From the Alfred – Alf Schwarzbaum collection: Correspondence between Schwarzbaum and Robert Wieler, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, concerning a refugee named Abraham Weinstein in Davos, January - February 1947

From the Alfred – Alf Schwarzbaum collection: Correspondence between Schwarzbaum and Robert Wieler, Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, concerning a refugee named Abraham Weinstein in Davos, January - February 1947. 4 pages, typewritten and handwritten, original, in German and Polish Note: See also file 29255, which contains letters sent by Weinsten from Davos to Schwarzbaum. According to Weinstein, he had come to Davos from the Buchenwald DP camp. Inventory: 1. Letter sent by Wieler from Kreuzlingen to Schwarzbaum in Mandate Palestine, 31 January 1947. Wieler wishes to make an appointment with Schwarzbaum on his next visit to Switzerland. 1 pages, handwritten, original, in German 2. Letter sent by Wieler from Davos to Schwarzbaum in Mandate Palestine, 1 February 1947. 1 page, handwritten, original, in Polish 3. Letter sent by Wieler from Kreuzlingen to Schwarzbaum in Paris, France, 31 January 1947 4. Copy of a letter sent by Wieler from Kreuzlingen to Weinstein in Davos, 8 February 1947. Wieler writes that he has heard that Weinstein wishes to work in knitting, and advises him to contanct the ORT union. According to him, the ORT courses are six months longs and very professional. Should Weinstein finish the course, writes Wieler, he can pursue an internship at his business. Wieler adds that he is also planning a trip to Davos soon. 1 page, typewritten, original, in German About Alfred Schwarzbaum: Alfred (Alf) Schwarzbaum was a Jewish merchant from Bedzin, Poland, who fled to Switzerland after the occupation. In Switzerland, he set up a relief enterprise, and supported hundreds of Jews. Alfred (Alf) Schwarzbaum was born in 1896 in Sosnowiec, Poland. He later moved to Bedzin, became a businessman and started a family. In late September 1939, following the German occupation of Poland, he sent his daughter to England. In November 1939, he was jailed for several weeks in Myslowice and was interrogated by the Gestapo. After his release, he turned down an offer from Mosheh Merin, head of the Sosnowiec Jewish council, to be his deputy. Using his connections and his fortune, he was able to obtain visas for Switzerland. In April 1940, he left Poland and settled in Lausanne. Schwarzbaum soon started sending out food, clothing, money and papers to Poland. He managed to navigate between the often uncoordinated Jewish and Zionist organizations based in Switzerland, to transfer financial help to Jews in Poland. He sent hundreds of parcels to German occupied localities, via Lisbon, Sweden and Turkey. He visited refugee camps in Switzerland, and corresponded with persons living under the Nazi rule. He also produced passports, which led him into trouble with the Swiss police, who feared for violation of the country's neutrality policy. In 1945, he immigrated to Mandate Palestine. In Israel, he supported funds and provided stipends for students in need, in several Israeli institutes for higher education. He died in 1990.