schwarzbaum: Alfred Schwarzbaum was born in 1896. He was a merchant in Bedzin, Poland. On November 1939 he was arrested and interrogated by the Gestapo. Following his release he declined an offer by the head of the Judenrat, Moshe – Monjek Merin, to act as his deputy. On April 1940 he left Poland with his wife and two daughters and legally immigrated to Switzerland while holding valid passports and permits to leave Poland. He settled down in Lausanne and from there operated independently yet in coordination with other organizations and institutions, helping Jews in occupied Europe by offering financial aid, sending food and clothing packages to the occupied territories (some of these products were manufactured in Portugal specifically for this purpose), connecting through correspondence and helping passing these letters to family relatives, visiting refugee camps in Switzerland and providing aid with obtaining passports. Alfred Schwarzbaum helped thousands of Jews who were in need. He immigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1945, bringing with him his entire collection of letters. He continued with voluntary work even in Israel through establishing aid and scholarship funds for students in need as well as supporting institutions dedicated to the commemoration of the holocaust. He passed away in Israel in 1990.